In the world of digital infrastructure, few things are as foundational—and as overlooked—as DNS. But for Dropbox, a company serving over 500 million users, DNS became a strategic lever for performance, scale, and user experience.

This is the story of how Dropbox partnered with IBM NS1 Connect to cut latency by up to 200 milliseconds in key regions, improve routing accuracy, and deliver a faster, more consistent experience to users around the world.

The Challenge: When “Nearest” Isn’t “Fastest”

Dropbox had already built a robust global edge network with over 20 points of presence (PoPs). But their DNS strategy was still relying on geolocation-based routing—sending users to the closest server by geography, not by performance.

The result? In regions like Vladivostok, Iceland, and Egypt, users were being routed to PoPs that weren’t actually the fastest. This led to inconsistent performance, especially in areas where network conditions fluctuate rapidly.

For a company that prides itself on seamless collaboration and instant access, this was a problem worth solving.

The Solution: Performance-Based DNS with IBM NS1 Connect

Dropbox turned to IBM NS1 Connect to implement a smarter, more adaptive DNS strategy. Instead of relying on static geolocation data, NS1 Connect uses real-time network performance telemetry to route users to the best-performing PoP—not just the closest one.

This shift allowed Dropbox to:

• Build a custom DNS map based on actual latency data
• Steer traffic dynamically to optimize user experience
• Maintain full control and visibility over DNS behavior

The Results: Measurable Gains, Global Impact

The impact was immediate and impressive:

• ⚡ Up to 200ms latency reduction in high-latency regions
• 🌐 Improved routing accuracy across all geographies
• 🔄 More consistent user experience for 500M+ users
• 🧠 Smarter infrastructure decisions driven by real-time data

This wasn’t just a technical win—it was a strategic transformation. Dropbox turned DNS into a performance enabler, not just a utility.

Why This Matters for the NS1 Community

Dropbox’s journey is a powerful reminder that DNS is no longer just about resolving names. It’s about:

• Optimizing digital experiences
• Reducing latency at the edge
• Enabling intelligent, policy-driven infrastructure

Whether you're running a SaaS platform, a global enterprise, or a fast-scaling startup, the lessons are clear:
✅ DNS can be a competitive advantage.
✅ Performance-based routing is the future.
✅ You don’t need to be Dropbox to get started.

Ready to Rethink DNS?

If you’re part of the NS1 Community, you already know the power of programmable, intelligent DNS. But stories like Dropbox’s show just how far that power can go.

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Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what DNS can do.