In the 21st century, everyone uses the internet almost every day for everything. Every company knows that maintaining a website performance is critical. A poorly managed website could negatively affect your reputation, revenue and customer retention. This is why every company should have the right service provider, right from your webhosting provider to DNS service provider. DNS Service providers are those that run the Domain Name System servers.
What is DNS?
DNS means the Domain Name System, which is a grading of name servers that have the intent to translate host names into IP addresses on a global scale.
If you don’t understand domain names, these are the addresses that you type in when you want to access a website. So, for example, if you want to go to Techaai website, you type in techaai.com or www.techaai.com or https://www.techaai.com. This is what domain name means.
However, such domain names are not clear to the computer, because computers use numbers to interpret information. Therefore, instead of domain names, the internet and other networks use internet protocol always called ‘IP’ addresses that are written out in numbers. It’s in translating the human name for a site to the computer name for the site that DNS servers come into the picture.
DNS, controls your domain name’s website and email settings. When visitors go to your domain name, its DNS settings control which company’s server it reaches out to.
For example, visitors will reach your service provider’s servers when using your domain name. If you change those settings to user another company’s servers, visitors will reach them instead when visiting your domain.
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Well, Here are the Most Popular DNS Service Providers
There are many DNS service providers and here are some of the most popular and most reliable DNS service providers. They include, Dyn , Hurricane electric internet service, NS1 , Cloud flare, Rackspace, Cloud DNS, Name cheap, Entry DNS, Free DNS, DNS4.Pro, Buddy NS and many others.
How To Choose The Right DNS Service Provider
1. Provider Track Record and Experience
First considering the DNS service provider’s track record when choosing them to handle any critical aspect of your business is very crucial. The right service provider should be able to point to real world implementations of the service globally. Only with such references in hand can you be confident you are getting a strong, scalable solution.
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2. Performance
The performance of the DNS service provider is one of the factors to consider when choosing the right DNS service provider. This includes speed, security and many others. This is because when the service provider performs perfectly, then the service they offer is also perfect. When you just choose a service provider, its performance will affect your performance. The service provider should provide consistently fast DNS responses from any location under all traffic load conditions.
3. Availability
With the right DNS service provider, there should be no single point of failure. Your DNS service provider should use multiple carriers to avoid being affected by a network failure. Before committing to a service contract, make sure you understand the fail over and recovery strategy of the service provider in the case of a node, network or major power failure or natural disaster. There should be no single point of failure in the service. This is very true, because every single failure will definitely affect your website performance. It is very essential to always consider service providers that are available and reliable at all times.
4. DDdoS Resiliency and Security
Most cyber criminals target DNS service providers with DDoS attacks because DNS plays a key role in delivering all Internet services. It is very important to consider a service provider with a DNS infrastructure that is resistant to DDoS attacks. Make sure that your service provider can efficiently handle DNS-based DDoS attacks. Also, you need to implement complementary DDoS protection and managed DNS services so that you are able to outdo any difficulty that requires a massive DNS infrastructure while filtering all malicious DDoS traffic. When the service provider is affected, then, be sure to be part of the outcome as well.
For example in September 2016, when Dyn was affected by a massive DDoS attack, it brought with it all other companies that were hosted by Dyn. For example, Netflix, Twitter, Spotify, Reddfy and many others. However, those that had multiple DNS service providers were not affected at all.
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5. Online Service Management
The service should provide an easy to use interface that supports existing workflows and multiple user roles. The service provider should be in position to manage the online service, fixing all the online issues. Your proper existence online is determined by your hosts. Having a reliable host that manages your online service and existence is very crucial.
6. Global Traffic Management
DNS service providers with widely deployed network services can balance global load to optimize performance and keep Internet traffic running smoothly through their data centers and cloud platforms. Internet traffic is commonly managed today using a hardware-based solution, but the costly combination of the initial capital outlay, operational maintenance, future upgrades and skilled staffing requirements makes this an expensive and complex approach to traffic management.
This approach also increases your risk of downtime due to DDoS attacks. Using the traffic management capabilities of your DNS service can provide many benefits, including enhanced security, capacity, scalability, and solution elasticity, as well as lower operating expenses and no capital expenses. In addition to this, the service provider should be able to manage the online presence of the clients.
7. Included Features and Continuous Investment and Innovation
The provider should offer advanced features to meet the needs of your online presence on your website. Such features are needed for your company. A DNS service provider with included features offers you with the best services. Such features include, speed, security, reluctance and many others. The provider should show a demonstrable passion for, and record of, investing and improving the entire DNS ecosystem. A service provider that shows interest in a future continuous investment and innovation is always the best to use. This is because you are assured of a continual support from the service providers. A continuous investment means a continuous support from the service providers.
8. Service and Support
With something as critical as DNS, any service you consider should provide access to full time 24 hour customer support. A key element of the value in outsourcing your DNS is that you no longer need to maintain in-house expertise. For this to become reality, you need a service provider with a strong support team. If you have a problem in the middle of the night, you want to be sure that your provider is ready and able to help you resolve the issue.
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Why Choose the [Right] and [Reliable] Service Provider?
1. Speed
In choosing the right DNS, speed matters a lot. Using a fast DNS hosting provider ensures there is less latency between the DNS lookup and TTFB. You can test the DNS lookup time and TTFB with a website speed test tool. Just like with content delivery networks, DNS hosting providers also have multiple POPs. In general, the more locations, the better as this means there will more likely be a DNS server closer to the visitor, decreasing the lookup time.
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2. Security
In choosing the right DNS service provider, security is very important feature to consider, and this will definitely determine how safe your domain service will be. It should be taken into consideration that the best DNS service provider is that one with the best security. Security is very important.
Some free DNS hosting providers are equipped with features such as firewall policies, rate limiting, filtering, and blocking that can help mitigate and prevent DDoS attacks. And of course having multiple DNS providers means that if one is taken down from a DDos attack you can always resort to your secondary.
Conclusion
Choosing the right DNS Service provider will save you a lot from moving from one to another especially when something goes wrong. The right DNS Service provider is one who will offer you the best services with enough security, speed and gives you full service.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing your DNS service provider, but with these major factors that I have discussed, you can be confident that you are in position to make the right choice of your DNS service provider.
