DNS Analytics 101: How to Improve Network Visibility and Security with Real-Time Insights

DNS isn’t just a domain lookup tool, but a window into everything happening on your network.

DNS analytics transforms raw query data into actionable insights that help you detect threats, enforce access policies, and improve performance.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to turn your DNS traffic into a strategic advantage using Control D.

What Is DNS Analytics and Why Does It Matter for Network Security?

DNS analytics involves monitoring and analyzing DNS query logs to uncover patterns, anomalies, and events within your network traffic. Every device, app, or user interaction that accesses the internet sends out DNS queries – often hundreds or thousands per day. DNS analytics provide a comprehensive, real-time view of how users and endpoints interact with online resources.

And because DNS operates before a full connection is even established, DNS analytics provides a first line of insight – it’s fast, low-overhead, and earlier than endpoint or firewall logs.

Top 5 Ways DNS Analytics Improves Network Security

Here’s why DNS analytics should be a key pillar in your cybersecurity and IT strategy.

1. Detect Threats Before They Reach Endpoints

Many cyberattacks rely on DNS, and suspicious DNS activity is often the first red flag. DNS analytics can help identify malware communications, command-and-control (C2) callbacks, DNS tunneling, and phishing attempts, all before endpoint protection kicks in.

It can help detect:

Connections to known malicious domains
Requests to newly registered or rarely seen domains
High volumes of failed lookups or non-existent domains (NXDOMAIN responses)
Unusual spike in queries from specific IPs or locations

Unlike endpoint detection systems, DNS-based threat detection works across all devices – even unmanaged BYOD or IoT endpoints – because it sits at the network level

2. Gain Complete Visibility Into Network Activity

DNS analytics helps uncover what’s happening across your entire network, even beyond your firewall. You can see:

Which domains users are accessing
The frequency and timing of requests
Requests from unmanaged devices or IoT endpoints
Shadow IT activity, like unauthorized SaaS apps

This level of visibility is crucial for IT and security teams. As mentioned earlier, instead of waiting for tickets or alerts, you can proactively monitor usage patterns and spot issues before they escalate.

3. Troubleshoot Performance and Resolve Bottlenecks

DNS analytics can also highlight performance bottlenecks and help with troubleshooting. If users are complaining about slow connections or broken services, logs can show:

Failed DNS resolutions
Latency issues
Overloaded DNS resolvers
Domains being incorrectly blocked
Application-level misconfigurations

You can use this data to:

Improve bandwidth planning
Fine-tune content filtering rules
Prioritize critical SaaS tools
Justify investment in certain platforms

Fewer support tickets and faster resolution times mean a better end-user experience – and more time back for your IT team.

4. Enforce Policies and Monitor Compliance

By tying DNS analytics into your access control policies, you can enforce category-based restrictions (e.g., block social media, gambling, adult content) and monitor compliance in real time.

Instead of just blocking access, DNS analytics provide detailed logs that show:

Which user or device made the request
What category the domain belongs to
Whether the access was allowed, blocked, or redirected
Identify attempts to bypass policies using alternate domains or DNS servers

This turns your DNS layer into an enforcement point for broader security and acceptable use policies. This is especially important in regulated industries where audit trails are essential for compliance.

5. Accelerate Incident Response with Rich Logs

If an incident does occur, DNS logs are a goldmine of context. You can quickly backtrack:

Which devices resolved a known malicious domain
When the suspicious activity started
What other domains were accessed before or after

This makes incident response faster and more precise.

Important DNS Analytics Metrics to Track for Security and Performance

Here are a few examples of metrics that matter and what they might tell you:

Metric	What It Reveals
Top Queried Domains	Most-visited domains in the organization
Top Queried Services	Most-used services or apps in the organization
Blocked Domains & Categories	Attempted access to risky or restricted content
Failed DNS Lookups	Possible misconfigurations, typos, or expired services
Query Frequency by Device/IP	High-risk or compromised hosts
Repeated Queries to Random Domains	Possible DNS tunneling or botnet activity
Unusual Query Times	Off-hours activity or unauthorized access
Response Time & Resolution Failures	Performance issues and potential DNS hijacking

How Control D Makes DNS Analytics Easy and Actionable

Control D isn’t just another DNS resolver – it’s a fully customizable DNS filtering and analytics platform that puts visibility and control back in your hands.

It gives you the tools to inspect, filter, and act on DNS data in real time, giving you the context you need to make data-driven decisions.

✅ Real-Time Dashboards and Detailed Logs

Control D provides real-time dashboards and comprehensive logging to give you full visibility into your network’s DNS activity. It breaks down DNS activity by:

Source IP
Device or network identity
Request destination
Outcome (allowed, blocked, redirected)
Rule/policy trigger
Admin action logs

These insights allow you to quickly identify security threats, monitor acceptable use, and enforce access policies with precision. It also helps you comply with CIPA, HIPAA, and KCSIE regulations.

✅ SIEM Integration

Control D allows you to forward raw DNS query logs to your SIEM tool of choice in real time.

This helps you unify security data collection and enables you to aggregate, analyze, and respond to security threats efficiently, ensuring that DNS is incorporated into your broader cybersecurity workflow.

✅ Granular Filtering

Control D’s DNS analytics is deeply integrated with its filtering engine. There are 20 content categories (e.g., social media, adult content, malware, phishing) and over 1,000+ Services (apps, tools, vendors, etc.) to choose from.

These filters generate analytics of their own, showing how many threats were prevented, what policies were triggered, and whether your network users comply with your guidelines.

✅ Device-Level Intelligence Without Agents

Unlike legacy solutions that require endpoint agents or VPNs, Control D ties DNS analytics directly to each device, user group, or network, without invasive software installations. This makes it ideal for hybrid/remote workforces, guest Wi-Fi, IoT environments, and BYOD policies.