Managed DNS: Everything you need to know

What is managed DNS?

Most  websites and online services depend on the domain name system (DNS) to function. It converts human-friendly domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses that computers use to find websites.

Managed DNS is a service offered by DNS hosting that lets you use its advanced infrastructure and established name servers. This system allows you to host and manage DNS records efficiently, enhancing your website's availability and reliability. Instead of maintaining your own DNS servers and handling the configurations, you delegate the job to the provider that ensures the best performance.

While self-hosted DNS requires technical expertise, ongoing maintenance, network monitoring, and security measures, managed DNS service providers handle these challenges for you, offering a more resilient, scalable, and optimized solution.

How does managed DNS work?

Managed DNS solutions take care of the entire process of DNS resolution and optimization. Here's how it works:

1. 1.Domain registration and configuration. When you register a domain name, it must be configured with DNS settings. Managed DNS services allow you to set up and manage these settings through a user-friendly interface.
2. 2.DNS record management. A DNS record defines how traffic should be directed for a domain. Managed DNS providers make it easy to add, update, and manage records with no need for deep technical knowledge.
3. 3.DNS caching. A managed DNS service updates DNS records on authoritative servers as soon as changes are made. However, the updates don’t take effect everywhere instantly. DNS clients will only see the new record once they query the DNS server again after the cache refreshes.
4. 4.Query resolution. When someone visits your website, the managed DNS provider quickly resolves the query by providing the correct IP address. If the data isn’t cached, the local resolver runs a recursive query, systematically contacting DNS servers until it reaches the authoritative DNS server for your domain.
5. 5.Load balancing and failover. DNS load balancing distributes incoming requests across multiple servers by responding to DNS queries with different IP addresses. This feature prevents bottlenecks and keeps response times fast. If a server goes down, failover mechanisms instantly redirect users to a backup server. Monitor probes constantly check server health, making sure users always connect to an available server.
6. 6.Security and monitoring. Managed DNS providers defend against threats like cache poisoning, and domain hijacking. Most providers also include DNS monitoring, enabling real-time tracking and analysis. This helps organizations spot issues, troubleshoot network problems, and optimize their DNS infrastructure.

Advantages of using managed DNS

Using a managed DNS service offers major advantages, especially for businesses that rely on fast, secure, and reliable website performance.

Better performance and speed

Global DNS networks of high-performance servers ensure that users are always routed through the fastest path. This reduces latency, ensures fast loading, and improves reliability.

Improved reliability and uptime

Since the DNS server converts domain names into IP addresses, a failure can make your website or services unreachable. With redundant servers and automated failover, managed DNS keeps a website online even if one server fails — traffic is automatically rerouted to a backup server, preventing disruptions.

Enhanced protection

Managed DNS providers protect against threats like distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, cache poisoning, and domain hijacking. Managed DNS security features often include DDoS mitigation, domain name system security extensions (DNSSEC), and other measures designed to block malware and phishing attempts.

Simplified management

Providers make management easier with automation tools, API integration, and intuitive dashboards, allowing you to easily control traffic, update records, and adjust configurations.

Cost efficiency

Since managed DNS provider resources are shared by many customers globally in a multi-tenant environment, each customer gets high-performance, cost-effective solutions without the overhead of maintaining servers. Some providers also offer free DNS plans with basic features, though advanced capabilities typically require a paid plan.

Analytics and reporting

With a managed DNS system, teams receive real-time updates about DNS infrastructure health so they can quickly detect and fix issues before they affect users.

Support for advanced features

Features like GeoDNS and Anycast routing ensure users are always routed to the nearest and best-performing servers for the best experience.

Disadvantages of using managed DNS

While managed DNS offers many advantages, it's not the right fit for every business. Here are some drawbacks to keep in mind.

Vendor dependence and limited control

Relying on a managed DNS provider means putting your DNS infrastructure in someone else's hands. If they go down, change pricing, or modify service terms, your options are limited.

Potential latency issues

Most managed DNS providers are optimized for fast loading, but some lower-tier services may have latency issues in specific regions. However, top-tier providers like Cloudflare and Google DNS typically avoid this problem.

