ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is a non-profit, US-based organisation that oversees a variety of activities related to the internet. This includes accurate registration of domains.
As of January 1, 2014, ICANN updated its procedures. It now requires verification of the contact information of the named holder of a domain.
This means, if you are the registered name holder of a domain, you have to confirm your details are correct. You will receive a verification email from your registrar, which provides instructions on how to confirm your details.
Which Domains Does This Apply To?
The new domain verification procedure applies to domains controlled by ICANN. These include “.com”, “.net”, “.org”, “.biz”, “.info”, “.asia”, “.org”, “.mobi”, “.name”, “.pro”, “.tel” and “.xxx”.
Please note this does not include the majority of country code domains, such as “.co.uk”, “.ie”, “.in” etc. There are more details of ICANN’s new policy here.
Does This Apply To Me?
The registration confirmation procedure will apply to you if, since 1st January 2014:
• You have purchased a domain controlled by ICANN or have had one transferred to you
• You are the Registered Name Holder of a domain controlled by ICANN and your contact details (first name, last name or email address) have changed.
What You Need To Do
You will receive an email from your registrar and this will have a link and instructions on how to complete your domain verification. Obviously you need to be careful when clicking on links in emails, so check it is genuine first. Most CWCS Managed Hosting customers will receive an email from the registrar ‘OpenSRS’.
If you receive a verification request email, do not ignore it. It is important that you take action.
If you are expecting a verification email and have not received it, we recommend you check your ‘junk’ email folder. Also check that you haven’t deleted it by mistake. You will receive up to four reminder emails.
Why It Matters
If you’re a domain name holder and you do not verify your details within fifteen days, it will result in domain suspension. Suspension will prevent your domain from resolving – in other words your website won’t appear on the internet. This applies to any registered domain name holder that has an ICANN controlled domain subject to the criteria we outlined previously (not just CWCS Managed Hosting customers!)
Can CWCS Managed Hosting Confirm My Domain Details For Me?
Unfortunately, CWCS Managed Hosting cannot confirm details on your behalf. ICANN requires that only the registrant can verify the contact details associated with their domain name.
What Do I Do If My Domain is Suspended?
Here’s what to do if you haven’t verified your details and ICANN have suspended your account:
1) First, don’t panic! As long as you take action, it should be possible to get your domain turned back on quickly. You just need to verify your details to ICANN.
2) Find your verification email from your registrar and click on the link. If you cannot find it, we may be able to arrange it to be resent (as long as you originally bought the domain from us) – please contact CWCS Managed Hosting or your registrar direct.
3) Click on the verification link and follow the instructions in the URL. ICANN requires a response in this way in order to unsuspend a domain name.
4) Once you have validated your details your domain should come back online straight away. Please note that caching may cause a delay. This can be anything from a few minutes up to 48 hours.
Further Information
If you are a CWCS Managed Hosting customer, please contact your account manager or our support team. If you purchased a domain from elsewhere, we recommend you first contact your hosting provider or your domain registrar.
