As a utopian tool connecting communities and encouraging communication, it’s tempting to think of the internet as a safe place free from all the dangers you’re likely to encounter in the real world. Sadly, it’s not. With about 2,200 cyber attacks occurring daily, the internet is anything but a haven.

As an online business owner, you’re at even greater risk of cyber attacks than the average internet user. The strength and popularity of your brand directly correlate to your appeal as a target. Many cybercriminals will try to get to your business through your domain name, and you must be vigilant to ensure they fail. 

That’s where domain name monitoring comes in. In this article, we will take a look at domain name monitoring and all you stand to gain from using it. Ready to protect your brand? Let’s go.

What is Domain Name Monitoring?

Domain name monitoring refers to the use of specialized software to monitor and detect new domain name registrations that contain a company’s name and trademark or extremely similar variants. 

It is a crucial cybersecurity tool that protects your domain name not only from potential hackers and phishers but also copycats and cybersquatters who might put your brand in jeopardy. 

Let’s say you’ve launched your punk rock florists, providing bad-ass bouquets to your customers. If your brand name was Punky Petals, and you owned punkypetals.com, domain monitoring could identify the following new registrations:

• punkypetals.co,
• punkypetals.xyz
• pinkypetals.com,
• punkypatals.com,

While the owner of punkypatals.com might be innocently creating their own brand, in another country and with no connection to floral creations, the registrant of punkypetals.co might intend to piggyback on your brand. It’s important to spot these threats to your trademark early on.

How Does Domain Name Monitoring Work?

You’re most likely wondering how domain name monitoring works. Well, it’s a pretty straightforward process. You do not have to be a cybersecurity expert to get a good grasp of how it functions. However, having a CompTIA Security+ certification can provide a solid foundation in understanding domain monitoring and cybersecurity best practices.

As mentioned earlier, domain monitoring involves the use of specialized software. Most of these tools focus on the top-level domain (TLD) and country code top-level domain (ccTLD) registries to identify recently registered domains or domain ownership transfers that could pose a threat to your website’s security. 

That’s not all. These tools also monitor all of the organization’s possible entry points to cyber attackers, detecting links to shady and dangerous domains. These possible entry points include web applications, email platforms, social media, blogs, and online forums.

Once the domain monitoring software detects possible attacks, it sends signals to the cybersecurity team. The cybersecurity team, in turn, swings into action to thwart the plans of the cyberattackers.

Why Use Domain Name Monitoring

Domain monitoring provides valuable protection for your brand. If punkypetals.co is imitating your brand and capturing your customers’ credit card details, then you’re not going to come out smelling like roses.

● Trademark Protection: With domain name monitoring, you’re alerted when someone tries to register a domain name that is too similar to yours. This serves as a means of protecting your trademark from competitors and copycats who might want to cause mayhem by getting a domain name that lets them imitate your brand.

● Cost-Effectiveness: Domain name monitoring saves you a lot of money that would otherwise be spent trying to fix the mishaps caused by cybercriminals. Whether it’s money spent repairing your brand reputation, or even paying regulatory fines for data breaches, cybercrime can cost you.

In addition, the fact that domain name monitoring software is an automated tool means you or your staff do not have to spend time manually scouring the internet in search of potential attackers. As the saying goes, time is money.

● Customer Safety: If your customers do not feel safe on your website, the chance is they will not return. Customers are more likely to fall prey to cybersquatters and typosquatters, posturing as your brand if you do not prioritize domain name monitoring. 

These cybersquatters may go on to launch phishing attacks on your customers if you give them free rein. All these could culminate in your brand losing its integrity.

Wrapping Up

Domain name monitoring is a crucial cybersecurity tool to protect yourself from potential cyberattacks, mainly because your domain name can serve as an entry point for these attackers. A well-protected domain name makes it even more difficult for cyber attackers to gain entry into your website, or to imitate your brand.

Ready to find a domain that’s so good, you’ll protect it at all costs? At Atom’s Premium Domain Marketplace, you can choose from over 200,000 domain names carefully curated by our team of experts. Shop with us today for the perfect domain name. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need Domain Monitoring?

If you are keen on protecting your brand’s trademark and reputation, then domain monitoring is necessary to achieve this. Domain monitoring ensures that you are aware of anyone trying to use a domain name that could lead to a trademark dispute with your brand.

What is DNS Monitoring?

DNS monitoring is a cyber security protocol that uses network monitoring tools to test and ensure that there is secure back-and-forth communication between your website server and the client software. 

What is Domain Protection?

Domain protection is a service that allows you to conceal your personal contact details, and replace them with proxy contact details, on the WHOIS database when registering your domain name with a domain registrar.