Summary: Why DNS Security Matters
Firewalls remain a cornerstone of cybersecurity, but they cannot see everything. Modern cyberattacks increasingly exploit the Domain Name System (DNS) to communicate, spread, and evade detection. DNS security solutions like Whalebone Immunity stop these threats early – before malicious connections ever reach your network.
The Firewall Dilemma: Why it Isn’t Enough
Many organizations rely heavily on their firewalls as their primary defense against cyber threats. While a strong firewall is essential, it only protects part of the attack surface.
Even next-generation firewalls, though more advanced, primarily inspect network traffic and rely on known threat signatures or patterns. They typically lack visibility into DNS-layer activity – a common path used by modern attackers.
How DNS Attacks Bypass Firewalls
Threats such as DNS tunneling, command and control (C&C) communication, and domain generation algorithms (DGAs) often use DNS requests to disguise malicious behavior. These techniques can bypass traditional firewalls entirely.
In fact, multiple studies show that around 90% of malware uses DNS at some stage of its lifecycle. This makes DNS-layer protection essential for stopping threats earlier in the chain.
According to Gartner research, “Organizations should implement DNS security to protect users, devices, and other critical infrastructure.” DNS-layer protection catches threats that firewalls miss, securing traffic before it ever reaches your firewall.
DNS-Layer Protection: How Whalebone Immunity Blocks Threats Before They Start
Whalebone Immunity works at the DNS layer, analyzing and blocking malicious queries before they reach any device on your network. Its machine-learning algorithms and AI-driven threat intelligence analyze domain reputation, DNS query patterns, and global telemetry to detect and stop threats such as phishing attacks, malware, ransomware, and command and control (AKA C&C or C2) communications. This provides a level of security that firewalls alone simply cannot offer.
“Based on our research on DNS security, Whalebone Immunity truly stands out above other solutions. It’s really easy to deploy and maintain, yet very effective,” IT Security Architect Pavel Pekárek stated in a case study with Adastra.
Another key feature is Whalebone Immunity's real-time threat intelligence and protection from newly emerging threats. IT Specialist Ľubomír Gavenda explained for a case study with Panasonic Slovakia: “Whalebone Immunity blocked malicious websites the moment our users tried to reach them. From our experience, it would take at least another day for a traditional firewall to add it to its threat database.”
Case in Point: Whalebone in Action
Whalebone customers are seeing the benefits of layered security that combines firewalls with DNS protection. Security Manager Jan Hrdonka stated for a case study with O2 Czech Republic, “There were no issues whatsoever, which is not very common with security products. Since we absolutely loved the results of the pilot, we decided to implement the product to the whole network.”
Similarly, IT Manager Zbyněk Grepl emphasized the level of urgency for a case study with (Czech municipality) Nove Mesto na Morave: “I can no longer imagine network administration without this level of protection. My only regret is that we didn’t start using it sooner.”
Whalebone offers specialized DNS security solutions tailored for government institutions, telecommunications operators, ISPs, and other critical infrastructure providers:
- Whalebone Aura – for Telcos and mobile operators
- Whalebone Peacemaker – for ISPs
- Whalebone Immunity & DNS4GOV – for government/public sector and enterprises responsible for critical infrastructure
Together, these technologies ensure trust, privacy, and resilience in an increasingly connected world.
Addressing the “Firewall is Enough” Myth
It is tempting to believe that your firewall is enough, but with the rise of sophisticated attacks leveraging DNS, this is no longer true.
According to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), organizations that use protective DNS (PDNS) services can reduce malware incidents by up to 92%. This underscores how critical DNS-layer protection is for any modern cybersecurity strategy.
The UK National Cyber Security Centre has also weighed in, stating that “Protective DNS (PDNS) systems prevent malicious domains from being visited by devices in your network[...] Preventing access to these domains should protect your organisation against malicious actors, making it harder for them to compromise your networks, and harder to exploit any compromises.”
Read additional statements like these by renowned experts and institutions in the Whalebone brochure “Experts Say DNS Security Should Not Be Ignored.” Without DNS security, organizations leave themselves vulnerable to attacks that bypass firewalls altogether. Having DNS protection is no longer optional but necessary.
A Firewall Alone Won’t Cut It
Whalebone Immunity delivers powerful DNS protection that complements your firewall, closing critical security gaps and stopping modern threats in their tracks. By integrating DNS-layer security into your overall defense strategy, you ensure full visibility and comprehensive protection.
If you’re still relying solely on your firewall, it is time to rethink your approach. As Security Analyst Karel Vyhlidka stated for a case study with City of Prague Technology (THMP), “We use a firewall, but[...] We can see [Whalebone Immunity] captures 30-50 % more threats.”
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between a firewall and DNS security?
A firewall inspects and filters network traffic, while DNS security blocks access to malicious domains before connections are made. Both are essential parts of layered defense.
Q: Does DNS security replace my firewall?
No, it complements it. DNS protection adds visibility and stops threats that bypass firewalls – before they reach your network or endpoints.
Q: What is protective DNS (PDNS)?
Protective DNS refers to DNS resolvers that actively filter and block malicious domains, based on real-time intelligence and analytics.
Read more FAQs on this topic in “Understanding DNS and PDNS: Essential FAQs for Modern Cybersecurity.”
DNS Security Best Practices Checklist
To protect DNS infrastructure and data integrity, organizations should adopt the following measures:
- Implement DNSSEC to verify authenticity and prevent spoofing.
- Use a PDNS solution like Whalebone to filter malicious domains in real time.
- Enable encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT) to protect query privacy.
- Maintain redundancy using Anycast DNS architectures.
- Regularly patch and update DNS servers to close security gaps.
- Integrate threat intelligence to stay ahead of emerging risks.
- Monitor DNS traffic for anomalies, which may indicate compromise.
Learn More Today
Emerging trends are transforming DNS security to be more intelligent and adaptive:
- AI-driven DNS Security – Machine learning models detect suspicious domain patterns faster than static lists.
- Zero Trust DNS (ZTDNS) Models – Continuous verification ensures DNS requests are validated across every connection. Read more in "Beyond Buzzwords: Understanding DNS Security in a Zero-Trust Context."
- Integration with SIEM/SOAR Systems – DNS data is becoming a key component in threat detection and incident response workflows. Read more about "Whalebone Immunity DNS Security Integrations."
As networks evolve, DNS will remain a strategic defense layer – both as an early warning system and a control point for preventing cyberattacks.
If you’re ready to enhance your organization’s DNS security, Whalebone is here to help. Reach out to our team to learn how our proven solutions can safeguard your network, data, and customers – with a simple, unobtrusive approach.