IE Domain Registry t/a .IE

These services are important for every business, individual, community or government service which uses the .ie internet address, and includes: ▶ Operating an essential service – the national domain name system (DNS) for Ireland ▶ Managing and maintaining the database of .ie domain names ▶ Providing the WHOIS directory and online lookup service ▶ Running the zone file update process, 12 times every day ▶ Implementing internet security and standards ▶ Providing the DNSSEC infrastructure, for secure end-to-end website traffic ▶ Providing a domain locking technical service, to protect IP in valuable .ie brands ▶ Adopting policies that proactively deal with technical abuse which uses the DNS ▶ Working with partners who share our passion for cyber security .IE is an operator of an essential service Operating the national registry for the .ie namespace requires the highest levels of security, stability and resilience of networks and infrastructure. Our Technical Services team manages and maintains the registry’s high availability systems, mission-critical services and infrastructure in accordance with international best practices. Managing and maintaining the database of .ie domain names Our Technical Services team manages and maintains the national registry of .ie domain names. This database is the authoritative record of who has the “right to use” a particular .ie domain name. The database is updated, in real time, for changes requested by Registrars, acting on the instructions of Registrants. Registrars’ APIs can submit requests 24/7/365, so database uptime and resilience is of critical national importance. During 2020 we licensed and customised a new domain registry management platform, which uses the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP standard). It provides our Registrars with more powerful and flexible domain management tools as well as a modern, user-friendly interface. It has greater functionality and flexibility and will ensure that our technical systems can support long-term growth in .ie domains. This standardisation of processes will future-proof the core Registry platform. It has a Console for Registrars, a Registry Console for our staff, complete with an email communications package and a data export facility for invoicing. Deskpro has been integrated for ticket processing and provides a community hub feature for Registrars to request feature changes. These systems represent a significant financial and operational commitment by the Company to its Registrar customers. WHOIS directory Technical Services operates and manages the WHOIS directory, an online lookup service which provides valuable information on every .ie domain name. This service is provided free of charge on our website, www.weare.ie . It is important to note that we do not show an individual’s personal information, in accordance with GDPR principles and requirements. Access is controlled with daily limits and fair usage policies apply. During 2020, the usefulness of the WHOIS service was extended with the addition of an abuse contact facility, in the public interest. Zone file updates Any changes to a .ie domain’s name server details are sent to computer servers around the globe, in a process known as the zone file update. We run this process 12 times every day, 365 days a year. This is important because it means that changes to your website can always be reached quickly from anywhere in the world. Business and Market Review IE Domain Registry CLG t/a .IE / Annual Report & Review 2020 23 Technical excellence The .IE Technical Services team provides a range of services which underpin the .ie namespace, which is a critical part of Ireland’s national internet infrastructure.