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<h2 id="h-introduction">Introduction</h2>



When thinking of how to change domain name, the first thing business leaders should do is determine the why.



In fact, this is a strategic choice that can and will impact the digital presence of the company: it can unlock new growth opportunities, better brand alignment, and stronger market positioning, as well as posing technical challenges, affect the traffic, and curb the overall digital performance.&nbsp;



For this, there are usually specific situations where changing the domain name makes sense, like during a rebranding or when targeting.



In this actionable guide, we walk through every step of the process, from planning and selection to execution and post-launch management.



<h2 id="h-when-should-you-change-domain-name">When should you change domain name?</h2>



Changing your domain name is a strategic move that should be motivated by clear business objectives. While it might seem daunting, there are several moments of the business life cycle that are suitable for a domain change.



<h3 id="h-during-a-rebranding-or-brand-change">During a rebranding or brand change&nbsp;</h3>



If your company name, services, or positioning have changed significantly, your current domain might no longer reflect who you are.



A fresh domain name aligned with your brand can improve recognition and trust, both with customers and search engines.



A great example of this is when Snapchat rebranded to Snap Inc. in September 2016 to reflect its evolution into a broader tech company focused on camera products.



As part of the shift, they secured the clean, brandable domain snap.com, aligning their digital identity with their new business direction.



<h4 id="h-when-targeting-new-geographies-or-markets">When targeting new geographies or markets</h4>



Expanding from a local to a global market? Or shifting from B2C to B2B?



Choosing a domain that resonates better with your new audience or includes relevant geo or industry keywords can make the difference and communicate the direction the business is taking.



<h3 id="h-your-current-domain-is-hard-to-remember-or-spell">Your current domain is hard to remember or spell</h3>



If your domain is confusing, includes hyphens, or is difficult to pronounce, it may be hurting your traffic and brand recall. Simplicity and clarity are key, especially in competitive spaces like hosting, IT services, or digital design.



Sometimes, the perfect domain becomes available, shorter, cleaner, or with a more authoritative extension like <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/domains/tlds/com">.com</a>, <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/domains/tlds/cloud">.cloud</a> or <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/domains/tlds/agency">.agency</a>. If it aligns with your business, upgrading can be a smart investment.



<h3 id="h-after-a-merging-or-a-radical-business-change">After a merging or a radical business change</h3>



If your business has gone through a merger, been acquired, or pivoted significantly, like shifting from B2C to B2B, changing your product line, or expanding into new verticals, a domain change is often necessary to reflect your new identity.



A fresh domain communicates your updated mission and value proposition to customers, partners, and search engines alike. In fact, delaying this change can create brand confusion and dilute your new positioning.



Tip: If multiple brands or legacy domains are involved, consider consolidating them under one central domain and using redirects to maintain SEO and traffic continuity.



<h3 id="h-seo-recovery-or-cleanup">SEO recovery or cleanup</h3>



If your current domain has a history of spammy backlinks, penalties, or poor performance in search, a clean slate might help, but only when handled with the right SEO strategy (more on this later).



<h3 id="h-when-closing-a-funding-round">When closing a funding round&nbsp;</h3>



Securing a clean, professional domain name becomes even more important when you&#8217;re scaling fast, especially after raising capital. Investors expect your brand to signal credibility, clarity, and long-term vision. That’s why many startups reconsider their domain during or after a funding round.



Take Carta as an example. Originally operating under the domain eSharesInc.com, the company grew rapidly and raised $67 million by 2017. Despite attempts, they couldn’t secure the shorter eshares.com, which posed branding and security challenges. Instead of compromising, they made a bold decision to rebrand entirely, becoming Carta—with a fresh domain to match their ambitions.



<h2 id="h-how-to-choose-a-domain-name-6-impactful-factors">How to choose a domain name: 6 impactful factors</h2>



What are the most impactful factors to choose a domain name? Here&#8217;s how to get it right from the start.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TLD-list-how-to-change-domain-name.jpg" alt="how to change domain name tld list" class="wp-image-41746" srcset="https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TLD-list-how-to-change-domain-name.jpg 1080w, https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TLD-list-how-to-change-domain-name-300x300.jpg 300w, https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TLD-list-how-to-change-domain-name-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TLD-list-how-to-change-domain-name-150x150.jpg 150w, https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TLD-list-how-to-change-domain-name-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></figure>



<h3>1. Keep it short, clear, and easy to remember</h3>



Your domain name should pass the “radio test”: if someone hears it once, they should be able to spell it and type it without confusion. Avoid unnecessary hyphens, numbers, or complicated phrases. The cleaner it is, the more trustworthy it looks.



