Prioritizing Network Security Through DNS: Insights from NIST Report
In a strategic evolution of cybersecurity practices, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released an update to its Special Publication 800-81r3. This publication underscores the critical role of the Domain Name System (DNS) as a frontline defense and a key element of zero trust architectures.
Organizations can deploy protective DNS solutions through third-party services or by using internally managed DNS infrastructure, with NIST recommending a combination of both approaches. Protective DNS significantly reduces the risk of an attack, blocking cybercriminals before they can deliver malicious payloads without disrupting access to legitimate internet traffic.
The updated best practices emphasize that DNS is a critical component of any organization's security strategy, with three foundational pillars: implementing protective DNS, securing the DNS protocol, and fortifying DNS infrastructure.
DNS security has become a priority for trustworthy network operations and forms the basis of zero trust security models. Key elements of a secure DNS strategy, as recommended by NIST SP 800-81r3, include:
- DNS Security as a Priority: NIST SP 800-81r3 emphasizes DNS security as essential for trustworthy network operations and foundational to zero trust security models.
- Visibility and Monitoring: Implementing end-to-end visibility and continuous monitoring of DNS traffic and infrastructure to detect malicious activities or anomalies early.
- Automation and Risk Mitigation: Automating DNS security posture management to reduce human error and improve response times, alongside proactive risk mitigations to prevent exploitation of DNS vulnerabilities.
- DNS Infrastructure Protection: Securing DNS servers and resolvers through best practices that reduce their exposure to known DNS attacks like cache poisoning, spoofing, and denial of service.
These elements align with a broader shift in organizational thinking about DNS security, treating it not merely as a network service but as a critical security control point and attack surface.
In addition, securing the DNS protocol includes using Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) to ensure the integrity of DNS responses, implementing Transaction Signatures (TSIG) for secure communication between DNS servers, and DNS traffic encryption. Organizations can reduce the impact of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack by separating DNS services from other core systems.
Hardening DNS servers by limiting open ports, disabling unnecessary services, and applying regular security patches helps protect against vulnerabilities. Continuous monitoring of DNS traffic helps organizations detect abnormal behavior or signs of attack in real-time, further fortifying their security posture.
Implementing high availability and redundancy ensures that DNS services remain operational even during an attack. The global cybercriminal network known as Vextrio Viper controls over 70,000 malicious domains and uses DNS-based exploitation tactics to distribute malware, run scams, and orchestrate large-scale fraud campaigns.
Coleman Mehta, head of global public policy and strategy at Infoblox, highlights the importance of these updates, stating, "NIST's proposed shift in how organizations should approach cybersecurity, recognizing Secure DNS as foundational to cybersecurity and a key element of zero trust architectures, is a significant step forward in protecting our digital infrastructure."
For comprehensive guidelines on the official detailed controls and configurations, it is recommended to consult the actual NIST SP 800-81r3 document.
- The federal workforce, specifically in the industry of finance, banking-and-insurance, and technology, should prioritize DNS security, as emphasized by NIST SP 800-81r3, to ensure trustworthy network operations.
- To reduce risk and improve response times, organizations can automate their DNS security posture management and employ proactive risk mitigations recommended by NIST SP 800-81r3.
- Protecting DNS infrastructure is crucial in combating known DNS attacks such as cache poisoning, spoofing, and denial of service, which is a focus of NIST SP 800-81r3.
- The workforce, reimagined in the light of these updated best practices, should consider a combination of third-party services and internally managed DNS infrastructure to effectively deploy protective DNS solutions.
