In today’s interconnected world, businesses are constantly looking for ways to optimize their online presence and make their digital infrastructure more efficient. One approach many companies take is purchasing multiple domains to organize different aspects of their business, such as separate domains for their main website, HR portals, event pages, customer surveys, newsletters, and intranet. While this may appear to be a practical strategy for simplifying DNS management, it can pose significant security challenges and create potential vulnerabilities. In this article, we explore why using a single authoritative domain with subdomains is the key to better security and maintaining trust.
The Appeal of Multiple Domains
It’s easy to see why companies opt for multiple domains. By using a distinct domain for each department or function, businesses believe they can better manage DNS settings and create more streamlined workflows for different parts of their operation. This setup may also allow for more focused branding or marketing strategies tailored to individual initiatives.
For instance, an organization could purchase separate domains like:
- www.company.com for its main website
- hr-company.com for its HR system
- events-company.com for business events
- newsletter-company.com for its email newsletter
- intranet-company.com for internal communication
At first glance, this division of resources can seem like a convenient way to segment responsibilities and simplify the management of online assets.
The Security Drawbacks of Multiple Domains
While this approach may have certain operational benefits, it introduces several security vulnerabilities that businesses often overlook. One of the major risks is that an increasing number of domains can make it harder for employees, customers, and even security systems to distinguish between legitimate, company-owned sites and those that are malicious :
The Solution: A Single Authoritative Domain with Subdomains
To bolster security and build trust, we recommend adopting a strategy where a single domain serves as the authoritative source of truth for all of a company’s online presence. This can be achieved by using subdomains to organize the various sections of your digital infrastructure, effectively using one primary domain as the backbone for all online activities.
Why Is This Important?
- Enhanced Trust: When employees, clients, or partners see a consistent domain name, they immediately associate it with the company’s verified presence. For example, seeing newsletter.company.com as a subdomain of company.com sends a strong signal that the content is indeed coming from the organization. This trust is difficult to establish when many domains are involved, as users may not recognize the legitimacy of less familiar URLs.
- Easier Security Management: Managing security becomes simpler when you’re dealing with a single authoritative domain. With subdomains, it’s easier to enforce uniform security policies such as SSL certificates, DNS security configurations, and multi-factor authentication, helping prevent potential breaches that could occur due to inconsistent security protocols across different domains.
- Reduced Phishing Risks: Using a single domain with subdomains minimizes the chances that users will be tricked by look-alike domains. Since users are already familiar with the primary domain, they’re more likely to trust subdomains that share the same root, decreasing the likelihood of phishing attacks or domain spoofing.
- Simplified Brand Recognition: With all digital activities streamlined under one domain, your brand gains consistency, making it easier for users to identify official company sites. This continuity enhances brand recognition and trust over time.
Implementing Subdomains for Your Business
Using subdomains is straightforward and can be customized to meet the needs of different business functions:
- www.company.com for the main website
- hr.company.com for the HR portal
- events.company.com for company events and webinars
- newsletter.company.com for email campaigns and newsletters
- intranet.company.com for internal communication and resources
Each of these subdomains can be configured to look and feel like separate domains, while still being under the umbrella of the primary domain. This enables companies to maintain a clear organizational structure without the added complexity of managing multiple domains.
Conclusion
While the initial appeal of managing multiple domains for different business functions is understandable, the potential security pitfalls are significant. Companies need to recognize that the more domains they have, the greater the challenge of maintaining a secure, easily recognizable online presence. By using a single authoritative domain with subdomains, businesses can better protect their users, build trust, and simplify security management. This approach ensures that employees, customers, and partners can confidently navigate company-owned websites without the confusion or risks associated with managing multiple domains.