Comparison
ShadowLock vs DNSFilter for shadow AI
DNS blocking is a blunt, useful first layer. But it can't see Copilot inside Word, can't see clipboard content, can't see OAuth-consented AI apps in your M365 tenant, and can't allow some AI while blocking sensitive pastes. ShadowLock can - at the endpoint, in the browser, and in the M365 tenant.
DNSFilter details last verified · sources
The moment your AI strategy needs to be more nuanced than “block every AI domain at the resolver” - and for almost every regulated business, it does - DNS filtering hits its structural limits. ShadowLock works at the layer DNS can't reach.
of the enterprise population used personal SaaS genAI apps in May 2025Netskope Threat Labs, 2025 ↗
DNS filtering is allow-or-deny at the domain, and a personal ChatGPT account resolves the same domain as a corporate one. Netskope puts most of the enterprise population on personal genAI apps, which a resolver cannot distinguish. Desktop AI apps, embedded AI inside approved SaaS, and the content of the paste itself are all outside what a DNS answer can describe.
Head to head
Side by side
DNS's three structural blind spots
Embedded AI. Copilot in Word, Einstein in Salesforce, Notion AI - all resolve to domains the MSP already allows. A DNS filter can\'t distinguish "AI traffic" from "regular SaaS traffic" without breaking the SaaS. ShadowLock catches these at the paste layer regardless of the destination.
Content visibility. DNS sees a hostname. It cannot tell whether the employee is pasting a customer record or asking ChatGPT to summarize a public news article. If your policy needs to allow the second and block the first, DNS can\'t express it.
Off-network reality. Roaming clients are only as good as their enrollment. The unmanaged personal laptop on a coffee-shop Wi-Fi never hits your filter. An endpoint agent doesn\'t care where the device is.
Fit
Which one fits your situation?
Choose ShadowLock when…
- Your shadow AI policy needs to allow some AI usage and block sensitive pastes.
- Your employees use embedded AI inside Microsoft 365, Notion, Salesforce, or any approved SaaS.
- You need clipboard-level data classification for HIPAA, SOC 2, or GDPR.
- You can't guarantee every device routes through a roaming client every time.
DNSFilter still fits if…
- You want a broad DNS filter for malware, gambling, social, and AI as one category among many.
- Your AI threat model genuinely is "block every AI domain" and your devices reliably resolve through DNSFilter.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Should I run ShadowLock and DNSFilter together?
Often yes. DNSFilter handles broad category blocking; ShadowLock handles paste-time content inspection. Different layers, no conflict.
Can DNSFilter read AI prompt content?
No. DNS is a categorical decision made before the connection completes. The resolver never sees the prompt.
What about Copilot inside Word?
DNS filtering's biggest blind spot. Copilot resolves to Microsoft domains the MSP already allows. ShadowLock catches the paste regardless of destination.
Sources and verification
Every competitor claim below links to that vendor’s own public documentation. Where a vendor does not publish an answer, we say so rather than presenting silence as proof. Competitor facts on this page were last checked on . Pricing and features change without notice — verify against the vendor before you buy.
- DNSFilter pricing ↗ — Published per-licence pricing: Core $1.00–$1.15, Pro $2.10–$2.30, Enterprise $2.70–$3.00 per user per month. MSP plans start at $150/month.
Comparisons
Compare ShadowLock to other shadow AI tools
Researching alternatives? Honest side-by-side comparisons against every MSP-channel shadow AI tool.
AI-native XDR with no M365 scanning. We scan the tenant and publish a price.
Browser-only. We add endpoint and M365 tenant.
Blocks AI apps. We inspect the prompt content.
Browser isolation. We are purpose-built for shadow AI.
Governs shadow AI inside the E5 stack. We need no E5 license.