26 February 2026

James Griffin, CEO, CyberSentriq

The key to completely securing company networks is to prevent infiltration of threats at the source. By utilising the Domain Name System (DNS), organisations can prevent access to dangerous locations masquerading as legitimate resources.

While we can take the long-standing presence of DNS processes for granted, as it allows us to find sites without needing to memorise IP numbers, having filtering of such information in place is vital towards achieving complete protection, while eradicating interruptions.

This article from James Griffin, CEO of CyberSentriq, a unified cybersecurity and data resilience platform purpose-built for MSPs, discusses the importance of DNS filtering to your data protection strategy, and how filtering powered by AI keeps networks protected.

Current online threats to businesses

Threat actors are getting more and more savvy with their approaches, finding new ways to implement malware into websites, online portals, and supply chains. In recent times, browser scripts have become hijacked by malicious codes, allowing cyber attackers to steal sensitive data and redirect users to phishing sites - impacting thousands of businesses in the process. Without the right security tools, such damage remains invisible until it’s too late.

With cybercriminals increasingly abusing generative AI to produce phishing websites that appear increasingly authentic to users, it is getting more difficult to tell true from false sites with the naked human eye. Manually sifting through so much information across communication platforms to determine safety can also be time-consuming and inefficient.

Organisations must look into investing in intuitive security tools, including DNS filtering, that can encompass networks and stay abreast of signs of threats.

Staying ahead of malware distribution tactics

When working with an array of suppliers and partners - a highly common situation among UK firms of all sizes - network security across all endpoints is paramount, as any vulnerabilities can impact the entire supply chain.

Threat actors know this and will implement malware into frequently used sites and portals as a result. However, by having DNS filtering in place, users on an individual level can stay protected from mistakenly entering illegitimate sites day-to-day, while security teams can experience decreased strain by not needing to keep track of URL or IP details.

DNS filtering powered by AI can more intelligently block or allow access to specific URLs, preventing staff from entering specifically malicious sites without disrupting day-to-day processes. MSPs can granularly define policies concerning URL filtering, and keep granted access to sites to the specific users or groups that need them. From any click, redirection evaluation, logging and reporting away from harmful sources can be completed in seconds.

While firewalls and anti-virus software as part of a larger system have proved effective in the past, threat actors are getting better at circumnavigating these measures to spread malware. In addition, these tools are stagnant, and incapable of staying aligned with the speed of attack evolution being overseen by cyber criminals.

Boosting compliance and productivity

Automated DNS filtering can be set up and operate securely in the background, providing peace of mind for employees and allowing them to focus on delivering value.

By having this in place, businesses can demonstrate strong data protection from data breaches to regulators, to ensure compliance. Many data protection regulations call for complete filtering of content.

The benefits of having AI-powered DNS filtering in place go beyond preventing exposure to malware. This feature can also block access to social media and streaming sites - effectively minimising distractions to the workforce, and further boosting productivity.

Unifying data protection features in the cloud

DNS filtering tools, as with any security feature, work best as part of a connected arsenal of capabilities that can all be found in one place.

Security teams can granularly tailor their online policies flexibly in an all-in-one cloud-native platform, based on exact company needs. This includes enacting policies for certain departments or user groups; preventing bypasses; query routing to aid reporting; and testing and reviewing where necessary.

Cloud-native infrastructure facilitating unified data protection underpins AI-powered processes that can rapidly detect and eradicate new and emerging threats that may not be documented by traditional systems. Additionally, AI trained to detect malicious IP addresses can help to minimise false positives.

Integrating DNS filtering data into a centralised platform that unifies all security logs, maximises visibility and strengthens behavioural monitoring, helps organisations stay one step ahead as threats evolve.

DNS filtering may be just one layer in a multi-layered defence strategy, but its impact is foundational. By blocking malicious traffic at the source it reduces risk and also eases the load on every other layer of defence, protecting systems, security teams, and the workforce alike.