Cyberattacks aren’t just targeting large enterprises anymore. SMEs, with limited resources and reactive security solutions, are becoming prime targets for increasingly sophisticated threats, especially those powered by AI. This evolving landscape calls for proactive strategies to address modern threats effectively.
That’s the premise of Infoblox’s DNS-based security. It’s a preemptive, foundational layer of defense that intercepts threats before they land on your network. For SMEs looking to strengthen their cybersecurity posture without adding additional complexity or resource burden, Protective DNS is not just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have, common-sense way to do security.
Why SMEs Need DNSSecurity Now
The DNS is the backbone of internet communication. Whenever a user or device accesses a website, sends an email or connects to a cloud service, it starts with a DNS query. This makes DNS a powerful vantage point for detecting and blocking malicious activity before it can cause harm.
Here’s why DNS-based security is essential for SMEs:
1. Stop Ransomware and Breaches Before They Strike
Reactive security solutions act too late, after the damage is done. DNS security blocks threats proactively—before they reach your network. Protective DNS uses predictive, DNS-focused threat intelligence to detect and block high-risk domains preemptively and before they are weaponized. In addition, because most cyberattacks begin with a DNS request, whether a user clicks a phishing link, malware reaches out to a command-and-control (C2) server or ransomware attempts to exfiltrate data, DNS-based security can block these connections before they’re established, stopping the attack in its tracks.
This proactive, pre-event protection is especially valuable for SMEs, who may not have the resources to respond quickly to breaches once they occur. Research shows that breakout time is only 48 minutes, meaning it only takes 48 minutes after the initial compromise for a threat to spread laterally.
2. Catch Hidden Threats
In addition to using predictive threat intelligence, Protective DNS can also use algorithmic protections, where an organization’s DNS traffic is constantly inspected for malicious activity.
This makes DNS-based security highly effective against:
- Zero-day DNS threats
- DNS tunneling and data exfiltration
- Lookalike domains
- Domain generation algorithms (DGAs)
These are all indicators of compromise (IOCs) that traditional tools often miss.
3. Protect Your Business Immediately
Unlike complex security appliances or endpoint agents, DNS-based security can be deployed quickly, often in minutes, and begins delivering value immediately. This rapid time to value is a significant advantage for SMEs with limited IT staff.
Why Infoblox Leads in Protective DNS Security
Infoblox is the DNS expert, and our Protective DNS security solution is designed to help SMEs stay ahead of evolving threats. Here’s how Infoblox delivers unmatched protection and operational efficiency:
Real-Time DNS Blocking: Instantly Stop Threats at the Source
Infoblox transforms DNS into a powerful security control point, protecting everything from end-user devices, cloud workloads, IoT, OT and home and hybrid users. Analyzing DNS queries in real time can block connections to malicious servers and sites before any data is exchanged. This proactive approach reduces the attack surface and prevents threats from reaching your endpoints.
Preemptive Threat Detection and Prevention: Neutralize Threats Before They Activate
Infoblox leverages predictive DNS-focused threat intelligence and algorithmic machine learning to detect suspicious activity before it becomes activated. This includes identifying newly registered domains and other IOCs that traditional security tools may not specialize in, highlighting the need for a defense-in-depth security strategy.
Fewer False Alarms, Faster Response: Focus on the Alerts That Matter Most
Infoblox helps you cut through the noise by prioritizing alerts based on severity and context. This ensures your team focuses on what matters most, reducing alert fatigue and improving response times.
Accelerated Incident Resolution: Immediately Know the What, Where and Why of Threats
When a threat is detected, Infoblox provides deep context, including device identity, location and historical behavior. This enables faster investigation and remediation, even for lean IT teams.
Immediate Protection Anywhere: Secure the Entire Network, On-Premises or in the Cloud
Infoblox’s solutions are easy to deploy and integrate with your existing infrastructure. Whether operating on-premises, in the cloud or supporting remote workers, Infoblox provides immediate protection with minimal configuration.
Extend the Value with API-Based Integrations
Infoblox doesn’t operate in a silo. Our solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with many of the broader security ecosystem providers, including:
- SIEM and SOAR: Automatically filter high-priority threats, cut licensing costs and reduce noise.
- Vulnerability Management: Speed up scans, discovery and remediation effortlessly.
- Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW): Lighten your firewall’s workload by stopping threats earlier.
- IT service management (ITSM) and IT operations management (ITOM): Streamline threat response by instantly triggering IT tickets.
With ready-to-go, out-of-the-box API-based integrations, Infoblox helps your security operations center (SOC) become more effective and efficient, without adding complexity or headcount. These integrations also allow SMEs to build a security stack that meets their unique needs without overinvesting in unnecessary tools.
Compliance, Brand Protection and Business Continuity
Beyond threat prevention, Protective DNS security also helps SMEs with:
- Compliance Assurance: Effortlessly log DNS activities to meet compliance mandates (NIST 800-81).
- Brand Protection: Stop phishing and spoofing attacks, safeguarding your reputation.
- Business Continuity: Minimize the risk of data breaches and ransomware attacks effectively.
In short, DNS-based security is not just about stopping threats; it’s about enabling your business to operate safely and confidently in a sophisticated digital world.
Real-World Impact: What SMEs Gain with Infoblox Preemptive Security
Here’s what SMEs can expect when implementing Infoblox Protective DNS security:
| Need | Benefit from Infoblox1, 2 |
|---|---|
| Rapid Threat Blocking | Block 82% of attacks before an incident occurs and up to 68.4 days before an attack is launched |
| Reduce Alert Fatigue | Reduce false alerts by up to 25% |
| Lower Costs, Boost Efficiency | Save 1,897 hours per year on security operations |
| Compliance Simplified | Maintain compliance-ready audit trails effortlessly |
| Enhanced Brand Protection | 47% reduction in security-related downtime due to phishing and domain spoofing attacks |
Final Thoughts: Make Protective DNS Your First Line of Defense
The cyberthreat landscape for SMEs is evolving rapidly, and traditional, reactive defenses simply aren’t enough. Infoblox Protective DNS security offers proactive protection, blocking threats before they reach your network. With Infoblox, your SME can confidently defend against ransomware, breaches and emerging cyber risks—without extra complexity or headcount. Easy deployment, powerful integrations and real-time insights ensure you’re secure today and prepared for tomorrow.
Ready to move beyond reactive security? Discover how Infoblox can help your SME stay protected, resilient and ahead of threats.
Footnotes
- Over three years. The Total Economic Impact™ Of Infoblox Threat Defense™, Forrester Consulting, February 2021.
- Some referenced statistics are data points gathered from Infoblox Threat Defense™ and SOC Insights customer interviews.
