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.
The wedge
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.
Side by side
| Dimension | ShadowLock | DNSFilter |
|---|---|---|
| What it sees | Clipboard, paste targets, AI desktop apps, AI URLs in any browser, M365 tenant OAuth grants. | DNS queries. The resolver request — not the content, not the post-resolution traffic, not the tenant. |
| M365 tenant / Copilot OAuth | Microsoft Graph integration enumerates AI OAuth grants and Copilot plugins; alerts on new consent. | Not visible — OAuth consent is a cloud-side action that never produces a DNS lookup from the endpoint. |
| Embedded AI (Copilot in Word, Notion AI) | Caught at the paste layer regardless of destination domain. | Cannot block AI features inside approved SaaS without blocking the SaaS. |
| Off-network | Endpoint agent enforces locally — VPN, hotspot, personal Wi-Fi, doesn't matter. | Depends on the roaming client running and resolving through DNSFilter. |
| Pricing | Public $0.80–$1.00/device/month. | Per G2: $1.15–$3 per license (Pro $2.10); MSP $150/month minimum. |
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.
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.
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.
Compare ShadowLock to other shadow AI tools
Researching alternatives? Honest side-by-side comparisons against every MSP-channel shadow AI tool.