About GG DNS

What is DNS?

DNS stands for ‘Domain Name Server’, a system that ties domain names to IP addresses. Computers address each other with numbers called IP addresses. An IP address is needed to route information. Domain names are used to provide computers text names rather than
using the numeric IP addresses to make it simpler on the user.

What is GoGuardian DNS?

GoGuardian DNS offers a hardware-free solution to filter all devices. 

GoGuardian DNS is an inline web filtering (aka network-level filtering) solution. GG DNS provides a simple, unified interface for configuring filtering policies for the devices on your network. GG DNS is device agnostic, meaning all devices are supported. There is no software to install and no hardware to maintain.

GG DNS will block website URLs that are part of our categories available on GoGuardian Admin or URLs that are individually added. These sites will be blocked/allowed across all devices that are logged into the specified network. Safe Search is also a setting that can be applied to GoGuardian DNS and there is a premium add-on feature to remove advertisements. 

GG DNS is designed for K-12 schools tired of managing and upgrading their physical filtering hardware and who want a scalable and unified cross-platform content filtering solution. GG DNS provides a unified solution including a device-agnostic network-level cloud-based inline filtering, all managed and monitored through a single user-friendly interface.

What is the difference between GoGuardian DNS and GoGuardian Admin?

GoGuardian DNS is an inline web filtering (network-level filter) and is designed to support all devices connected to the network. GG DNS is device agnostic, so as long as a school’s users are on school premises and connected to the school network, they're protected by GG DNS. Unlike GoGuardian Admin, GoGuardian DNS does not require the extensions to be present for a user and does not require any software installation. 

GoGuardian Admin protects user browsing regardless of the network they are connected to via the GoGuardian Extensions that are deployed via Google Admin console to users who should be monitored. As a result, features that are associated with the GoGuardian specific extensions such as Smart Filtering and Theft Recovery are not applicable for GoGuardian DNS. When students are logged into the browser, administrators can filter and monitor their activity, and additional unique features of GoGuardian Admin include Smart Alerts, Smart Rules, Youtube filtering, associating browsing activity to an individual user, OU level filtering, and blocking and allowing custom URLs with a path. 

To learn more about the differences in filtering between GG Admin and GG DNS, click here. 

What issues does GG DNS solve?

• Scalability issues with physical inline filters
• Upfront costs and maintenance costs associated with physical appliances
• Out-of-sync filtering policies resulting from separate solutions
• Excessive management of policies required by multiple solutions
• Device-agnostic filtering, including for bring your own device programs and guests on network
• Avoids complicated user interfaces
• Integrates seamlessly with other GoGuardian products
• CIPA compliance