NS1 Connect Filter Chains
In a world where digital experiences are only as good as their speed and availability, businesses need to deliver those experiences with maximum reliability and minimal cost. That is where NS1 Connect Filter Chains come in. Filter Chains empower organizations to make real-time, data-driven traffic steering decisions at the DNS layer - ensuring the fastest, most reliable connections for every user, everywhere.
What are Filter Chains?
NS1 Connect Filter Chains are a powerful DNS traffic management mechanism that enables organizations to apply sequential logic to DNS responses. Each filter evaluates certain criteria and then modifies, reorders, or eliminates the available DNS answers before passing the refined list to the next filter in the chain. The intelligent routing process continues until the best DNS response is delivered to the end-user.
Processing query data or metadata can include factors such as network performance, geographic location, uptime, latency, health checks, cost-efficiency or user-defined tags. Built on a SaaS-based, API-first architecture, Filter Chains support flexible, programmable traffic control at scale.
Why do Filter Chains matter?
Filter Chains allow administrators create complex traffic-steering policies tailored to their business needs, from simplifying global load balancing to granular traffic steering in multi-CDN environments.
Optimized Performance – Filter Chains dynamically route DNS queries to the best performing endpoints (not just the closest).
Unmatched Resilience – enables automated failover, ensuring traffic is directed away from unhealthy endpoints or downed servers.
Granular Traffic Control – apply custom logic to ensure users get the best experience, based on geolocation, latency, cost-efficiency and more.
Cost Optimization – prioritize traffic to lower-cost CDNs or cloud regions first, only spilling over to more expensive options when necessary, or distributing load to minimize fees.
How to use Filter Chains:
Filter Chains are configured within the NS1 Connect portal, allowing administrators to select and order filters that align with specific application delivery and business goals. For teams embracing Infrastructure as Code, they can also be managed programmatically through our powerful API and Terraform provider, enabling seamless integration into your DevOps workflows.
Filters can be combined and meticulously rearranged to define the ideal routing logic for each domain based on your objectives and the metrics that matter most to your business. A wide range of filters are available and grouped into categories such as Geographic, Fencing, Health Checks, Traffic Management and our Advanced Filters.
Getting Started
Depending on your NS1 Connect package, you may already have access to Filter Chains and can begin configuring them in the portal today. For detailed setup instructions, visit the NS1 Help Center.
If you are not yet using Filter Chains, this is a perfect time to request a demo to see it in action. Reach out to your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager today or contact our sales team. Start unlocking the full potential of intelligent traffic steering today.
More information:
How to improve network resilience with NS1 Connect Filter Chains
Introduction to the Filter Chain
Creating a Filter Chain
Getting Started with RUM-based traffic steering
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