What Is DNS? A Simple Guide for Australian Website Owners

If you own a domain or run a website, you’ve probably heard of DNS—but if you’re not quite sure what it does or why it matters, you’re not alone.

At Ezyweb, we work with clients across Australia who are building their online presence. One of the most common questions we get is: “What even is DNS?” So let’s break it down without the jargon.

DNS: The Internet’s Address Book

Imagine you want to visit a local business, but you only know its name—not the street address. You’d probably look it up in your phone or online. DNS (Domain Name System) works similarly.

When you type a website like yourbusiness.com.au into your browser, DNS looks up the IP address (the actual location on the internet) and connects you there automatically.

Without DNS, you’d have to remember a string of numbers like 192.168.1.1 to visit a website. It’s not exactly convenient. DNS, however, makes it a breeze by automatically connecting you to the website you want, relieving you from the hassle of remembering and typing long strings of numbers.

Why DNS Matters for Business Owners

If DNS isn’t set up correctly, a lot of things can go wrong:

  • Your website might not load
  • Emails may bounce or go missing
  • Visitors might see an error message instead of your homepage
  • Essential services like contact forms or booking tools might stop working

In other words, even though DNS operates behind the scenes, it plays a key role in keeping your website and emails working properly.

Standard DNS Terms (Without the Tech Speak)

Here are a few DNS-related terms you might come across:

  • A Record: Points your domain to the IP address of your website
  • MX Record: Directs emails to your email hosting provider
  • CNAME: Connects parts of your domain (like www) to another service
  • TXT Record: Used to verify ownership and improve email security

You don’t need to memorise these. But it helps to know they exist—and that they need to be managed with care.

Who Should Handle DNS?

If you’re a developer or tech-savvy business owner, you might be comfortable updating your own DNS records. But most people aren’t. And that’s okay. You don’t have to worry about the complexities of DNS management because we’ve got you covered.

At Ezyweb, we handle domain and DNS management for Australian businesses, so you don’t have to touch anything you’re unsure about. We know how to set things up properly, avoid common mistakes such as misconfigured A or MX records, and respond quickly if something goes wrong.

What If You’ve Never Looked at Your DNS Settings?

You’re not alone. Many of our clients come to us after something breaks—or when they realise they’re not sure who actually controls their domain.

We can help you:

  • Understand where your domain is registered
  • Make sure your DNS settings are correct and secure
  • Fix broken links between your website, email, or hosting
  • Move everything under one roof so it’s easier to manage

Final Thoughts

DNS isn’t something you need to be an expert in—but it is something that needs to be looked after. Just like your plumbing or power supply, when it’s working, you won’t think about it. But when it’s not, it can cause severe headaches.

At Ezyweb Australia, we’re here to keep your website and email running smoothly—without you needing to get lost in technical settings. You can rest assured that we’ll handle the technical aspects, allowing you to focus on your business.