Your website and domain name are part of your business identity. If your domain expires, DNS is changed, or a website admin account is compromised, customers may not be able to find or trust you online.
Small businesses often focus on email and computers first, but website and domain security deserve attention too. The basics are manageable and can prevent major disruption.
Know who controls the domain
Your domain registrar is the company where your domain name is registered. That account controls renewal, ownership, nameservers, and sometimes DNS records.
Make sure the business owns the domain account, not only a former employee or outside vendor. Use a business-controlled email address, store recovery information safely, and enable multi-factor authentication.
Protect DNS access
DNS records tell the internet where your website, email, and other services live. A malicious or accidental DNS change can break the website, email delivery, or security protections.
Limit who can edit DNS records. Document important records, including website hosting, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace email records, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and verification records for business tools.
Related service: Hosting
Secure website admin accounts
Website logins should use strong unique passwords and MFA when available. Remove old users, agency accounts, temporary contractors, and former staff who no longer need access.
If multiple people manage content, give each person their own account. Shared website admin passwords make it difficult to know who changed what and harder to remove access later.
Keep software and plugins updated
If your website uses a content management system, plugins, themes, or integrations, updates matter. Outdated plugins and abandoned tools are common attack paths.
Use only plugins or integrations that are needed, maintained, and trusted. Remove tools that are no longer used.
Watch renewals and ownership
Domain expiration can take a business offline. Make sure renewals are active, payment methods are current, and more than one trusted person knows how to access the account.
Also review vendor relationships. If an agency manages your site, confirm what accounts they control and what happens if you switch providers.
Include the website in incident planning
If your site is defaced, redirects to the wrong place, or disappears, who do you call? Your incident plan should include domain registrar, DNS provider, hosting provider, website administrator, and marketing or compliance contacts if needed.
Related service: Cybersecurity
How Affinity Tech Solutions can help
Affinity Tech Solutions helps Central Florida businesses protect the technology behind their online presence, including domain access, DNS, hosting, email records, and security basics.
If you are not sure who controls your domain or whether your website access is secure, we can help you review it.
Review Website and Domain Security
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should own our domain account?
The business should own and control the account. A vendor can help manage it, but ownership should not depend on one outside person.
Is DNS security only an IT issue?
No. DNS affects website availability, email delivery, and customer trust. Business leadership should know who manages it.
Should website users have individual accounts?
Yes. Individual accounts make access easier to manage and audit.