The fastest, cheapest security win.
DNS filtering blocks malicious and unwanted destinations before a connection ever opens. It costs almost nothing, deploys in an hour, and stops a meaningful share of attacks at the door.
If we could only deploy one security control on day one, it would be this.
Every connection on the internet starts with a DNS lookup. "What's the IP for this domain?" If we can intercept that lookup and refuse to answer for known-malicious destinations, the connection never opens — no payload, no callback, no exfiltration. It's the cheapest, fastest security layer there is.
DNS filtering catches: phishing destinations (the fake-Microsoft login page the user just clicked from email); malware command-and-control (the beaconing channel an infected machine uses to talk home); cryptominers; newly-registered domains (the 30-day-old domain in a phishing email is statistically attack-related more often than not); and content categories you don't want on a business network (gambling, adult, social-media if you choose).
What 4UIT deploys
We use Cisco Umbrella and DNSFilter depending on customer size and feature needs. Both block roughly the same threat categories; Umbrella has deeper integration with Cisco Talos threat intelligence, DNSFilter is faster to deploy and cheaper at the SMB tier.
Roaming agents on every laptop mean DNS filtering follows the user — Tim Hortons WiFi, hotel network, home office, all filtered. On-premises deployments use the firewall or local DNS server as the resolver.
What it looks like for users
Nothing — until they click a phishing link. Then they see a branded "blocked" page with a description of why, an option to request a review (it goes to us), and they keep working. No payload was ever fetched.
Reporting & tuning
Monthly: top blocked categories, top users, top domains, false-positive review queue. We tune category lists with you — most businesses block the obvious (malware, phishing, newly-registered domains, illegal content), some add productivity categories, some go further. It's your network.
Common questions.
Doesn't my firewall already do web filtering?
Yes, on the corporate network. DNS filtering with a roaming agent extends that protection to every laptop wherever it goes — coffee shop, home, airport. About 60% of work happens off the corporate LAN now; firewall-only filtering protects the other 40%.
Will it slow down browsing?
DNS lookups are typically 10–30ms. A managed DNS resolver is usually faster than the default ISP resolver, not slower. Users notice nothing.
What happens when something legitimate is blocked?
User clicks 'request review' on the block page; the request lands with us; we triage and either unblock with a one-click rule or explain why it stays blocked. Average turnaround: under 2 business hours.
Can I block specific categories — gambling, social media, adult content?
Yes — both products have deep category systems. We typically default-on the security categories (malware, phishing, C2) and let you decide on productivity categories (social, streaming, gaming). It's your call, your network.
How is this different from antivirus or EDR?
DNS filtering blocks the connection before anything is downloaded. EDR blocks the payload after it's downloaded but before it executes. AV blocks known-bad files. They layer; you want all three.
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