Tip: One-word or two-word domains tend to perform better in terms of branding and memorability.



<h3>2. Make it brandable</h3>



Whether you’re a growing IT agency or a hosting provider, your domain is your digital storefront. Choose something that supports your brand identity—unique, relevant, and not too generic. A strong domain can make your business easier to market and more resilient to competition.



<h3>3. Choose the right extension</h3>



Don’t just default to .com.



Depending on your business type and market, alternative TLDs (Top-Level Domains) like .ai, .tech and .io, as well as country-code domains like .de, .nl, and .es can make your brand more specific and memorable.



Good to know: we have created detailed guides for many of these extensions. Explore them here:



<a href="https://www.openprovider.com/blog/what-is-ai-domain">.ai domains</a>



<a href="https://www.openprovider.com/blog/why-ai-and-tech-domains-are-a-smart-investment-for-your-digital-future">.tech vs .ai domains</a>



<a href="https://www.openprovider.com/blog/so-whats-happening-to-the-io-domain">.io domains</a>



At Openprovider, we offer access to over 1,900 TLDs with flexible pricing for <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/membership-plans">Members</a>, so you can choose what best fits your brand, your industry, and your audience.



<h3>4. Check availability (and act fast)</h3>



A great domain won’t stay available for long.



Once you’ve shortlisted options, check availability across your preferred TLDs and consider securing more than one version (for example, the .com and your local ccTLD) to protect your brand.



Tip: With Openprovider’s search and bulk registration tools, or via our single domain registration panel, you can <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/fast-check-out">check availability</a> and secure domains across hundreds of extensions in seconds.



<h3>5. Audit the domain’s history</h3>



Before committing, check the domain’s past.



A previously used domain might have existing backlinks, or SEO penalties that can impact your performance. Tools like Wayback Machine, WHOIS lookup, and domain history checkers can help.



Tip: Check both the history and the present. Avoid domains with a shady backlink profile or high spam scores.



<h3>6. Futureproof your choice</h3>



Think ahead. Will the domain still make sense as your business grows or expands services?&nbsp;



Choose a name that’s flexible enough to grow with you, especially important for resellers managing multiple verticals or digital agencies planning to scale.



<h2>Steps to change your domain name&nbsp;</h2>



Changing your domain name is about correct and affordable registration, preserving SEO performances, maintaining uptime, and ensuring smooth continuity for your customers.



If you’re an Openprovider customer, you already have access to powerful tools to make this process efficient and risk-free. Here&#8217;s how to do it right.



<h3>Step 1: secure your new domain</h3>



Start by checking availability and registering your new domain name. Use the Openprovider <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/resellers/reseller-control-panel">Reseller Control Panel </a>(RCP) or <a href="https://developers.openprovider.com/">our API</a> for fast, automated search and registration across 1,900+ TLDs.



Pro tip: If you’re a Member, you get domains at cost price – Make sure <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/membership-plans">your Membership is active</a> to unlock maximum savings.



<h3>Step 2: set up DNS records</h3>



Before you redirect or migrate anything, mirror the DNS configuration from your old domain to the new one. This ensures services like email, subdomains, or third-party integrations keep running without interruption.



Use the <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/resellers/reseller-control-panel">RCP</a> to replicate DNS settings or, if you&#8217;re managing domains at scale, automate DNS replication via the Openprovider API.



<h3>Step 3: prepare your website and hosting</h3>



Update your website settings (CMS, hosting control panel, or custom backend) to recognize and serve the new domain. In WordPress, for example, this means updating the Site URL and Home URL.



For web agencies or IT service providers managing multiple domains, make sure to check server-side settings, SSL certificates, and CMS configurations in advance.



<h3>Step 4: implement 301 redirects</h3>



To retain SEO value, set up 301 permanent redirects from your old domain to the new one. This tells search engines the move is intentional and preserves your backlink equity and search rankings.



Use your server configuration, or a plugin like Yoast if you’re using a CMS like WordPress.



Don’t skip this step: without proper redirects, your traffic and SEO performance can drop significantly.



<h3>Step 5: update internal links and assets</h3>



Go through your site and replace all instances of the old domain in:



<ul>
<li>Internal links</li>



<li>Image URLs</li>



<li>Scripts and embedded resources</li>



<li>Sitemaps and robots.txt </li>
</ul>



If you’re running a large-scale website or manage client sites, automated search-and-replace scripts can streamline this process.



