We’ve come so far when it comes to technological advancements. But on the other side of the coin, cybercrime has also been on the rise.

Forbes reports a 15.1% increase in the average number of cyberattacks and data breaches in 2021. Figures also rose sharply during the pandemic, alongside company efforts to digitize their practices and assets more.

Because we see that this digitization is inevitable, how can people, companies, and even nations keep their domains safe from unwanted attacks?

Here are some of the best domain security practices.

1. Get a Domain Validated Certificate

In another article, we emphasize getting a Domain Validated SSL as primary security. Also called a DV, it is essentially a public key certificate with a purpose of providing 256-bit encryption to your website. This step is also necessary to protect personal data and information, which is crucial to building trust with your user base and the general public. This is one of the easiest first steps you can take because a DV SSL can be applied for online and received within a few hours.

2. Consider a Security Contact

If you want an effective way to up your domain’s protection, consider adding a security contact for your company. A security contact is an individual, team, or department that can be added or managed through your domain provider or the .Gov Registrar website. They specialize in researching and analyzing potential threats, vulnerabilities, or compromised accounts that can affect your brand. Enlisting these services can also help you keep track of any actions done to improve safety and security and streamline the process of reporting.

3. Register Similar Domains

Another important tip is to register similar domains. Typosquatting and cybersquatting are rampant social engineering attacks that use similar or misspelled domain names for malicious purposes, involving over 66.7% of potential URLs. When choosing a new domain name using Namechk, you can easily type in your brand name and see all of the similar domains that are either available or taken. You can then register available ones as a preventative, purchase taken ones from typosquatters, or file a legal complaint.

4. Register With Your Own Account and Identity

It’s tempting to let a technical team or webmaster handle managing your domain, including registering. However, a Medium article points out that it’s a common way to lose access to your domain. Domains are often registered for anywhere from five to 10 years. But when you eventually have it renewed, the card used to file with the domain registrar must also be linked to your own account. That said, we highly suggest registering with your own account and identity, and later providing these details to relevant and trusted employees instead.

Conclusion

These are some of the easiest but most reliable ways to prevent most hijacking and takeover attacks. Of course, there are countless threats that affect the security of your domain, and more tactics are developed as time goes by. Securing your website early on can save you costs in the long run, help build trust with your user base, and protect your brand from the reputational damage that can ensue from untoward hacking incidents. Overall, investing in your domain’s safety bit by bit is a good way to move forward.