Category: Legacy vs. New gTLD Infrastructure

The distinction between thick and thin WHOIS models has long been a fundamental aspect of domain name registration data management, influencing how registrant information is stored, accessed, and maintained. In the thick WHOIS model, the central registry maintains all registrant details, while in the thin WHOIS model, only minimal information is stored at the registry…

The migration of domain name system infrastructure to cloud-based environments has become a key focus for both legacy TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org and newer gTLDs that emerged from ICANN’s domain name expansion initiative. While both types of registries recognize the benefits of cloud computing, their approaches to migration differ significantly due to…

The introduction of a new top-level domain requires a structured rollout to ensure fair access and protect intellectual property holders. The Landrush and Sunrise periods are two critical phases in the launch process that govern how domains are allocated before becoming available for general registration. While both legacy TLDs and new gTLDs have employed these…

The ability to scale and maintain robust infrastructure is essential for domain name registries, ensuring that DNS resolution, WHOIS services, and registration systems remain operational under varying levels of demand. Registry capacity planning differs significantly between legacy TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org and the newer gTLDs that emerged under ICANN’s domain expansion program.…

Time-to-live (TTL) values play a crucial role in the efficiency, scalability, and performance of DNS resolution, dictating how long DNS records are cached by recursive resolvers before they need to be refreshed. The optimization of TTL strategies varies significantly between legacy TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org and the newer gTLDs introduced under ICANN’s…

DNS firewalls play a critical role in safeguarding domain name system infrastructure against malicious activity, including phishing, malware distribution, and command-and-control (C2) operations. As threats targeting the DNS layer continue to evolve, both legacy TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org and newer gTLDs introduced through ICANN’s expansion have integrated DNS firewall technologies to protect…

The introduction of automation pipelines for continuous integration and continuous deployment has transformed how software updates, security patches, and new features are rolled out across domain registry infrastructures. Automation in registry operations is essential for maintaining reliability, security, and compliance while reducing downtime and operational complexity. The approach to CI/CD implementation differs significantly between legacy…

The implementation of DNS over HTTPS and DNS over TLS has introduced significant changes to how domain name system queries are handled, encrypted, and secured across the internet. These protocols were designed to enhance user privacy by encrypting DNS traffic, preventing network-level interference, and reducing the risk of DNS-based attacks such as man-in-the-middle interception and…

The rise of phishing attacks has made blacklisting infrastructure a critical component of domain registry security, as fraudulent websites often use deceptive domain names to trick users into providing sensitive information. Phishing attacks exploit weaknesses in domain registration policies, abuse domain lifecycle processes, and take advantage of the time delay between detection and mitigation. The…

The tiering of data centers plays a crucial role in determining the reliability, performance, and resilience of domain registry infrastructure. Top-level domain registries, whether legacy domains such as com, net, and org or new gTLDs introduced under ICANN’s expansion program, depend on highly available data centers to ensure the uninterrupted operation of domain name system…