DNS Filtering
& Web Security
Block malware, phishing, and ransomware command-and-control at the DNS layer — before the page ever loads, anywhere your users work.
The vast majority of malware and ransomware attacks rely on a domain lookup — to deliver a payload, harvest credentials on a phishing page, or call back to a command-and-control server. Once that connection is made, you are reacting to a problem that has already started.
DNS filtering moves the defense one step earlier. By inspecting every lookup before the connection is allowed, Inventive HQ stops malicious and policy-violating destinations from ever loading — on the office network and on every roaming laptop, with no appliance to buy.
Protection at the Speed of DNS
Four steps to filter the web for your whole organization
Point
Switch your DNS to our filtering resolvers, or push a lightweight roaming agent to laptops — no appliance, no network re-architecture.
Inspect
Every DNS lookup is checked against real-time threat intelligence and AI category models before the connection is allowed.
Block
Malware, phishing, ransomware C2, and policy-violating sites are stopped at resolution — the page never loads on the device.
Report
Clear dashboards show blocked threats, top categories, and per-user activity for compliance and executive review.
One Layer, Many Threats Stopped
DNS filtering closes the most common path attackers use to reach your people
Malware & Drive-By Downloads
Known-malicious and newly-registered domains are blocked before any payload can be fetched.
Phishing & Credential Theft
Lookalike and freshly-spun phishing domains are caught at the DNS layer, complementing your email security.
Ransomware C2 & Exfiltration
When malware tries to call home, the command-and-control lookup fails — breaking the kill chain mid-attack.
Risky & Inappropriate Sites
Category-based filtering enforces acceptable-use policy and content rules required by HIPAA, CIPA, and PCI scopes.
Off-Network Roaming Threats
A roaming agent protects laptops at home, in coffee shops, and on the road — the same policy follows the user everywhere.
Shadow IT & Data Risk
Block or surface unsanctioned SaaS and high-risk web apps so you can see — and govern — what users actually reach.
DNSFilter
AI-driven protective DNS with real-time domain classification and roaming-client coverage — fast to deploy across an SMB fleet.
- Real-time AI threat and content classification
- Roaming client for off-network laptops
- Category-based acceptable-use filtering
- Granular per-group policy and reporting
DefensX
Zero-trust web security and DNS protection built for MSP-managed environments — strong on browser isolation and roaming users.
- Zero-trust web access and isolation
- Phishing and credential-theft protection
- Always-on roaming user coverage
- Detailed web-activity visibility and logging
Not sure which platform fits? We evaluate your size, compliance scope, and existing stack, then deploy and manage the right one for you. Start by checking how your domains resolve with our free DNS Lookup tool and screen for impersonation with the Domain Spoofing Detector.
Why SMBs Trust Inventive HQ for Web Security
A managed layer that strengthens your whole security stack
Stops Threats Before They Load
Filtering at DNS resolution means the malicious page never reaches the browser.
Protects Roaming & Remote Users
The same policy follows every laptop off-network — no VPN backhaul required.
No Hardware, No Appliance
Cloud-delivered and agent-light — deploys across your fleet in hours, not weeks.
Compliance-Ready Content Filtering
Category controls and logging support HIPAA, CIPA, and acceptable-use requirements.
Fully Managed by Inventive HQ
We tune policy, review blocks, and handle exceptions — you get the protection, not the busywork.
High-Value, Low-Cost Add-On
A cost-effective layer that strengthens any managed-security plan from day one.
DNS Filtering Works Best Alongside the Rest of Your Stack
Pair web filtering with managed email security to close the two paths attackers use most, and with 24/7 detection & response to catch anything that still gets through.
What is DNS filtering?
DNS filtering inspects every domain-name lookup a device makes and blocks the request when the destination is malicious or violates policy. Because it acts at the DNS layer — before any connection is established — the harmful page never loads on the device.
How is DNS filtering different from a firewall or antivirus?
A firewall controls network traffic and antivirus inspects files on the device. DNS filtering works one step earlier: it stops the connection from being made at all. The layers are complementary — DNS filtering blocks the lookup, the firewall blocks the traffic, and antivirus catches anything that still gets through.
Does DNS filtering protect remote and roaming laptops?
Yes. With a lightweight roaming agent installed, your filtering policy follows each laptop everywhere — home Wi-Fi, hotels, and coffee shops — without backhauling traffic through a VPN. Off-network users get the same protection as those in the office.
Which vendors do you use?
We deploy and manage industry-leading protective-DNS platforms including DNSFilter and DefensX. We select and tune the platform that best fits your size, compliance needs, and existing stack.
Can DNS filtering help with HIPAA or CIPA compliance?
Yes. Content-category filtering and detailed activity logging support acceptable-use and content-control requirements under HIPAA, CIPA, and similar frameworks. We configure categories and reporting to match your compliance scope.
How long does it take to deploy?
Most environments are protected within hours. Network-level filtering can be live as soon as DNS is pointed at our resolvers, and the roaming agent rolls out across laptops through your existing management tooling.
Block the Threats Before They Load
Get a free web security assessment and see what DNS filtering would stop on your network — on-site and on every roaming laptop.