<h3>Step 6: update external services</h3>



Notify and update all external platforms connected to your domain:



<ul>
<li>Google Search Console (verify new domain and submit new sitemap)</li>



<li>Google Analytics (update property settings)</li>



<li>Paid media campaigns (Google Ads, Facebook, LinkedIn)</li>



<li>Social media accounts</li>



<li>Business directories and backlinks</li>
</ul>



Pro tip: Use domain change tools in Google Search Console to communicate the move to search engines directly.



<h3>Step 7: activate SSL on your new domain</h3>



Security is non-negotiable. Once your new domain is active, issue a new SSL certificate via Openprovider. You can choose from Sectigo certificates available at exclusive Member pricing.



Use the RCP or API to provision, configure, and install your new SSL certificate. Remember to remove the old SSL once the migration is fully complete.



<h3>Step 8: test everything</h3>



Before fully switching over, test your:



<ul>
<li>DNS propagation</li>



<li>URL redirects</li>



<li>CMS/domain recognition</li>



<li>Forms, scripts, APIs, and external integrations</li>
</ul>



Use browser tests, SEO tools, and network diagnostics to ensure a flawless experience for your users.



<h3>Step 9: monitor and maintain</h3>



For the first few weeks post-switch, monitor analytics and Search Console closely. Watch for crawl errors, drops in traffic, or broken redirects and fix them promptly.



Openprovider’s monitoring and support resources are always available if you need technical assistance, especially if you&#8217;re running domain changes at scale.



<h2>Risks and factors to monitor when changing your domain name</h2>



Switching your domain name opens up new opportunities, but it also introduces a few critical risks. These can affect your traffic, rankings, brand reputation, or even business continuity if not managed correctly. Understanding these risks is key to planning a smooth and successful transition.



Here are the most common risks to be aware of:



<h3>Temporary SEO impact</h3>



Even with proper redirects and Search Console updates, a domain name change can temporarily lower your search visibility. Google needs time to reindex the new domain, reprocess backlinks, and re-establish authority.



Users may continue visiting your old domain out of habit. If your redirects are broken or inconsistent, they may encounter dead pages, or worse, think your site no longer exists.



Mitigation tip: Submit a change of address request in Google Search Console and use 301 redirects site-wide to preserve link equity. Then, create a clear redirect strategy, announce the domain change to your audience, and update external listings immediately.



<h3>Email deliverability issues</h3>



If you use domain-based email, switching domains without updating DNS records, MX settings, or SPF/DKIM configurations can result in undelivered messages or spam flagging.



For this, mirror your email configuration before switching live and test all email flows during the transition window.



<h3>Service downtime or broken integrations</h3>



Changing a domain without updating connected platforms like cloud storage, API endpoints, or third-party scripts can cause cascading errors.



This is particularly important for resellers and agencies<a href="https://www.openprovider.com/resellers/reseller-control-panel"> managing multiple domains at once</a>.



<h3>Lost data or broken site</h3>



This brings us to one of the most critical yet overlooked risks: moving to a new domain without a full site backup.



<h4>Why backing up your website is critical before changing your domain name</h4>



Changing your domain name usually involves reconfiguring hosting, updating content management systems, and modifying your database.



If something goes wrong during a migration, DNS switch, or CMS update, you risk losing data, settings, or entire site structures.



Here’s what you should always back up before making any domain changes:



<ul>
<li>Full site files: HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, image assets, and any other custom files</li>



<li>Databases: especially if you&#8217;re using WordPress, Joomla, or other CMS platforms</li>



<li>Configuration files: .htaccess, wp-config.php, DNS zone files, etc.</li>



<li>Emails: back up your inboxes if you&#8217;re switching mail servers or domains</li>



<li>SSL certificates: export your active SSL before removal or reissue</li>
</ul>



With Openprovider, you <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/resellers/reseller-control-panel">control both your domains and your DNS in one place</a>, making it easier to export, manage, and replicate your configurations if needed.



<h2>How to change domain name – Conclusions</h2>



Changing your domain name can be a powerful move to sharpen your brand, expand your market reach, or unlock better visibility. But success lies in preparation. From choosing the right domain to executing the switch with zero disruption, every step counts. Ready to future-proof your domain strategy?<a href="https://openprovider.com/membership-plans"> Explore Openprovider Memberships</a> or talk to our team about assisted domain transfers and bulk migration support.

