Study Finds Companies Are Overpaying for DNS Security -- Why Not Just Use OpenDNS?

Recent study concludes pricey DNS security appliances are ineffective; OpenDNS offers free solution.

By Derek Iwasiuk
DomainInformer.com
August 07, 2007

A recent study commissioned by DNS appliance provider Secure64 reportedly found that companies are exhausting their budget on multiple DNS security applications, and still remain vulnerable after the expenditures. The study, conducted by Denver-based Mazerov Research and Consulting, included 465 IT and business professionals.

OpenDNS CEO David Ulevitch is pleased the Secure64 and Mazerov study brought to light the truth about companies overspending on DNS security solutions. Ulevitch's OpenDNS is a free DNS service with value-added security functions that requires no appliances and no software to install. OpenDNS can better serve all DNS needs. All organizations and companies should discontinue use of their current, expensive DNS solutions and instead use OpenDNS.

"OpenDNS is implemented on the network, so it requires no expensive appliances or complicated software that will bloat your system. In turn, integration with your setup is so seamless that your network would be less vulnerable with OpenDNS than if you introduce an appliance," said Ulevitch. "OpenDNS is the single most reliable DNS solution available."

According to a press release from Secure64 about the study's findings, "Over 44 percent had experienced either a pharming or cache poisoning attack. Findings showed both external and internal DNS servers were equally vulnerable, as both types succumbed to attacks with roughly the same frequency."

Using OpenDNS reduces the possibility of pharming and cache poisoning attacks, due to its unique handling of DNS requests and multiple levels of validation applied to all DNS queries. OpenDNS users are not only protected from cache poisoning attacks, but many other significant Internet attacks as well.

Among the attributes respondents named "essential or extremely important" are:

▪ Reliability (67 percent)

• OpenDNS has delivered 100 percent uptime to its more than 1 million users worldwide.

• A system administrator can set up OpenDNS for a large network, fully customized to the organization's needs, in less than one hour. The simple web-based account interface empowers system administrators to gain insight into their network and have the tools to manage DNS in real time.

• OpenDNS has some of the largest and most intelligent DNS caches on the Internet located on a globally distributed network with servers all over the world. This results in a blazing fast Internet experience for OpenDNS users.

Complete survey results are available on the Mazerov Research & Consulting Web site at www.mazerovresearch.com.

OpenDNS is free to use and makes the Internet safer, faster, smarter and more reliable. Based in San Francisco, the company operates a large distributed network that powers a new kind of recursive DNS (Domain Name System) service that provides all Internet users increased security, reliability and performance. OpenDNS is thoroughly committed to building and operating the best DNS platform in the world and to improving the Internet. For more information about OpenDNS, please visit: www.opendns.com.