Failing to register the new domain name category could leave your business or organisation open to fraudulent cyber activity, such as business email compromise.
From 24 March 2022, anyone with a local connection to Australia (including businesses, associations and individuals) will be able to register a new category of domain name. These shorter simpler domain names will end in .au rather than .com.au, .net.au, .org.au, .gov.au or .edu.au. . All Australian businesses will have until 20 September to reserve their .au equivalent domain name, then it becomes available to the general public.
This new option for domain names creates another avenue for cybercriminals to conduct fraudulent activity targeting your business or organisation. Specifically, cybercriminals could register a .au domain name and use it to impersonate your business, such as by registering yourbusiness.au where you have already registered yourbusiness.com.au.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) recommends that all Australian businesses with existing domain names register their .au equivalents in the next six months. Businesses should consider registering a .au domain name that includes their current top level domain. For example, a business that currently owns yourbusiness.com.au should register yourbusiness.au and yourbusinesscom.au. This will prevent cybercriminals from registering these domain names in the future and using them to conduct fraudulent cyber activities.
If you need assistance in registering & setting up your top level .au domain reach out to CyberKap.
For more information visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre.