East Orange School District Gains Security and Control with DNSBOX
East Orange School District, managing 10,000+ devices across multiple school sites, relied on Microsoft Windows for internal DNS and DHCP but found it increasingly difficult to manage. Security risks were increasing, and bulk updates were slow and frustrating.
Meanwhile, the district's external DNS was outsourced, meaning simple record changes took up to a week through an ISP.
East Orange needed speed, security, and control – so it decided to bring both internal and external DNS in-house while replacing Microsoft's DHCP service.
One DNSBOX300 master and two DNSBOX 200 units created a secure, appliance-based DNS and DHCP solution:
- DNSBOX200s provide local DHCP services, ensuring reliable address assignment across campuses.
- The DNSBOX300 centrally manages authoritative DNS, giving them full control over internal and external DNS records.
- "Hidden Master" Security : The DNSBOX300 stays protected behind a firewall, while the DNSBOX200s act as public-facing authoritative DNS servers—reducing exposure to DNS-based cyber threats.
Microsoft's Windows Server platform is built for broad enterprise workloads, but East Orange was using it just for DHCP and DNS—an inefficient use of resources. Unlike traditional server setups, DNSBOX's purpose-built appliance format eliminates unnecessary complexity, making deployment and management far simpler.
Sandboxed services ensure critical DNS and DHCP functions run in isolated environments, protecting against failures and security threats. With a hardened OS, automatic updates, and no excess services, East Orange now has a rock-solid, low-maintenance solution.
