Is your business .au ready?

Anyone with a local connection to Australia including businesses, associations and individuals is now  able to register a new category of domain name. 

The ACSC said 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 have until 20 September to reserve their .au equivalent domain name, before it becomes available to the general public.

While the new category of domain name might allow you to register a shorter, more memorable online name, it also creates a new avenue for cybercriminals to conduct potentially fraudulent cyber activities. 

The new .au domain presents an opportunity for cybercriminals to register your .au domain name and impersonate your business or confuse customers into thinking they are receiving legitimate communications from you. 

For example, if you were currently registered as business.com.au, a cybercriminal could register business.au or businesscom.au and use these domains to conduct fraudulent cyber activities.

So, how can you protect yourself and your business?

  • The ACSC recommends that all Australian businesses with existing domain names register their .au equivalents before 20 September 2022. If a business does not reserve their .au equivalent direct domain name during this period, that name will become available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Educate yourself and your employees on what to look for and how to react to potential cybercrime.
  • Ensure your business is protected, your cybersecurity is up to date and suited to your business needs.