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Cybersecurity statistics reveal an intensifying battle against increasingly sophisticated threats, with profound implications for business leaders navigating digital transformation.



As attack surfaces expand and adversaries leverage emerging technologies, understanding these dynamics becomes critical for strategic risk management.



Below is an expanded analysis of 2025’s cybersecurity landscape, structured to inform decision-making across organizational hierarchies.



<h2 id="h-the-economic-impact-and-scale-of-cyber-threats">The economic impact and scale of cyber threats</h2>



Cyber attacks are a cost from multiple points of view.



Expenses destined to prevent and combat cybercrime are just the tip of the iceberg: the actual exposure or loss of data is a major factor that can destroy a business, especially if financial and sensitive data are exposed and the company involved becomes legally noncompliant.



Following up, we want to highlight some of the most relevant statistics that can drive cybersecurity-related decision making for the better.&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Global cybercrime costs reached $9.5 trillion in 2024, projected to hit $10.5 trillion by 2025 and $15.63 trillion by 2029 (surpassing the GDP of most nations).</li>
</ul>



As <a href="https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1280009/cost-cybercrime-worldwide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Statista </a>mentions:



The global indicator &#8216;Estimated Cost of Cybercrime&#8217; in the cybersecurity market was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 6.4 trillion U.S. dollars (+69.41 percent). After the eleventh consecutive increasing year, the indicator is estimated to reach 15.63 trillion U.S. dollars and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the indicator &#8216;Estimated Cost of Cybercrime&#8217; of the cybersecurity market was continuously increasing over the past years.At the end of 2024, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-ai-effect-amazon-sees-nearly-1-billion-cyber-threats-a-day-15434edd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a> indicates a staggering 750 million cyber attack attempts per day approximately (which translates to about 8,680 attacks per second, ed), a clear sign that hackers are leveraging AI for malicious purposes.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="630" src="https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/cybersecurity-stats-2025-big-numbers-1024x630.jpg" alt="cybersecurity statistics on cyber attacks" class="wp-image-41690"/></figure>



<ul>
<li>The average data breach cost rose to $4.88 million in 2024, according to <a href="https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IBM</a>, a 10% increase over last year and the highest total ever.</li>
</ul>



<h3>Industry-specific financial exposure</h3>



Quoting Grand View Research,



Large organizations invest heavily in AI-driven tools for threat detection, endpoint security, and risk management to address complex cybersecurity challenges.



In their assessment, the industries that are spending the most on AI-based security applications share the market as follows:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="832" height="431" src="https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/AI-cybersecurity-per-industry-GVR-cybersecurity-stats.png" alt="cybersecurity statistics for AI market volume" class="wp-image-41695"/></figure>



While the Finance sector is the most advanced in terms of security (<a href="https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Cybersecurity_Outlook_2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Economic Forum</a>), 



Furthermore:



<ul>
<li>55% of Healthcare organizations have planned to <a href="https://www.hipaajournal.com/himss-survey-healthcare-cybersecurity-2024/#:~:text=Survey%20Confirms%20Majority%20of%20Healthcare%20Orgs%20Plan%20to%20Increase%20Cybersecurity%20Investment,-Posted%20By%20Steve&amp;text=An%20annual%20survey%20of%20healthcare,increase%20cybersecurity%20spending%20in%202025." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="broken_link">increase their cybersecurity investments</a> across 2025.</li>



<li>For the Energy sector, more than two-thirds (71%) of energy professionals expect their company to boost investment in cybersecurity within the year, reflecting a proactive approach to mitigating emerging threats.</li>
</ul>



Also, the same DNV research explains how 66% of energy professionals agree that attackers’ use of AI in phishing emails has made it more difficult to determine whether online messages are genuine.



<h2>Cybersecurity statistics: the evolution of attack methodologies</h2>



The last few years have seen a dramatic transformation in how cybercriminals operate.



What began as opportunistic malware or simple phishing scams has evolved into highly sophisticated, multi-vector attacks.



Fueled by automation, AI, and the proliferation of &#8220;as-a-service&#8221; cybercrime tools, modern attack methodologies are faster, more targeted, and harder to detect than ever before.



In fact, in 2025, attackers are increasingly adopting tactics once reserved for nation-states, from deepfake-powered social engineering to multi-stage supply chain infiltrations.



At the same time, the rise of cloud infrastructure, remote work, and interconnected platforms has expanded the attack surface dramatically, giving threat actors more ways in and defenders more ground to cover.



Here following, the most relevant statistics on this.



