Top 10 Tips for Securing Your Domain Name from Cyber Threats

Did you know that your website is constantly under attack? You’ll be shocked to find out that businesses suffer, on average, 7.5 DNS (Domain Name Server) attacks every single year! That’s enough to sound alarm bells for any organization and amp up their domain security efforts. Domain security refers to the best practices and measures used to defend a domain against cyber threats, misuse, and unauthorized access using various strategies and technologies. In this guide, you’ll discover the most effective methods of strengthening your domain security, from selecting a trustworthy domain registrar to trademarking your domain name, and more.

1. Pick a Reliable Domain Registrar

Your most important weapon in the armour. A robust domain security begins with choosing the right registrar. The reputation of the domain registrar should be a critical deciding factor for your business, followed by features and cost.

2. Enable Automatic Renewals

One of the most effective ways to secure your domain against cyber threats is by automating your domain renewals. Malicious actors are always looking for a way in, and domain expiration gives them an opportunity to take over your website and business. By turning on automatic renewals, you can rest assured that there are no service outages because of missed renewals. As part of this domain security strategy, keeping updated credit card information is always important.

3. Obtain an SSL Certificate

This is a non-negotiable tactic to protect your domain. Most hosting services and domain registrars offer SSL certificates – one that gets your website a padlock icon before the site URL. When customers see that icon, they feel safe to visit your website and enter their sensitive information, such as credit card details for an eCommerce transaction. Here’s how SSL works: It’s a data encryption technology that hides data shared over the internet, thereby increasing customer trust in your business. It’s one of the most simplest ways to tighten your domain security!

4. Set Up Domain Locking

Most domain registrars make this pretty easy. You just need to turn it on under the domain or account settings. What does Domain Lock actually do? It prevents unauthenticated domain transfers. Some providers have it turned on for you by default, but it’s always safe to verify it yourself.

5. Get Look-alike Domains

There are various ways cyber attackers can disrupt your business. One way they do it is by creating a look-alike domain that users may confuse with the real domain name. Also known as typosquatting, this is a common way cyber criminals steal customer data. To prevent this, you can register for look-alike domains. There are two types of look-alike domains you can purchase:

• Different top-level domains (TLDs): Consider registering for various TLDs, such as .com, .org, .net
• Common misspellings: Let’s take an example of Facebook. Their primary domain is facebook.com. If you were to get look-alike domains for Facebook, you would also register for fcebook.com or facebok.com

Consider the closest look-alikes that a user might confuse with your primary domain.

6. Frame a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP)

VDP is a critical document required to maintain your domain security. Every 39 seconds, a cyber attack happens which is costing businesses millions of dollars. This is why it’s so important to have a formal security protocol in place. A VDP lays out the process a company follows when it detects and addresses vulnerability reports. Having a VDP in place will help you mitigate vulnerabilities that might expose your domain to full-blown attacks. It’s smart to consult your legal team while drafting your vulnerability disclosure policy.

7. Install Firewalls for Domain Security

A firewall is usually the first line of defense against website hackers. It constantly monitors the website traffic to analyze which are potential cyber threats and which are safe. When it detects harmful traffic, the firewall blocks it before it can damage your website.

8. Update Your Plugins Regularly

This is especially important if you are using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Content Management System (CMS) programs. Outdated plugins and software are a playground for hackers, as they use them to get into your systems. Developers regularly release security patches that are meant to safeguard your web application against online threats. As soon as you see those updates, install them without fail or set up automatic updates if possible.

9. Trademark Your Domain Name

One of the best ways to protect your domain is by trademarking it. An Australian trademark, for instance, protects your domain name for 10 years from the date of filing. It allows you to pursue legal action against those who try to steal it. It’s definitely worth applying for a trademark, as malicious parties are then less likely to attack your website and harm your business.

10. Activate Two-Factor Authentication

Add another layer to your domain security by turning on two-factor authentication (2FA). You will find the option to enable 2FA under your domain account settings. Now, even if someone tries to steal or guess your password, they won’t be able to get access without a code sent to your phone or one generated by your authentication app. This is something you must do immediately after registering your domain, other than locking it and getting the SSL certificate. If more than one person manages your website, ensure that they all enable 2FA on their devices to avoid exposure to ever-evolving cyber threats.

Conclusion

Domain security should be your utmost priority to preserve your digital assets, reputation, and customer trust in your business. Start by registering for a secure domain with a reliable provider like Crazy Domains, or by transferring your existing domain. Along with that, implement the strategies discussed in this guide to fortify your website against online vulnerabilities.