Securing a new domain is a critical step in establishing a company’s online presence, but it also introduces cybersecurity risks that demand immediate attention. Without proper security in place to safeguard it, a new business domain could become an easy target for cybercriminals, leading to issues such as domain spoofing, phishing campaigns and unauthorized access attempts that put the company and its customers at risk.
Taking the right security measures immediately after registering a new domain not only protects the business, its brand and its customers, but also sets a resilient foundation for a long-term digital strategy. Here, 18 members of Forbes Technology Council share essential security features a business should enable to ensure a newly registered domain’s integrity and reduce vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.
“Enable multilayered IAG. Implement domain-level MFA for all administrative accounts, enforce least-privilege access controls and activate continuous monitoring for login anomalies using cutting-edge tools like knowledge graphs and digital twins. Securing identity pathways from day one prevents unauthorized access and protects critical digital assets.” – Craig Davies, Gathid
1. Domain Lock
Right after securing a new domain, the first line of defense should be enabling the domain lock, often called the transfer lock. This feature stops anyone from transferring your domain without explicit authorization. It’s a simple step, but it can be critical to keeping your domain safe from hijacking attempts and ensuring you control your brand’s online identity. – John Jordan, BetterWorld Technology
2. Lookalike Domain Variant Acquisition
Secure similar domains, such as common typos and misspellings of yours, and alternative top-level domains (such as .net, .org and .co) to prevent phishing attacks. Cybercriminals often exploit lookalike domains to impersonate companies, deceive customers and steal sensitive information. Proactively acquiring domain variants helps safeguard your brand, maintain customer trust and prevent misuse. – Alexander Britkin, NFWare
3. Domain-Based Email Authentication
A business should immediately enable domain-based email authentication to protect against phishing and email spoofing. This ensures only authorized sources can send emails on behalf of the domain, safeguarding brand reputation and preventing cyber threats. – Mohit Gupta, Damco Solutions
4. Domain Name System Security Extensions
Enable DNSSEC immediately. DNSSEC digitally signs your domain name system records, protecting against cache poisoning and domain hijacking—ensuring that visitors reach your authentic website safely from the start. – Kinil Doshi, Citibank
5. Multifactor Authentication
Use MFA from the very first day to secure administrative access, prevent unauthorized entry and reduce the risk of phishing. Additionally, set up email authentication based on the domain using DMARC, SPF and DKIM protocols to prevent email spoofing and protect a brand’s reputation against cyber threats. – Asad Khan, LambdaTest Inc.
6. WHOIS Privacy Protection
Enable domain privacy protection so your personal or company contact info isn’t exposed in WHOIS records. This guards against social engineering and phishing attempts that often target new domain registrants. It’s an easy security win—attackers can’t use your publicly listed email or phone number to try to trick you or your IT staff if that data is masked by a privacy service. – Roman Vorel, Honeywell
7. Extensible Provisioning Protocol Lock
EPP lock would be the first thing I’d check. Domain ownership scams are rampant. A significant portion of them are socially engineered, preventing software from helping keep you protected. Ensuring your domain can’t be transferred out is key in protecting your brand and online reputation. If a domain is unlocked, it’s extremely easy for a third party to hold your domain for ransom. – Tom Roberto, SG Network Services
8. Identity And Access Governance
Enable multilayered IAG. Implement domain-level MFA for all administrative accounts, enforce least-privilege access controls and activate continuous monitoring for login anomalies using cutting-edge tools like knowledge graphs and digital twins. Securing identity pathways from day one prevents unauthorized access and protects critical digital assets. – Craig Davies, Gathid
9. SSL/TLS Encryption
After registering a new domain, businesses should immediately enable SSL/TLS encryption for HTTPS. This secure version of the standard HTTP protocol ensures data is securely transferred between the website and its users, protecting sensitive information like passwords and payment details. It also builds trust, as browsers display a “secure” indicator, reassuring users that their data is safe. – Aishwarya Suresh, Medtronic Inc.
10. Domain Monitoring
Set up a domain monitoring service to track any unauthorized use of your domain name or brand online. This service can alert you to phishing sites, trademark infringements or other fraudulent activities that mimic your business. Early detection through continuous monitoring enables you to take swift corrective actions to safeguard your brand and maintain trust with your customers. Stay vigilant! – Mohammad Adnan, Intuit Inc.
11. Certificate Authority Authorization
Enable CAA that allows domain owners to specify which certificate authorities are permitted to issue SSL/TLS certificates for their domain, thereby preventing unauthorized certificate issuance. This measure enhances security by reducing the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks and ensuring that only trusted CAs can issue certificates for our domains. – Pooja Jain, Meta (Facebook)
12. Domain Name System Zone Transfer Restrictions
Enable DNS zone transfer restrictions. Immediately disable open AXFR (full zone transfer) requests so that only authorized secondary DNS servers can access your DNS zone data. This prevents attackers from enumerating your entire DNS record set, thereby reducing the risk of targeted attacks. – Bing Yu Yap, Datacurve AI Inc.
13. Registrar Lock And Auto-Renewal
Immediately enable registrar lock and auto-renewal to prevent accidental expiration or unauthorized domain transfers. Cybercriminals often exploit expired domains to impersonate brands or launch malicious campaigns. By securing renewal settings and locking domain transfers, businesses eliminate vulnerabilities associated with domain lapses. – Jagadish Gokavarapu, Wissen Infotech
14. Canary Tokens
Enable canary tokens for domain monitoring. Embed a hidden tracking URL or email alias to detect real-time unauthorized access, phishing or DNS tampering. This stealthy, proactive measure provides alerts of threats before traditional security tools notice. Stay ahead of attackers before they strike. – Sadhasivam Mohanadas
15. Ethereum Name Service
For Web3 domains, I recommend ENS for domain security. ENS enhances Web3 domain protection by linking readable names to blockchain addresses, ensuring that domain interactions are secure. ENS prevents fraud by verifying that users are interacting with legitimate, intended blockchain addresses, which is crucial for maintaining trust and security in the decentralized environment. – Morgan Shuler, Tapplix Applications & Web Design
16. Custom Name Servers With Redundancy
Organizations should consider enabling the use of custom name servers with redundancy, a crucial security feature. This approach involves deploying custom, geographically distributed name servers that enhance performance and provide robust protection against distributed denial-of-service attacks. – Cristian Randieri, Intellisystem Technologies
17. Web Application Firewall
After registering a new domain, businesses should prioritize implementing a WAF. A WAF acts as a shield, filtering and monitoring HTTP traffic to protect against Web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. Deploying a WAF reduces attack surfaces, safeguards data and ensures compliance with security standards, establishing a strong security foundation. – Pradeep Kumar Muthukamatchi, Microsoft
18. IP Allowlisting
First, enable two-factor authentication. If the domain provider supports IP allowlisting for the management panel, configure it accordingly. Then, ensure the domain provider follows strong security practices. Review the “Forgot Password” process to assess whether it can be easily bypassed. Finally, activate all available security features for the email account associated with the domain management panel. – Can Yildizli, PRODAFT