<h3>AI-driven threats</h3>



In the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-cybersecurity-outlook-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="broken_link">WEForum report</a> Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025, it’s noted that 66% of organizations look at AI as the biggest cybersecurity game-changer in 2025. 



This is just one statistic that reflects the real deal in digital security: AI has changed the industry and requires everyone to adapt.



<ul>
<li>According to the <a href="https://www.vikingcloud.com/resources/the-2024-threat-landscape-report-cyber-risks-opportunities-resilience" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cyber threat landscape report</a> published by Viking in 2024, 53% of the companies feel unprepared for AI-powered attacks.</li>



<li>Despite Generative AI being a game changer for organizations’ cybersecurity, some lack clarity on how to incorporate it in their business processes (39%, <a href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/cybersecurity-risk-regulatory/library/global-digital-trust-insights.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to PwC</a>).</li>
</ul>



Thus, AI is one key driver for advancements in security infrastructures.



During its 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 10 November 2024, <a href="https://www.icann.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICANN</a> highlighted that generative AI makes it possible to randomize each specific domain or URL.



In practical terms, this allows cyber attackers to scale their operations by registering domains unpredictably, at random times and dates, and at scale, making threats harder to detect and block.



<h3>Cybersecurity statistics on ransomware 3.0</h3>



<ul>
<li>As per a Sophos study, Double extortion tactics (data encryption plus leaks) now account for 76% of ransomware incidents, with average demands hitting $170,404 in 2023.</li>



<li>Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) groups are a threat to digital security. Yet, according to Chainanalysis, in 2024, ransomware attackers collected <a href="https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/crypto-crime-ransomware-victim-extortion-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">around $813.55 million in payments</a>— a 35% drop from the record $1.25 billion in 2023— marking the first decline in ransomware revenues since 2022.</li>
</ul>



<h2>DNS abuse in 2025: the fundamental threats remain</h2>



Cybersecurity threats in 2025 are evolving fast, but some of the most dangerous threats remain deceptively simple. DNS abuse is one of them.



At its core, DNS abuse refers to the exploitation of the Domain Name System for malicious purposes (think phishing attacks, malware distribution, botnets, and spam).



But in today’s AI-driven landscape, it’s not just about bad actors hijacking domains: it’s about how they’re scaling their attacks.



According to ICANN’s enforcement update ICANN&#8217;s Enforcement of DNS Abuse Requirements &#8211; Six Months, 38% of all abuse-related investigations between April and October 2024 involved DNS abuse.



Although most of these were resolved at the informal stage, meaning they were real issues, caught early, and handled behind the scenes without escalating to a formal breach.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="777" height="496" src="https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ICANN-DNS-abuse-cybersecurity-stats.png" alt="cybersecurity statistics on investigations for dns abuse" class="wp-image-41700"/></figure>



That’s a win for compliance, but also a reminder of just how frequently these threats occur.



<h3>Why it matters now</h3>



In 2025, cybercriminals are leveraging generative AI to create domain variants in real time, launching attacks through randomized domains at unpredictable intervals.



This makes traditional, reaction-based detection obsolete, as DNS abuse is no longer a static risk, but a dynamic, scalable, and automated practice.



And while many businesses focus on endpoint protection, email security, or firewall defenses, DNS often remains an overlooked weak point, despite being foundational to all online interactions.



<h3>Most common DNS-based exploit</h3>



As DNS activity remains a critical point to exploit for cyber attackers, domain name service requests meant to connect users to digital endpoints leave room for several types of threats.



CISCO has published a list of the most common attacks as investigated in their report Cyber Threat Trends Report: From Trojan Takeovers to Ransomware Roulette published; ordered by times they have spotted them, these are:



<ol>
<li>Information stealers, which harvests private access and financial data</li>



<li>Trojans, which are disguised malicious program</li>



<li>Ransomwares, that encrypt data to blackmail users</li>



<li>RAT (Remote Access Trojans), that give hackers remote control</li>



<li>APT (Advanced Persistent Threat), or long-term and hidden intrusions</li>



<li>Botnets, which are constituted by a network of infected computers</li>



<li>Droppers, which install other malware on targeted systems</li>



<li>Backdoors, which leave entry points for future attacks</li>
</ol>



Highlight: An unsafe website is worth nothing and endangers its users. <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/products/security/website-security-scan">Scan the security level of your website for free</a>.&nbsp;



<h2>Organizational defense gaps in cybersecurity</h2>



Despite increased investment in cybersecurity, many organizations still fall short when it comes to closing critical defense gaps.



