From 24 March 2022, Australian businesses will be able to register a new category of domain name, “.au”. This new option enables businesses and organisations to simplify their domain names to .au, from existing options such as .com.au; .net.au; .org.au; .gov.au or .edu.com.au.
Whilst this new category may not be appealing to everyone, unfortunately, businesses that do not register their .au domain name may be leaving themselves open as a target to savvy cybercriminals.
The good news for business owners is that if you already own an Australian domain name, regardless of the extension, you have priority access until 20 September 2022 to reserve the equivalent .au domain before it becomes available to the public.
What are the risks of not registering your .au domain?
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) recommends registering your .au domain name as a matter of urgency, as "opportunistic cybercriminals could register your domain name in an attempt to impersonate your business" post September.
As an example, if a cybercriminal purchased your .au domain and sent out malicious emails (such as a phishing attack) with your business logo and signature, how many of your employees or stakeholders could recognise the difference in the sender address as a fraud?
Registering your .au domain also ensures your business is protected from brand theft. This means cybercriminals will not be able to use your .au domain to create fake websites for fraudulent activities, keeping both your current and potential customers safe.
The security of our customers is our main priority, and while we recognise that the .au domain may not always be suitable (for example, if you also operate internationally or wish to distinguish your area of focus through extensions such as .edu or .org) we recommend registering your .au domain to your name at the very least, and redirecting it towards your current domain address to ensure it cannot be compromised by cybercriminals.
Other benefits of registering your .au domain
Aside from cyber security risks, registering a .au domain name for your business can also:
- create customer trust and loyalty - as the .au domain has been endorsed by the Commonwealth Government to ensure it is a safe, accessible, and trusted Australian public asset for all internet users.
- improve local search indexing - meaning your business could have better visibility when consumers look for similar products or services that are based locally, as .au domains get a higher preference in Australian and local search results.
- provide an option of a shorter, simpler, and more memorable domain name.
How to register your .au domain
We strongly recommend getting in touch with your existing IT provider or website host to register your equivalent .au domain name and redirect it to your current website. You can also reserve your .au domain name by visiting an auDA accredited registrar.
How Diamond IT can help secure your business
The Diamond IT team specialise in reviewing cyber security strategies to ensure they are fit-for-purpose, align with government recommendations, and include the necessary defences required to best protect your business from malicious threats.
Our Business Technology Managers (BTMs) and Business Technology Consulting team are specialists in improving your internal cybersecurity and are ready to speak with you. Contact our team on 1300 307 907 today.
