What Is OpenDNS and What Does It Do?
OpenDNS is a cloud-delivered DNS and security service that filters internet traffic before threats reach a device. It now operates as part of Cisco, with its enterprise protection folded into Cisco Secure Access and its consumer products still offered under the OpenDNS name. You'd use it if you want to block malware, phishing, and ransomware across a network, or add content filtering and faster DNS resolution to a home connection.
The core idea: security at the DNS layer
Every request to reach a website starts with a DNS lookup that translates a domain name into an IP address. OpenDNS answers those lookups from its own global network and decides, at that moment, whether to resolve the request or block it.
That means protection applies before a connection is made, and it works for any device that uses the service's DNS resolvers — no software install required on each machine.
What it does for enterprises
The enterprise side is now delivered through Cisco Secure Access, which the site describes as protection against internet threats such as malware, phishing, and ransomware. The pitch is predictive: stop attacks before they happen rather than only detecting them afterward.
Typical use case: a company points its network DNS at the service so that employees on any device, in any location, get the same filtering policy.
What it does for consumers
OpenDNS also offers a suite of consumer products aimed at making home internet faster, safer, and more reliable. Three claims from the site:
- Faster — global data centers and peering partnerships shorten the route between your network and the resolvers.
- Safer — filtering or pre-configured protection blocks adult content and similar categories, applied to every device in the home.
- Easy setup — the site states setup is quick and does not require advanced technical skill, with guides and a knowledge base to help.
How to start using it
- Decide which side you need. Enterprise threat protection goes through Cisco Secure Access; home filtering and speed go through the consumer products.
- Get the resolver addresses. The site lists
208.67.222.222and208.67.220.220. - Point your network at them. Configure these as the DNS servers on your router (covers every device) or on a single device.
- Set your filtering level. Consumer users choose a pre-configured protection level or custom categories; enterprise policies are managed through the dashboard.
- Verify it works. After applying the change, confirm your device is resolving through OpenDNS and that a blocked category is actually blocked.
Things to watch for
- DNS alone isn't full protection. It filters by domain, so it won't inspect the contents of traffic the way a full secure web gateway does.
- Router-level changes affect everyone. Setting resolvers on the router applies your filtering policy to all devices on that network.
- The branding has shifted. OpenDNS is now part of Cisco, so enterprise documentation and dashboards increasingly live under Cisco Secure Access rather than the OpenDNS name.
Quick reference
| Enterprise | Consumer | |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Cisco Secure Access | OpenDNS consumer suite |
| Main goal | Block malware, phishing, ransomware | Faster, safer, more reliable home internet |
| Filtering | Managed security policy | Parental and content filtering |
| Setup | Via Cisco Secure Access | Point devices/router at OpenDNS resolvers |
For current plans, pricing, and account requirements, check the OpenDNS and Cisco Secure Access sites directly — those details aren't specified on the page referenced here.