What Is Protective DNS?
Protective DNS (PDNS) is a security layer that stops threats before they ever reach your devices or network—by blocking malicious activity at the DNS level.
Every time a device tries to access a website, send data to a server, or reach any internet resource, it makes a DNS request to resolve a domain name (like example.com) into an IP address. Protective DNS intercepts these outbound DNS queries and analyzes them in real time to determine whether the destination is safe.
If the domain is known or suspected to be malicious—such as a phishing site, malware command-and-control server, or data exfiltration endpoint—the request is blocked or redirected, preventing the connection altogether.
This proactive approach helps:
Prevent malware from “calling home”
Thwart phishing attempts before users engage
Stop data exfiltration attempts early
Protect users across all locations and devices
By enforcing security decisions at the DNS layer, PDNS reduces risk, limits exposure, and enhances your overall cybersecurity posture without needing to inspect every packet.