Automatic public domain router

Problem Context

Companies with internal networks often use the same domain name (e.g., company.com) for both their private intranet and public website. When employees try to visit the public site from inside the office, the system routes them to the internal network instead, blocking access. This creates confusion, wastes IT time, and disrupts workflows.

Pain Points

IT teams waste hours manually configuring workarounds like VPNs or editing the hosts file, which are slow, insecure, or break after updates. Employees can’t access the company’s public site, hurting external communication. Security risks arise from poorly implemented fixes, and the problem worsens as companies grow and retain old system names.

Impact

Lost productivity (employees spend >5 hours/week troubleshooting), missed revenue opportunities (e.g., leads can’t reach the public site), and IT team frustration. The risk of security vulnerabilities from bad fixes adds to the pressure. For growing companies, this becomes a critical bottleneck.

Urgency

The problem can’t be ignored because it directly blocks employees from accessing critical external resources. IT teams need a fast, clean solution to restore workflows without manual fixes or risky workarounds. The longer it goes unsolved, the more time and money are wasted on failed attempts.

Target Audience

IT administrators, network engineers, and CTOs at mid-sized companies (100–1,000 employees) with internal networks. This affects industries like tech, finance, healthcare, and education—anywhere with a public-facing website and internal systems. Other teams (e.g., marketing, sales) also suffer from the lack of access.

Solution Approach

DomainSplit is a lightweight proxy service that automatically detects and resolves split-horizon DNS conflicts. It redirects only the public website traffic from internal networks while preserving all other internal systems. The tool works without admin rights, using a browser extension or local proxy, and requires no manual configuration.

Key Features

1. Smart Redirects: Only routes traffic for the public website (e.g., company.com/public) while leaving internal systems untouched.
2. Zero-Config Setup: Installs in minutes via a browser extension or local proxy—no server changes or admin access needed.
3. Enterprise Controls: For larger teams, offers user groups, audit logs, and integration with Active Directory/Okta for centralized management.

User Experience

IT admins install DomainSplit once, and it runs silently in the background. Employees visit the public site as usual—no VPNs or manual edits required. The tool handles all redirects automatically, and admins can monitor usage via a dashboard. If a conflict arises, the system alerts them with a simple fix (e.g., 'Update your DNS records here').

Differentiation

Unlike clunky workarounds (VPNs, hosts file edits), DomainSplit is secure, fast, and requires no admin rights. It’s the only solution designed specifically for split-horizon DNS conflicts, with automatic detection and zero-config setup. Competitors (e.g., free DNS tools) lack enterprise features like audit logs or user groups, and manual fixes are error-prone.

Scalability

Starts with a per-user pricing model ($20–$50/user/month) for small teams, then scales to enterprise plans with seat licensing, API access, and advanced monitoring. Add-ons like security analytics or custom domain support can increase revenue per user over time.

Expected Impact

Restores immediate access to the public site, saving >5 hours/week of IT time. Eliminates security risks from manual fixes and reduces employee frustration. For growing companies, it’s a critical tool to maintain workflows without technical debt. The recurring revenue model ensures long-term value as the company scales.