Domain Portfolio Security Checklist: Prevent Hijacks & Downtime
Actionable checklist to harden registrar accounts, DNS, and operational processes protecting valuable domains.
By Security•8/6/2025•2 min read
securityhardeningoperations
Domain Portfolio Security Checklist: Prevent Hijacks & Downtime
A single hijacked domain can cascade into brand, email, and revenue loss. Harden the basics.
Registrar Account Hardening
- Unique password (length > 20, manager stored)
- Hardware security key (FIDO2) if supported
- Disable SMS-only MFA fallback
- Principle of least privilege (separate roles)
DNS Change Governance
- Require ticket or change ID for NS edits
- Log & alert on registrar lock changes
- Enable Registry Lock for top-tier assets
Zone Integrity Controls
| Control | Purpose |
|---|---|
| DNSSEC | Prevent cache poisoning |
| CAA records | Limit certificate authorities |
| SPF/DMARC/DKIM | Protect mail channel |
| Monitoring hash | Detect unauthorized zone drift |
Incident Response Playbook
- Detect anomaly (NS change alert)
- Freeze further changes (lock + access revoke)
- Validate registrar account integrity
- Contact registry escalation if hijack confirmed
- Issue comms (status page + email) if public impact
Backup & Redundancy
- Export zones weekly to version control
- Secondary DNS provider for mission-critical
- Stagger expiration dates to avoid batch lapses
Quarterly Audit Tasks
- Review auto-renew status
- Validate contact emails & WHOIS privacy
- Revoke stale API tokens & user accounts
- Pen-test domain transfer process
Need an automated DNS drift detector? Happy to outline it.