IE Domain Registry t/a .IE Annual Report 2021

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 and promoting internet security and standards. ▶ Providing the DNSSEC infrastructure, for increased protection of domains. ▶ Providing a domain locking service, to protect valuable .ie brands. ▶ Adopting policies that proactively deal with technical abuse which uses the DNS. ▶ Working with partners who share our passion for cybersecurity. High availability mission-critical systems and services 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 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, database uptime and resilience is of critical national importance. World class platform 2021 was the first full year of operation of our new domain registry management platform, which we licensed and customised during 2020, in partnership with the Canadian registry. Codenamed TITAN , it provides our Registrars with more powerful and flexible domain management tools as well as a modern, user- friendly interface. It uses the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP standard) and has greater functionality and flexibility than the pre-existing Core Registry System (CRS) which served us well since 2013. The new system 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 .IE 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. Internet security and standards We adhere to RFCs which document the official Internet specifications, communications protocols and procedures published by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), an open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. “The expansion of remote working fuelled an increase in new vulnerabilities using the DNS. Companies have to be extra vigilant and upgrade their DNS Security.” Mick Begley Chief Information Officer, .IE IE Domain Registry CLG t/a .IE / Annual Report & Review 2021 18 Technical excellence .IE is designated as an Operator of Essential Services (OES) under the EC NIS Directive. 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. Business and Market Review