← All DNSSEC Guides

Getting Started with DNSSEC

A beginner-friendly guide to understanding and implementing DNSSEC for your first domain

What is DNSSEC?

DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions) adds cryptographic authentication to DNS responses, preventing attackers from spoofing or tampering with DNS data. Think of it as SSL/TLS for DNS - it ensures the DNS responses you receive are authentic and haven't been modified.

Why Enable DNSSEC?

  • Prevents DNS spoofing and cache poisoning attacks
  • Protects users from being redirected to malicious servers
  • Required or recommended by many security standards (PCI DSS, etc.)
  • Enhances email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC benefit from DNSSEC)
  • Builds user trust and demonstrates security commitment

How DNSSEC Works

DNSSEC uses public-key cryptography:

  1. Your DNS zone generates cryptographic keys (DNSKEY records)
  2. DNS records are signed with these keys, creating RRSIG (signature) records
  3. DS (Delegation Signer) records link your zone to the parent zone
  4. Resolvers verify signatures using the public keys, following the chain of trust

Quick Start: Enabling DNSSEC

The easiest way to enable DNSSEC depends on your DNS provider:

Step 1: Enable in Your DNS Provider

Most modern DNS providers (Cloudflare, Route 53, etc.) have one-click DNSSEC enablement. Simply find the DNSSEC option in your DNS settings and enable it.

Step 2: Get DS Records

After enabling DNSSEC, your provider will generate DS records. These look like:

example.com. IN DS 12345 13 2 ABC123DEF456...

Step 3: Add DS Records to Registrar

Copy the DS records and add them to your domain registrar's control panel. This creates the chain of trust from the parent zone (your registrar) to your domain.

Step 4: Verify

Use our DNSSEC checker to verify that DNSSEC is properly enabled and configured.

Important Notes

  • Test First: Always test DNSSEC on a non-production domain first
  • Propagation: DS record changes can take 24-48 hours to fully propagate
  • Backup: Keep a backup of your DS records - you'll need them if you change DNS providers
  • Monitoring: Monitor signature expiration dates to prevent validation failures

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics: