Third-party DNS Services

Typically, when you register your domain name, the system automatically points your domain to your registrar’s name servers. If the registrar will also act as your web host, you do not need to do anything else. Often times, however, users seek web hosting from companies other than their registrars. The web hosting provider instructs them to change their name server entires for their domain to point to their servers.

Once you are using your web host’s domain name servers, they control all of your DNS entries. They will either provide you with an interface to manipulate them or require you to request changes from them. A third option is to use a third-party DNS service. With such a service, the user retains full control of DNS, and the name servers point to the thirdy-party provider.

The benefit of such an arrangement are that it is easier for you to control which components of your domain are used by your web host and which are used by other providers, such as cloud computing email and productivity services. It is also easier to make changes to DNS entries. The drawbacks are that you have to put your trust in a third-party provider, and you will need a fair amount of knowledge about DNS to get your site working correctly.