Security and privacy risks

Your DNS traffic is handled by a third-party provider, which means you need to trust it with your data. Again, top providers like Google, Cloudflare, and Amazon take their security seriously.

Migration complexity

Switching providers isn't as simple as updating a setting. A smooth migration requires planning, testing, and staged rollouts to avoid downtime and make sure traffic is routed correctly.

Managed DNS vs. self-hosted DNS

Self-hosting DNS puts you in full control: You deploy, configure, secure, and maintain your own DNS servers. This approach allows you to customize DNS settings for specific applications and services as needed. However, it also includes handling outages, cybersecurity threats, and performance issues. Because DNS queries are resolved from a single physical location, users far from your server may experience delays. And if your DNS server goes down, so does access to your website or app — until you fix it.

With a managed DNS service, you offload all these tasks and potential problems to a specialized provider, ensuring faster resolution, global redundancy, and built-in security — but at a recurring cost. Self-hosting can be more customizable and cost-effective for businesses with strong IT teams, but it requires constant upkeep and protection against DDoS attacks and other threats.

For most businesses, managed DNS is the smarter choice unless they have a specific need for in-house control over DNS settings and security.

Here's a quick comparison between the two options:

What are the main services of managed DNS providers?

Managed DNS providers offer a range of services designed for the best performance:

• DNS resolution and hosting:
  • Authoritative DNS servers store and serve DNS records, mapping domain names to IP addresses.
  • Recursive DNS servers cache previously resolved queries to speed up future lookups and reduce query time.
• Traffic management and performance optimization:
  • Load balancing distributes traffic across multiple servers to prevent overload.
  • GeoDNS directs users to the nearest server based on their location for faster access.
  • Anycast DNS uses a global network of servers to route traffic to the closest available one, reducing latency and improving reliability.
• Security and failover protection:
  • DDoS protection filters and blocks malicious traffic to prevent DDoS attacks.
  • DNS failover automatically switches traffic to backup servers if the primary ones fail.
  • DNSSEC protects against DNS spoofing by verifying the authenticity of DNS data.
• Automation and customization:
  • API access allows businesses to automate DNS management and integrate it with their infrastructure.
  • Dynamic DNS updates DNS records automatically when IP addresses change, which is useful for remote devices and cloud-based services.
  • Custom record management allows precise control over DNS configurations to meet specific needs.
• Analytics and monitoring:
  • Real-time analytics provide in-depth insights into performance, query patterns, and potential threats.
  • Infrastructure monitoring detects and alerts teams to DNS issues before they affect users.

Features to look for in a managed DNS service provider

Not all providers offer the same capabilities, so don’t just get any managed DNS service  — check the details first. Here's what to look for when choosing the right DNS service provider:

• Performance. A provider with a global server network can ensure fast DNS resolution, reducing latency for users worldwide.
• Reliability. Look for providers with redundant infrastructure and automatic failover to prevent downtime.
• Cybersecurity features. Protection against DDoS, DNS spoofing, and cache poisoning is essential. DNSSEC support is a plus.
• Scalability. Your DNS solution should handle traffic spikes and grow along with your business without performance drops.
• Ease of use and management. A user-friendly dashboard, API access, and automation tools make managing DNS records and configurations easier.
• Compliance and support. Check for regulatory compliance (GDPR, SOC 2) and 24/7 customer support, especially for mission-critical applications.

Main managed DNS service providers

Here are some of the leading managed DNS providers, each with its own strengths:

• Cloudflare DNS. Fast, secure, and includes built-in DDoS protection.
• Google Cloud DNS. Reliable and integrates well with Google Cloud.
• Amazon Route 53. Highly scalable with advanced traffic routing and failover options.
• Azure DNS. Best for Microsoft-based infrastructures.
• Dyn (Oracle DNS). Enterprise-grade performance and security with advanced traffic steering.
• NS1. Smart traffic management and automation-focused features.
• OpenDNS. Strong security and content filtering, ideal for businesses prioritizing network protection.