Know who controls your domain and its renewal

What this means for your practice

Document the domain's administrative ownership, renewal process and authorised access route. Resolve uncertain ownership through the appropriate account and supplier processes.

How to review the arrangement

Ask an authorised alternate to locate renewal information and the administration route. Can they do it from maintained records rather than someone's memory? Resolve uncertain ownership through the account provider's process. Keep organisational contacts current so notices continue reaching the right people when staff or suppliers change.

Make ownership understandable to a covering colleague

Keep a record of the domain provider, the organisation's responsible person and the approved route for administration. The record should help an authorised colleague find renewal information and request a change without relying on a former supplier's recollection. Avoid confusing the company that designed the website with the company that manages the domain registration.

Ask the current supplier to explain the arrangement in plain terms and identify any uncertainty. If access or ownership needs resolving, use the provider's proper account process and the organisation's authorised people. Include the contact receiving notices and how it will be kept current when staff change. Review related domains the practice still relies on, such as an older address that directs visitors to the current site. Knowing that the main website opens today does not show that the practice has a workable route for the next renewal or an urgent authorised change.

How to check the result

Measure domains with verified ownership and current renewal responsibility.