Story of DNSFilter: Founder and CEO - Ken Carnesi
Story of DNSFilter:
Frustrated With Ineffective DNS Security
Ken Carnesi, DNSFilter’s co-founder and CEO, grew frustrated
with existing DNS security tools that were slow, pricey, and ineffective. He
envisioned creating a better, more reliable product that would be easy to use
yet highly effective at catching threats early.
Founding DNSFilter
Founded in October 2015 in Washington, DC, DNSFilter started
as a small team with big ambitions to build the best DNS filtering solution on
the market. Early success came from proving its ability to protect real
customers and growing steadily by adding functionality.
Outperforming Competitors with AI
By integrating machine learning models, DNSFilter rapidly
improved threat detection. AI-powered analysis allowed DNSFilter to identify
58% more threats than Cisco and 75% more than WebTitan—often spotting zero-day
threats 10 days earlier than competitors.
Unique Real-Time Threat Blocking
Unlike traditional firewall or endpoint methods that react
after infection, DNSFilter blocks malicious domains before any data transfer
begins by scoring domain requests in real time. This proactive approach keeps
endpoints isolated from harmful infrastructure at the earliest stage.
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Comprehensive Content Filtering
DNSFilter classifies every domain request into policy
categories like malware, phishing, adult content, gambling, and streaming.
Administrators easily customize block or allow lists, enforce SafeSearch, and
apply policies across all connected devices—on or off the network.
Scalability and Network Performance
DNSFilter operates a global dual Anycast DNS network
spanning hundreds of points of presence, routing DNS requests to the nearest
resolver for sub-30-millisecond responses worldwide. Robust failover mechanisms
ensure stability, speed, and reliability.
Advanced Reporting and SIEM Integration
Clients access rich dashboards showing blocked threats,
domain categories, and device-level network activity. Logs export to tools like
Splunk, Elastic, or Amazon S3 for deeper incident analysis and compliance,
reducing threat investigations from hours to minutes.
Support for Diverse Environments
DNSFilter supports fully remote, hybrid, or on-site
workforces with roaming clients for all major platforms, Active Directory
integration, and policy enforcement on a per-user or per-group basis, making it
a versatile solution for modern IT environments.
Strategic Acquisitions and Growth
DNSFilter acquired notable companies like Webshrinker and
Guardian, expanding its web categorization and privacy protection capabilities.
It has raised over $60 million in funding and continues rapid growth, serving
over 15,000 organizations worldwide.
Commitment to a Safer Internet
DNSFilter’s AI-driven protective DNS is recognized as one of
the market’s fastest and most accurate DNS security layers. Constantly evolving
its machine learning and threat intelligence, DNSFilter stays ahead of
sophisticated cyber threats, keeping enterprises safe without complex hardware
or intrusive proxies.
Timeline for DNSFilter’s Story:
- 2015:
DNSFilter founded by Ken Carnesi in Washington, DC, with a mission to
build better DNS security.
- 2016-2017:
Early customer wins and product validation.
- 2018-2021:
Integration of AI and machine learning, significantly enhancing threat
detection.
- 2019:
Acquired Webshrinker, improving web categorization technology.
- 2020-2023:
Raised Series A funding; acquired Guardian for mobile privacy firewall.
- 2024:
Expanded policy controls and SIEM integrations; global growth continues.
- 2025:
Wins cybersecurity awards; AI-driven DNS filtering positioned as industry
leader
