DNS & DNS-based routing
Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall vs DNS resolver policy (with threat intelligence)
Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall maps to Azure DNS resolver policy, which can use a Microsoft-managed threat intelligence feed.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall | DNS resolver policy (with threat intelligence) |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Filters outbound DNS queries from VPCs with allow, block, and alert rules on domain lists, including AWS-managed threat lists. | Filters and logs DNS queries at the virtual network level with allow, alert, and block rules on domain lists, plus an optional Microsoft-managed threat intelligence feed. |
| Pricing model | Per domain stored per month plus per million queries processed. | Per policy and per million queries processed (see DNS pricing). |
| Docs | Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall docs | DNS resolver policy (with threat intelligence) docs |
| Pricing page | Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall pricing | DNS resolver policy (with threat intelligence) pricing |
| Exams | SCS-C03 ANS-C01 Retiring | AZ-700 SC-500 |
Key differences
- Managed lists. DNS Firewall offers AWS-managed domain lists (for example, malware and botnet command-and-control domains). Azure offers a managed threat intelligence feed sourced from the Microsoft Security Response Center.
- Logging. Azure resolver policy can log queries to Log Analytics, storage, or Event Hubs. On AWS, query logging is a separate Resolver feature.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per domain stored per month plus per million queries processed. Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall pricing →
- Azure
- Per policy and per million queries processed (see DNS pricing). DNS resolver policy (with threat intelligence) pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty SCS-C03 | AWS | Specialty | current The current code (SCS-C03) is taken from the exam-prep link on the official certification page. Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America), and Portuguese (Brazil) versions retire after Dec 31, 2026. |
| AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty ANS-C01 | AWS | Specialty | retiring The exam is being retired. The last day to take it is Dec 31, 2026. Existing certifications stay active for their three-year period. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate AZ-700 | Azure | Associate | current |
| Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate SC-500 | Azure | Associate | current New certification. A practice assessment isn't available yet, which the page says usually means the exam recently left (or is in) beta. |
Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.
Verification notes
- Microsoft's docs now call this feature DNS resolver policy, while its URL and some older material use the name DNS security policy.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall?
Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall maps to Azure DNS resolver policy, which can use a Microsoft-managed threat intelligence feed.
How does pricing compare between Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall and DNS resolver policy (with threat intelligence)?
AWS: Per domain stored per month plus per million queries processed. Azure: Per policy and per million queries processed (see DNS pricing). Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03); AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (ANS-C01) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700); Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500).