Some people think DNS is overhyped, while others think the opposite. If you belong to any of these groups, you need to know about the advantages and disadvantages of the Domain Name System.
Everything has some benefits as well as drawbacks. You just need to compare them with your needs. If they suit you, you can opt for DNS.
What Is DNS and How Does It Work?
If you don’t already know, DNS is a server that works like a phonebook where all domains and their IP addresses are saved.
To understand it and its use completely, let’s jump into the depth of this topic:
Now, every domain has a different IP address that looks like this: “102.271.121.111.” These IP addresses are the real things, and you need to know them to access a server or site from any computer.
As it was super difficult to remember long IP addresses, experts came up with easier English names that are termed domains.
With its help of it, you can now access any website like “Google” by entering its domain address (google.com) in the search bar instead of entering a long IP address.
And it’s all just because of the Domain Network system that creates a network between all domains of one server with their IP addresses for your ease.
Now as you have a good idea of what exactly DNS is and how it helps you, we must move toward DNS’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros of DNS
1. Web Browser Friendly
DNS works with every web browser and search engine in this world. Once you have activated your DNS, you can enter your website using a domain name with any web browser in the world. It’s not like this that Google will show your website, and MS Bing will not.
2. Easy to Remember
It was the main reason for creating DNS!
It’s clear, and we have been talking about it from the beginning, that domain names are easier to recall than IP addresses.
3. Highly Secure
The network of domains and their IP addresses, which DNS creates, is highly secure. It means that when you visit a site like Instagram, you know that it will not harm me and my personal info. It implies that Instagram’s DNS is safe.
4. Amazing Speed
Yes, there are tons of domains, and their IP addresses are packed into one server. But when you search for an IP and want to access it with the help of a domain name, it will not even take 5 seconds to take you to the IP address of your interest.
5. Stable
Again hundreds of domains and IP addresses are kept in one DNS. But it never takes you to a different server. For example, if you enter the domain of Google (google.com), you will always go to the website of Google.
6. Two IP Addresses
Its stability gets tested even better because every site has two IP addresses. If one IP address isn’t working, you will not even notice that because DNS will take you to the other IP address when you enter the domain.
7. Alteration of IP Addresses
It’s also related to stability because when you want to alter or change your site’s IP address (due to any reason), your website will never stop working. The connection and network of domains will not even get interrupted for a second.
8. Balanced
Imagine hundreds of websites packed in one DNS, and everyone tries to access their website by entering a domain name. DNS is so stable that it will not even delay for one millisecond in every (possibly) difficult situation.
Cons of DNS
1. Can be Easily Hacked
Although we have learned that DNS is a completely secure network, there is an expert hacker that can hack (and have hacked) DNS servers. After hacking, they have access to your personal data, and they can even threaten you for that. For this, you have to opt for more security.
2. Organized by ICANN
All DNS servers in this world are controlled by ICANN!
Even every decision about domains and hustings is made by ICANN. Now the problem is ICANN is from the USA, and if the rules of your country about DNS change, confusions arise.
3. Instability with Internet
If DNS gets attacked with a severe virus, everything on the internet will stop working, as almost every famous to non-famous website is associated with DNS. In short, until the DNS team resolves the issue, your site and internet will not work at all.
4. Server Crash
Just like a virus attack, if one DNS server in (let’s say) Sweden gets crashes, every other server in this whole world will also stop working. You and your work will be stuck because of a server is crashed that is thousands of miles away from you.
5. Trouble in Troubleshooting
If you face difficulty while using DNS because of an error, you can’t simply troubleshoot the problem and resolve it. It’s because all DNS servers in this world are connected like a chain of networks.
Conclusion
Hence, there are more advantages of DNS than its drawbacks, but it’s “You” who will decide whether you want to use it or.
For website owner, understanding the benefits and challenges of DNS is very important to ensure their domain is secure, accessible, and well-managed.
In world of internet now we have to use the system if you don’t want to miss out.
How Long Should Your Domain Name Be? Here’s the Answer
Yes!
Not many, but there are a few networks that you can also try instead of DNS, like GnuNet and Namecoin. But almost no one uses these alternatives as DNS is the most trusted network in this field.
Simply, you and your audience (or potential clients) won’t be able to use the services of DNS. Eventually, you’ll have to put your site’s IP address instead of just the domain name to access it.