Many brands invest heavily in firewalls and endpoint protection — but overlook a foundational component — the Domain Name System (DNS). Weak DNS security can expose an organization to hijacking, data breaches, and brand impersonation, such as phishing or spoofing. 

To protect business continuity, reduce exposure to risk, and preserve the trust of customers, organizations should ensure they have three essential tools in place.

DNS Security: Common Enterprise Vulnerabilities That Hijackers Exploit 

Enterprise domains are the foundation of digital identity, customer interaction, and business continuity, but hidden risks are often unaddressed: 

  • Parked or unused domains are easy targets for hijacking, spoofing, and malicious redirects.  
  • Basic DNS services often fall short, exposing gaps in resilience and uptime. 
  • Unprotected mission-critical domains remain at risk of hijack or manipulation without controls around access and enterprise-level security protocols being in place. 

These weaknesses create opportunities for cybercriminals to launch phishing attacks, disrupt operations, and erode brand trust. As domain portfolios grow, so must the defense. 

Three Tools for Enterprise Brands’ DNS Security and Protection

True protection comes from addressing the full spectrum of risks: securing every click and every domain across the portfolio — from domain crown jewels to defensive assets. 

Three layers work together to deliver a powerful trifecta of domain protection for enterprises:   

1. Secure Forwarding & Parking 

  • Encrypts traffic on inactive and defensive domains 
  • Ensures all clicks resolve safely, preserving customer trust 
  • Reduces the opportunities attackers can exploit for spoofing or redirection 

2. Enterprise-level DNS 

  • Delivers global reach and redundancy
  • Strengthens uptime and infrastructure controls by mitigating risks 
  • Supports scale with hardened security  

3. Registry Locking 

  • Adds an unbreakable safeguard for mission-critical domains
  • Prevents hijacking, unauthorized transfers, or DNS manipulation
  • Protects the most valuable brand assets against any bad actor

Together, these tools form a unified defense across your entire domain portfolio, protecting both high-value primary domains and those you hold defensively. 

DNS Security Proof Points and Use Cases 

  • Financial Services: A global bank secured thousands of parked domains with secure forwarding & parking. Result: no more “Not Secure” browser warnings on redirect links, preserving trust during customer logins and email campaigns. 
  • Healthcare: A major pharmaceutical brand used a registry lock to protect its primary .com and .brand domains. When a rival company suffered a DNS hijack outage, this client remained fully operational, avoiding an estimated $3M in lost transactions.1 
  • Retail: An e-commerce leader upgraded to advanced DNS to handle peak holiday traffic. The switch reduced downtime events by 90% year-over-year, directly preserving revenue during their busiest quarter.2 

ROI of a Unified Digital Security Defense 

  • Cost Avoidance: Phishing-driven breaches average $4.9M per incident.3 Securing forwarded and parked domains reduces exposure.
  • Operational Savings: Automated forwarding and DNS management cut hundreds of staff hours annually, often worth $100K+ in FTE savings.4 
  • Conversion Lift: Eliminating “Not Secure” warnings improves digital conversion rates by 13–20%.5 
  • Portfolio Value: Defensive domains become trust assets instead of sunk costs, enabling secure reuse for campaigns, redirects, and microsites. 

Preventing the breach or hijacking of even one crown-jewel domain justifies the investment many times over.  

Where Technology Meets Expertise: Markmonitor, A Corporate Domain Registrar 

Tools are only part of the solution. Markmonitor pairs technology and tools with guidance from experts who understand the complexities of enterprise portfolios. That’s where Markmonitor makes the difference.  

We provide: 

  • High-touch, managed support from advisors who oversee DNS, forwarding, and lock implementations with precision  
  • Decades of experience defending global brands against evolving threats 
  • Integrated framework combining Secure Forwarding & Parking, Premium DNS, and Registry Lock

With Markmonitor, enterprises gain not just tools, but a partner committed to protecting revenue, reputation, and digital trust. 

Talk to our team about bundled DNS security solutions tailored to your portfolio. We’re here to help you protect every click, every domain, every time. 

Take the Next Step

Footnotes 

  1. Gartner, Market Guide for Managed DNS Services, 2024 
  2. IDC, Business Value of DNS Resilience in Digital Commerce, 2023 
  3. IBM Security, Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024 
  4. Forrester, The Total Economic Impact of DNS Security Automation, 2023 
  5. Baymard Institute, Checkout Usability & Security Study, 2024