When working through an initial Network and IT Security Assessment with a new client, one of the key areas we address is what domain(s) they are using for their web site and email accounts and whether they have the credentials and proper control over those domain(s). It’s surprising how many aren’t fully aware of this information and even more surprising when we sometimes discover they don’t have control over their own domain(s) at all. This can be a serious matter since domains can expire, putting a halt to your web site and email. Also, any changes you may wish to make to where your web site or email are hosted, requires access to your domain(s) and authority to permit such changes.
All domains have the following information associated with them:
Registrar – This is the organization where your domain is registered or on record
Registrant – This is the person or organization that registered the domain and includes their address, phone number and email address.
Administrative Contact – This is the individual on record to be contacted (via email) about such things as an upcoming expiry date for a domain. This person also has the authority to approve renewals and/or changes to the domain. It is particularly important that this person’s contact information be kept up-to-date.
Technical Contact – This is typically an internal contact who has some technical expertise or a third-party contact providing technical support services to your organization. This person also has the authority to approve renewals and/or changes to your domain, so once again their contact information needs to be current.
Name Servers – These will be URLs belonging to the company that is providing the Domain Name Hosting for your domain(s). This organization is the one that is directing traffic to your web site and/or email accounts and is typically your web host, email host or Internet service provider.
It’s important that you have the credentials to log into your domain Registrar’s web site, in order to make changes to your domain details as required. Without such credentials, the process of re-gaining control over your domain can be a complicated and lengthy one. It is also important to keep a record of when your domain(s) expire. That way if the contact email addresses on record are no longer valid, you won’t miss a renewal date by not receiving the email notification from your Registrar.
If you are unsure of your domain information and need assistance to ensure you are “Master of your Domain”, call BSC Solutions Group today.
