PremiumDNS

Frequently asked questions

• What is Premium DNS?

  Compared with a more basic DNS service, Premium DNS ensures faster performance, maximum site availability, and better security. Namecheap PremiumDNS operates from redundant Anycast locations, and works with any domain name from any registrar worldwide.
  
  Our PremiumDNS supports 2 million queries per month per domain name, ready to handle the traffic of your company’s mission-critical operations. Learn more about the differences between free vs PremiumDNS.

• Do I need PremiumDNS?

  This may depend on the needs of your web projects. If you are running high-traffic websites that have high performance and security requirements, then PremiumDNS would be a sensible option.
  
  While on the one hand, websites that are slow or even fail to load can cost businesses dearly, security breaches can be potentially fatal. PremiumDNS is just one measure that can be taken to improve both the security and performance of your website.

• What is the difference between Public DNS and Premium DNS?

  Public DNS use recursive name servers that send queries to the DNS, and it is accessible to anyone using the internet. This contrasts with authoritative DNS servers that connect DNS records within a particular zone, and are only available to the domain authority.
  
  Namecheap’s PremiumDNS is an authoritative DNS service with benefits that include improved security, speeds, uptime, personalization, as well as guaranteed SLAs. Read more about how free and Premium DNS services match up.

• Is a DNS upgrade worth it?

  There are many reasons to pay extra for an improved DNS service. The first is performance, as most businesses cannot afford the costs of a slow or malfunctional website. But even more importantly, DDoS attacks can be extremely damaging and must be avoided at all costs.
  
  When you have a premium DNS service with an impressive Service Level Agreement (SLA), you can rest assured that this aspect of your website performance and security has been addressed.

• How secure is PremiumDNS?

  Namecheap PremiumDNS combines intelligent server security with DNSSEC and 100% uptime. Make sure you choose a service like PremiumDNS which offers users smart global infrastructure, high-level DDoS security for your network layer, includes DNSSEC, and contains no hidden query charges. Learn more about DNSSEC.
  
  Different DNS servers offer varying levels of security which means you could experience vulnerabilities common to these less secure DNS services such as attacks from malicious hackers, including DDoS intrusions. Some offer the same security as at large prices because they mainly cater to super large websites (like Amazon, for example).

• Is DNS the same as VPN?

  No, these are two different Internet technologies. The Domain Name System (DNS) allows Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to be easily configured. As IP addresses are difficult for humans to remember, the DNS acts as an address book to find things more easily.
  
  A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technique for converting a public Internet connection to a private one. This means users can hide their IP addresses and gain a secure and private Internet connection by using a remote VPN server.
  
  Although DNS and VPN are different services, they can both be used to improve Internet security.

• Is Namecheap DNS fast?

  PremiumDNS from Namecheap uses global Anycast servers to ensure the fastest delivery speeds at all times. This also means you can avoid any lost connections or data leaks and enjoy 100% uptime. Learn more about Anycast DNS.

• Can DNS slow down Internet connections?

  The DNS does not directly relate to Internet speed, though it is a system of Internet queries and responses that make the delivery of a website possible. There are various factors that can affect the connection being established, and these can slow down website delivery. For example, DNS queries may experience high levels of traffic or need to be rerouted multiple times.
  
  Signing up to advanced DNS services like PremiumDNS is the best way of ensuring you experience no slowness due to DNS. Here are some other tips for dealing with slow DNS issues.

• Which deep-layer of the internet is PremiumDNS protecting?

  PremiumDNS protects your website against DNS floods and DNS Amplification attacks. If you think of how the internet operates over seven layers, layers 1-4 operate at the DNS level. Cybercrime attack styles at this deeper layer try to overwhelm and shut down your website. These attacks are different from Layer 7 attacks, which a CDN protects you from. Of some concern is that deeper-layer amplification attacks are increasing in popularity which is why PremiumDNS protection is necessary.

• Does Namecheap have DDoS protection?

  Advanced DNS DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Protection is just one of the features included when you sign up to PremiumDNS with Namecheap. It uses Anycast DNS which stores DNS records across multiple servers around the world. This helps to redistribute DNS queries across the network at the time of an attack, so denial of service can be avoided.
  
  Another way of securing against DDoS attacks is with advanced Content Delivery Network (CDN) services. This is another global network for the content that populates your website. In the time of high traffic or a DDoS attack, it can also redistribute the content accordingly.

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