At 010grp, we see the pattern across Ontario and beyond: one click, one endpoint reaches a malicious domain, and suddenly you’re in ransomware containment mode or staring at a compromised Microsoft 365 tenant. The best part? DNS/URL filtering is one of the few security moves that’s high impact, low drama. It reduces risk without asking your staff to become threat hunters.
Canada’s cyber agency literally tells you to do this
This isn’t “010grp’s opinion vs. the world.” The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s Baseline cyber security controls for small and medium organizations explicitly recommends implementing a DNS firewall to prevent connections to known malicious web domains, and even notes DNS firewalls can support content filtering.
Translation: if you’re a Canadian business and you don’t have protective DNS / web filtering in place, you’re skipping an “80/20” control that our own national guidance calls out as foundational.
What DNS & URL filtering actually blocks (and why it matters)
DNS is the internet’s phone book. When a user types a website, or when malware tries to reach a command‑and‑control server, DNS turns a name into an IP address. A DNS firewall / protective DNS sits in that lookup path and says one of three things:
- “No.” This domain is known malicious (phishing, malware, botnet, ransomware infrastructure).
- “Not from here.” This category is blocked for your business (newly registered domains, lookalike domains, pirated software, crypto‑mining sites, etc.).
- “Allowed — and logged.” Even when permitted, the lookup becomes a security signal you can monitor and investigate.
That matters because phishing is not a rare event. The APWG phishing trend reports track phishing at industrial scale, attackers keep getting better at making malicious URLs look normal, urgent, and “business‑legit.” Your people will click. The question is whether your network will let that click turn into downtime.
URL filtering takes it a step further by evaluating full web requests (not just the domain) to catch risky redirects, suspicious paths, and web‑based payloads. At 010grp, our URL filtering service is designed for exactly this: controlling web access in a way that protects users without choking productivity.
Myth-busting: 3 beliefs that keep Canadian SMBs exposed
Myth #1: “We already have a firewall.”
Great. Your firewall is mostly focused on inbound threats and ports. But the bulk of modern compromises ride on outbound web traffic (HTTPS) that looks legitimate. DNS/URL filtering attacks that problem at the source: where your devices try to connect.
Myth #2: “Our antivirus will catch it.”
Sometimes. But relying on endpoint protection alone is like betting your entire business on a single goalie. Fileless attacks, browser‑based payloads, and credential theft can slip past “classic malware” detections. DNS/URL filtering reduces how many dangerous connections ever happen in the first place.
Myth #3: “Training is enough; people just need to be careful.”
Security awareness matters (we run it because humans are targeted nonstop), but training isn’t a substitute for guardrails. Training is the seatbelt. DNS/URL filtering is the airbag. You want both.
The 7-day DNS & URL filtering rollout plan you can actually execute
Here’s the practical rollout plan we use at 010grp when we want fast risk reduction without boiling the ocean. This is tuned for Canadian SMB reality: lean teams, hybrid work, and zero patience for “security projects” that break operations.
Day 1: Pick your enforcement points (office, remote, mobile)
- Office network: enforce protected DNS at the router/firewall/DHCP layer so every device is covered by default.
- Remote users: enforce DNS filtering on laptops via endpoint agent, secure gateway, or VPN policy.
- Guest & BYOD: separate networks and decide what gets protected versus isolated.
Hard truth: if you only protect the office, you’ve protected the building… not the business.
Day 2: Start with categories that stop real attacks
Don’t build a thousand‑domain blacklist. Use threat intelligence and categories. A strong default for most Canadian organizations:
- Block known malicious (malware, phishing, botnets)
- Block newly registered domains (a common tactic for phishing and scam infrastructure)
- Block command‑and‑control and crypto‑mining endpoints
- Restrict high‑risk categories that don’t belong at work (pirated software, adult content, gambling)
Day 3: Close the “encrypted DNS escape hatch”
Modern browsers can use DNS‑over‑HTTPS (DoH), which can bypass network DNS controls if you don’t manage it. In a managed environment (Microsoft 365/Intune, Google Workspace, etc.), disable unmanaged DoH or force DoH to your approved resolver. This is the difference between “we deployed filtering” and “we deployed a suggestion.”
