Keeping your data and information secure is essential. DNS monitoring is a powerful tool that enables organizations to monitor their own DNS server to quickly detect potential threats and vulnerabilities, proactively respond to malicious activities, and optimize their website or network performance. Do you want to learn more about it? Great! You are in the right place. But let’s first explain briefly what DNS is.

Explain Briefly What DNS Is

When a hostname, such as squadrainformatica.com, is typed into a web browser’s address bar, a process known as resolution occurs to convert the hostname into an IP address (e.g., 92.38.169.175). This process happens so quickly that it is usually invisible to the user, but it involves four different types of DNS servers working in unison to achieve the correct resolution.

DNS Monitoring – Definition 

DNS monitoring is an essential part of the Monitoring service. It is the process of monitoring a DNS (Domain Name System) server to detect any potential problems or downtime. The DNS server is responsible for translating a URL or website address into the numerical IP address associated with that website or service, so any issues with the DNS server can cause severe disruptions to the system.

By using DNS monitoring, the system can be made aware of any downtime before it happens, allowing necessary protocols and procedures to be set in place to minimize any disruptions. This can involve caching web pages and providing alternate routes for legitimate requests to keep the system running smoothly.

Benefits of DNS Monitoring for Increasing System Uptime

• Increased security: It can help identify malicious or suspicious activity, allowing organizations to respond proactively to their threats. 
• Improved performance: DNS monitoring can help identify domain name server performance issues, allowing organizations to optimize their website or network utility by improving the server’s response time. 
• Faster troubleshooting: By monitoring Domain Name System activity, organizations can detect potential issues faster and troubleshoot problems.
• Improved customer experience: DNS monitoring can help organizations ensure customers have access to the services they need by quickly identifying problems.
• Data gathering: It can provide organizations with valuable insights into their online users’ browsing patterns, which can help create more personalized services.

What You Should Monitor by DNS

When monitoring your DNS server, there are several essential things to watch out for. Checking the IP address against the one you provide, ensuring your Start of Authority record is up-to-date, and testing your Mail Exchange and Service Records for any errors or attacks are essential for keeping your data and information security. Also, keeping an eye on the Nameservers is vital for noticing any attempted tamperings with your primary or backup record, helping you to prevent or detect any malicious activity quickly.

So to sum it up, it is important to keep an eye on the following:

• IP address – IPv4, IPv6, etc
• SOA record
• MX record
• SRV record
• NS record

DNS Monitoring vs SSL/TLS Monitoring

DNS monitoring and SSL/TLS monitoring are two important cybersecurity tools for businesses of all sizes. DNS monitoring keeps track of changes to DNS records and monitors the performance of web applications and websites, while SSL/TLS monitoring verifies the installation of a secure SSL certificate on a web server to ensure encrypted communication between user and server. DNS monitoring helps prevent service outages while SSL/TLS ensures that data is protected when it is transferred, keeping customers’ data secure. When used together, these measurements ensure that the network and websites are secure and that users have an optimal experience when browsing your website.

DNS Monitoring vs TCP Monitoring

DNS monitoring and TCP monitoring are two tools used by IT professionals to check the health of their networks. Domain Name System monitoring periodically checks the availability of DNS nameservers, while TCP monitoring measures the performance and reliability of a TCP connection between two hosts. Both are essential for ensuring a reliable and secure network, but important distinctions exist in the methods used. Domain Name System monitoring focuses more on server performance and availability, while TCP monitoring is primarily used to measure network performance. TCP monitoring can be used to identify slow or clogged connections, pinpointing which devices are causing the problems. On the other hand, Domain Name System monitoring is used to ensure that the DNS nameservers are functioning correctly and responding quickly to queries. Using both DNS and TCP monitoring is the best way to guarantee that a network is operating efficiently and securely.

Conclusion

DNS monitoring is critical for ensuring the security, integrity, and performance of your networks, services, and customers. You can identify potential threats by using the right one, proactively responding to malicious activities, optimizing response times, and ensuring your customers have consistent access to the services they need. Protect your business today by implementing a robust Domain Name System monitoring strategy.