What ICANN Stands For: Why Dynadot is a Trusted ICANN Accredited Registrar

When choosing a domain registrar for your website, understanding ICANN accreditation is crucial for your online security and peace of mind. ICANN stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the organization that oversees the global domain name system. As an ICANN-accredited registrar for over 10 years, Dynadot operates under strict guidelines that ensure reliable domain registration services and robust security measures for our customers.

 

What is ICANN?

ICANN stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a nonprofit organization that serves as the central authority governing the Internet's naming system. Established in 1998, ICANN ensures that every website address and IP address on the internet is unique and properly managed through a coordinated global system.

Its purpose is to coordinate the Domain Name System (DNS), Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, space allocation, protocol identifier assignment, generic (gTLD) and country code (ccTLD) Top-Level Domain name system, and root server system functions.

 

What Does It Mean to Be an ICANN Accredited Registrar?

ICANN accreditation is a rigorous certification process that authorizes companies to sell domain names directly through ICANN's registry system. Only businesses that meet ICANN's strict operational, technical, and financial standards can become accredited domain name registrars, ensuring a higher level of service and security for customers.

Basically, ICANN is the highest authority overseeing the world's Internet systems. As the highest authority, ICANN requires that every business desiring to become a registrar with direct access to ICANN-designated TLDs must first become accredited. And yesterday, Dynadot was proud to celebrate 10 years of ICANN accreditation.

 

Dynadot: 10 Years as an ICANN Accredited Domain Registrar

Now, you may have noticed that we held a big 10-year anniversary celebration and sale back in September. Although Dynadot was first incorporated in September 2002, we were just getting started as a company, and our ICANN accreditation was a big part of that. In fact, we received our ICANN accreditation long before we took our first official domain registration, which wasn't until June 2003.

 

 

Why Choose an ICANN Accredited Domain Name Registrar?

You may be wondering what this means for you as a Dynadot customer. Getting accredited by ICANN requires us as a registrar to meet many qualifications including secure, authenticated access; robust and scalable operations; reliable and readily usable daily data backup; and procedures for information systems security to name a few. ICANN also checked on (and continues to check) our financial stability, requiring adequate working capital to be available for the operation of a registrar business. Finally, they require us as a registrar to agree to their governing policies before they decide to approve the accreditation.

Getting and staying accredited is an ongoing process. ICANN still regularly checks all accredited registrars to ensure we are operating within their guidelines. Unfortunately, many unaccredited and thus unregulated companies pass themselves off as registrars.

But here at Dynadot, we are proud to continue to be an ICANN accredited registrar and to offer great services and security to all of our customers.

 

FAQs About ICANN Accreditation

 

Is Dynadot safe to use as my domain registrar?

Yes, Dynadot is safe. As an ICANN-accredited registrar since 2012, we must meet strict security, financial stability, and operational requirements that are regularly audited by ICANN.

 

What does ICANN stand for and who is ICANN?

ICANN stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It's the nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the global domain name system and IP address allocation.

 

What's the difference between an ICANN-accredited domain registrar and other registrars?

ICANN-accredited domain name registrars have direct access to domain registries and must follow strict operational, security, and financial guidelines. Unaccredited companies often act as resellers without the same oversight.

 

Why should I choose an ICANN-accredited registrar for domain registration?

ICANN domain registration through accredited registrars ensures better security, reliable service, consumer protection policies, and direct access to domain management without intermediaries.