If you do web developing for a living or a hobby and are often given a task to create a website from scratch, you need to know about the services that will also keep this website afloat and protect it from various web attacks. Both web servers (your hosting) and name servers (DNS) need to be safe and stable. However, DNS can be overlooked when developers focus only on protecting website contents. It can be a fatal mistake if you go with the default option for your DNS and then suffer the consequences of a DoS or DDoS attack.
It can be easily avoided if you make a thought-out choice, for example IP Anycast. It provides a safe network of connections that will adapt to any current location and send the queries to the nearest name server and back to the user. While you may be used to the usual one-to-one connection to a certain server, if it goes down, the website will stop responding and your client’s business or your own will be endangered.
Sometimes the queries may be saved in cache by the Internet Service Providers and the lack of connection might not be instantly visible, however, after approximately half an hour every attempt of connection with the website will fail, so it will most probably be up to the developer again to make it work again.
Eliminating a big possible source of issues for the website performance buys you time for troubleshooting if something does go wrong. Having your nameservers secure and protected from DDoS and DoS attacks and keeping track of when and how they happen lets you spend less time fixing DNS query issues and focus on maintaining the website content. Still, even with a completely thought-out backend programming a web page needs to be connected through name servers and you can make this connection last without constant inspection.
Usually when a website goes down, the frustrated clients do not know the reason for that, only that their webpage needs to be up again. Establishing a fast and stable DNS connection is a technical necessity that can save you from routine checkups when something goes wrong. Having a system that will report issues and protect you from attacks eliminates most DNS-related risks.
Having more time to focus on your hosting platform and fixing the issues there as a web developer lets you come to the resolution faster and leave your clients satisfied with the speed and efficiency. As a result, you will also have more time to spend on your other clients and their cases.
It is always better to check the available options besides the default one that is offered, for example, by your domain registrar that is simultaneously a DNS provider. Going with the safe option without considering some other ones can result in the latter fixing of every minor issue when someone decides to perform a simple DDoS attack on your website.
Working out problems like that before they even appear is a truly professional feature for a web developer that is highly valued by clients who equally value their business and reputation. This might help you build larger clientele and their stronger loyalty, therefore – a financial benefit.