As a business owner, you might be tempted to entrust your website developer with managing your domain registration and DNS hosting. After all, they are experts in web development and can help you choose the right website host for your business. However, in my experience, this is not a good idea. In this blog post, I will explain why you should not let your website developer manage your domain registration and DNS hosting.
DNS is an attack surface for threat actors.
DNS is an essential component of your online presence. It is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses, which allows users to access your website. However, it is also an attack surface for threat actors. Cybercriminals can use DNS to launch various attacks, such as DNS spoofing, DNS hijacking, and DNS amplification attacks.
In my experience, web development shops do not have adequate security controls around managing Registrar and DNS accounts. It is not uncommon for web developers to manage many domains for multiple customers in one account to which many people have access. This makes it easier for cybercriminals to compromise your DNS and launch attacks against your website.
Web developers typically do not fully understand DNS.
While web developers are experts in web development, they do not all fully understand DNS. Those who don’t understand the complexities of DNS may inadvertently make mistakes and misconfigurations that can affect your email, remote access, network connectivity, and overall IT security.
Web developers are rarely available evenings and weekends.
DNS changes may be required outside of regular business hours, such as during office moves or network infrastructure changes. Unfortunately, web developers are rarely available evenings and weekends. This can cause delays and disruptions to your business operations.
Your domain names are your assets,
Your domain names are your assets, and you should maintain control of these assets. By letting your website developer manage your domain registration and DNS hosting, you are relinquishing control of your domain names. This can lead to issues if you decide to switch website developers or if your website developer goes out of business.
In conclusion, you should not let your website developer manage your domain registration and DNS hosting. While they may be experts in web development, they may not have the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to manage DNS effectively. Additionally, your domain names are your assets, and you should maintain control of these assets. By managing your domain registration and DNS hosting, you can protect your business from cyber threats and ensure that your website is always available to your customers.
