Top 5 DNS Web Filtering Platforms for Business

DNS web filtering plays a critical role in enterprise cybersecurity, preventing employees from accessing malicious websites. The Domain Name System (DNS) matches domain names to IP addresses. By rerouting requests through a DNS filter, businesses can block malicious websites before a connection is established and implement customized policies to prevent access to specific sites.

The best DNS filtering solutions provide visibility into web traffic, identifying harmful websites to reduce the risk of:

• Phishing
• Malware
• Other threats

It also allows businesses to block inappropriate content, such as adult content or sites unrelated to work, like social media.

This can boost productivity among employees while improving overall security posture.

We’ve narrowed down all DNS solutions down to our top 5 DNS web filtering platforms for business. That way, you don’t have to compare 100s of solutions, you can just choose from five.

What to Look For in DNS Web Filtering Solutions

Before comparing the top solutions, you need to understand what to look for when researching the best product for your business.

What makes the top DNS security platforms stand out from the rest?

Listed below are important selection criteria to consider when comparing DNS web filtering platforms for business use cases.

• Security: Enhances security by blocking malicious domains associated with malware, phishing attacks, and other threats. Security features can include an updated threat intelligence feed of known harmful sites or scanning sites for potentially malicious content.
• Features: Offers a range of user-friendly features to enhance your operations, including content filtering based on categories (adult content, gambling, social media, etc.), time (during work hours), and blocking specific apps or non-HTTP traffic. Business web filtering tools should allow customized black- and whitelists based on your particular needs and granular controls to apply policies based on different factors (role, device, location, etc.).
• Integration: Ensure the platform integrates with existing network architecture and security solutions. This includes firewalls and other traffic monitoring systems, and user identification tools to ensure the correct filtering policies are applied.
• Deployment: Cloud-based systems that extend coverage to multiple sites and remote workers are generally beneficial for modern enterprise networks. Ensure these systems provide proper monitoring tools for distributed environments and documentation or support for effective deployment.
• Reporting: Provides real-time monitoring and logs to quickly respond to threats, track trends, and prove compliance. Bonus benefits include customizable dashboards, so you can tailor reporting based on your needs.
• Scalability: Solutions that can handle traffic during peak times without impacting user experience and scale to meet new demands as your organization grows.
• User Experience: Filtering for security and access without creating latency issues and slow browsing for users.
• Pricing: The platform offers a return on investment based on the value it creates in terms of security and productivity improvements.

The particular weight you need to give to each of these criteria depends on the specifics of your business and how you want to implement DNS web filtering into it.

Top DNS Security Platforms for Business

To help you understand the best products on the market and find a tool that fits your needs, we have compiled a list of the top 5 DNS web filtering platforms for business.

#1. Check Point’s SASE

A comprehensive Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution with easy-to-use DNS content filtering services, Check Point’s SASE offers advanced cybersecurity for modern business networks.

Its business web filtering tools are quick to set up and simple to implement, with customizable black and whitelists and granular controls based on user groups.

Pros:

• DNS filtering without the latency, Check Point’s SASE offers 10x faster internet access compared to its competitors.
• Granular filtering controls that restrict access to specific websites or categories of websites based on user groups defined by you.
• Hybrid deployment that maintains protections and filtering regardless of the user’s connection, i.e., connected through the corporate network or not.
• 24/7 live support through multiple channels and extensive training resources, including documentation, webinars, and live online messages.

Cons:

• A free demo of the solution is available, but no free trial.
• Not available as a standalone DNS platform, as it is part of a broader SASE solution that provides comprehensive security for enterprise networks.

#2. Cloudflare Gateway

Cloudflare Gateway is a Secure Web Gateway (SWG) that provides visibility into internet traffic, enabling DNS content filtering services. Organizations can utilize built-in policies or design custom DNS web filtering policies with granular access depending on a range of factors (geolocation, device, etc.).

The SWG solution provides reporting to explain why requests are blocked based on current policies.

Pros:

• Customizable policies, including blacklists and different rules depending on the endpoint or protocol.
• Easy integration with other Cloudflare solutions.
• Provides an updated feed of malicious sites to automatically block.

Cons:

• The large number of features makes the product difficult to implement, especially for organizations looking for straightforward DNS filtering.
• Reports of poor customer support.

#3. NextDNS

A DNS-based security platform targeted for both individual and business use cases, NextDNS provides simple DNS filtering services with little setup required. The platform automatically blocks ads, trackers, and sites not suitable for work (social media, adult content, etc.).

NextDNS also provides a threat intelligence feed for infected or malicious websites and extensive reporting to track activity via its web-based console.

Pros:

• Offers a free service that could provide enough DNS filtering features for small businesses.
• Automatically blocks malicious sites or sites deemed unsuitable for work.
• Activity is logged and summarized for analysis in NextDNS’s web-based console.

Cons:

• Doesn’t cover application access.
• Limitations to the ad-blocking services provided.

#4. TitanHQ WebTitan

WebTitan from TitanHQ provides cloud-based DNS content filtering to protect against malware and phishing attacks. An easy-to-deploy solution that retains flexibility, TitanHQ has over 50 predefined categories to help create blocklists of domains.

The platform also provides scalable and fast filtering, making it suitable for both small and large operations.

Pros:

• Quick and easy to implement custom policies and blacklists with out-of-the-box controls.
• AI assessment for new URLs.
• Implement activity controls down to the individual user level.

Cons:

• Lack of private DNS options, as it only operates as a remote service.
• The large number of features can make it difficult to configure the product for optimal performance.

#5. Zscaler Cloud Firewall

The Zscaler Cloud Firewall platform includes DNS web filtering based on user-defined policies and a threat intelligence feed of malicious sites. With many other Zscaler products available, the company’s cloud firewall is easy to integrate with its other security tools, including SD-WAN or SASE.

Designed primarily for larger operations, Zscaler has limited pricing options for SMBs.

Pros:

• Easy integration with other Zscaler security solutions.
• Combines an updated threat intelligence list with site scans for malicious content identifiers.

Cons:

• Hard for small businesses to implement as the company does not publish pricing plans.
• Reports of slow network performance using Zscaler products.

Maximize Security with Check Point’s SASE

While there are many DNS filtering solutions available for business, of the top 5 DNS web filtering platforms listed, Check Point’s SASE offers the best balance between security, filtering controls, ease of use, customer support, and network performance.

FAQs

How does DNS filtering stop phishing attacks?

DNS filtering blocks access to domains linked with phishing campaigns before a connection is made, preventing employees from reaching fake login pages or malicious downloads.

Can DNS filtering improve employee productivity?

Yes. Businesses can block time-wasting or inappropriate websites—like social media or gambling sites—helping employees stay focused during work hours.

What’s the difference between DNS filtering and a Secure Web Gateway (SWG)?

DNS filtering focuses on blocking harmful or unwanted domains, while SWGs inspect full web traffic for threats and provide broader policy enforcement.

Does DNS filtering add latency to browsing?

Modern DNS filtering platforms are designed to reroute requests quickly. Leading solutions provide filtering with minimal or no noticeable latency.

Can DNS filters apply different policies for different users or devices?

Yes. Advanced DNS filtering solutions allow role-based or device-based policies, letting IT teams customize filtering rules across groups or locations.