Day 4: Add URL filtering for the messy web reality
DNS filtering blocks the lookup. URL filtering adds deeper context (full URL paths, risky redirects, suspicious downloads). Layer both. If you’re only doing DNS, you’re leaving coverage on the table.
Day 5: Turn DNS/URL logs into detection (not just blocking)
Blocking is great. Visibility is better. Pipe DNS/URL events into your monitoring- ideally with 24/7 triage. DNS is an early indicator of compromise: beaconing, suspicious domains, and unusual lookups right after a file is opened.
If you don’t have the internal bench for this, that’s exactly what SIEM/SOC-as-a-Service is for: detection and response that doesn’t go to sleep at 5 p.m.
Day 6: Build a sane exception process (before executives demand “unblock everything”)
Filtering fails when exceptions become political. Build a simple, non‑dramatic workflow:
- Users request access with a business reason
- IT reviews reputation, category, and domain age
- Temporary allowlist first (7–14 days), then permanent if it’s legitimate
Day 7: Pressure-test the control with real scenarios
Run a mini drill: controlled phishing simulation, test a known‑malicious domain block page, and verify alerts land where they should. If nobody sees the alert, you don’t have a control, you have theatre.
If you want a broader operational plan mapped to Canadian guidance, read Stop Checking Boxes: Make Canada’s Baseline Controls Work in 60 Days.
Where DNS & URL filtering fits in a real cyber protection stack
DNS/URL filtering isn’t your whole security program. It’s a force multiplier. Pair it with the controls attackers hate most:
- Phishing-resistant sign-in: Move away from passwords and weak MFA. Start with Stop Using Passwords: Your 30‑Day Passkey Plan.
- Payment integrity controls: Because Business Email Compromise is brutal. Read One Email. One Wire. You’re Done.
- Recovery that actually works: Backups matter, but only if they’re hardened and tested. Start with Your Backups Alone Won’t Save You From Ransomware.
- Cloud hardening: SaaS is not secure by default. See Your Cloud Isn’t Secure by Default (And Attackers Know It).
- 24/7 monitoring: Because attackers love evenings and weekends. Start here: Canadian SMBs: You’re Flying Blind Without 24/7 Cyber Monitoring.
And if you want the “industry standard” backing: the CIS Controls explicitly call out DNS filtering as a way to block access to known malicious domains. That’s not marketing — that’s a mature security framework telling you where the leverage is.
The blunt takeaway
If you’re a Canadian business and you’re not using DNS/URL filtering, you’re giving attackers too many free shots on net. Protective DNS is recommended by Canada’s own Cyber Centre for a reason. It’s one of the few controls that blocks threats before they become tickets, outages, or headlines.
Fast win question: “If a laptop clicks a malicious link from home, do we block it, and do we get alerted?” If the answer is “I’m not sure,” that’s the first gap to close.
We’re Canadian (Ontario HQ) and we can keep security telemetry and recovery data under Canadian jurisdiction, a detail that matters when privacy, contracts, and cyber insurance get involved.
If you’d like 010grp to review your current setup and map a practical rollout (DNS/URL filtering + identity + 24/7 monitoring), start with a quick discovery call. No scare tactics — just a plan.
Quick FAQ
Is DNS filtering “enough” to stop ransomware?
No, but it dramatically reduces exposure to the links and infrastructure many ransomware crews use. Combine it with identity security, monitoring, and tested backups. For ransomware-specific Canadian guidance, bookmark Ransomware: How to prevent and recover.
What’s a Canadian-friendly DNS option?
CIRA offers protective DNS options, including Canadian Shield (free DNS firewall for individuals) and CIRA DNS Firewall for organizations, which can be a great fit when data sovereignty matters.
What should we measure after deployment?
Track blocked events by category, top blocked domains, false-positive exceptions, and whether suspicious DNS events feed into response. If you’re not monitoring, you’re just hoping.