The complexity of modern IT environments (like hybrid infrastructures, SaaS sprawl, decentralized teams) has outpaced the security controls meant to protect them. And while threat actors move quickly and adapt with precision, internal defenses often lag behind, fragmented by silos, outdated tools, and lack of visibility.



In fact, setting up technical infrastructures capable of responding to advanced cybercrime is a primary concern, while specialized talent acquisition is another critical challenge.



We can look at these gaps from various points of view: talent shortage, vulnerabilities for small businesses and intrinsic risks of tech infrastructures.&nbsp;



<h3>Talent and resource shortfalls</h3>



<ul>
<li>As per the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/02/biggest-cybersecurity-threats-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="broken_link">World Economic Forum</a>, 66% of organizations face moderate-to-critical cyber talent shortages, exacerbated by an 8% skills gap increase in 2024.</li>



<li>The same WE Forum, had previously published a research where only 4% of enterprises declared to feel confident in IoT security capabilities (<a href="https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Connected_World_2023_Edition.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State of the Connected World, 2023 Edition</a>)</li>
</ul>



While human talent is what organizations lack of, it’s also still the main cause of errors (74% of all data breaches is caused by it, according to <a href="https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report</a>)



<h3>SMB vulnerabilities</h3>



<ul>
<li>According to AAG IT report in 2025, 78% of small and medium businesses stated that they will increase investment in cybersecurity in the next 12 months</li>



<li>Companies with 500–1,000 employees saw 21.4% higher breach costs in 2023 (The SSL Store), and Verizon had earlier reported that 46% of all cyber breaches impact businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees.</li>
</ul>



<h2>Geographical cybersecurity statistics and cyber-resilience</h2>



The cybersecurity market is one that shouldn’t grow: in an ideal digital and geo-political ecosystem, tech infrastructures are protected and used appropriately.



But, as it’s <a href="https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cyber-security-market-505.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">projected to grow</a> to $298.5 billion by 2028, we feel that it is important to investigate how different territories project their capabilities of resilience towards their native organizations.  



<h3>Geopolitical and regulatory complexities</h3>



When it comes to cybersecurity, both the private and public sector have an ingrained tie with the country they are set in and depend on.



When interviewed by the WEForum, companies have stated their opinion about the level of cyber-resilience of their country:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" src="https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/cybersecurity-stats-2025-country-trust.png" alt="cybersecurity statistics confidence level by country" class="wp-image-41705"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025, WEF</figcaption></figure>



With the public sector notoriously generating less confidence than the private one.



When thinking of geo-political-based cyber attacks, it’s a common mistake to feel the reported disruption events or threats as distant; yet, a successful attack makes a proven case, which both serves as an example for hackers and as spotted vulnerability for companies to act on.&nbsp;



Furthermore:&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has endangered the global digital ecosystem, as cyber arms were one way to carry on the war.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



To quote The Wire in <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/russia-sandworm-badpilot-cyberattacks-western-countries/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this article</a> dated February 2025:



Over the last decade, the Kremlin&#8217;s most aggressive cyberwar unit, known as Sandworm, has focused its hacking campaigns on tormenting Ukraine [&#8230;] Now Microsoft is warning that a team within that notorious hacking group has shifted its targeting, indiscriminately working to breach networks worldwide—and, in the last year, has seemed to show a particular interest in networks in English-speaking Western countries.



<ul>
<li>76% of CISOs struggle with fragmented regulations across jurisdictions (World Economic Forum).</li>



<li>Other past nation-state attacks have seen worrying incidents, like the one targeting US diplomatic communications in 2023.</li>
</ul>



<h2>Strategic recommendations for business leaders</h2>



Following up, we formulated a series of advices starting from key findings of the previous cybersecurity statistics.



<ol>
<li>AI Integration with governance, which requires the deployment of generative AI for threat simulation, with implementation of pre-deployment security assessments.</li>



<li>Supply chain audits, by mapping out third-party dependencies and mandate SOC 2 compliance for vendors, which is a major barrier for 54% of large enterprises’ cyber resilience (WEForum).</li>



<li>Talent pipeline development, by investing in AI-driven training platforms shown to reduce employee-caused incidents by 40% by 2026 (<a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-03-18-gartner-unveils-top-eight-cybersecurity-predictions-for-2024" class="broken_link">Gartner</a>), also acting on that <a href="https://www.vikingcloud.com/resources/the-2024-threat-landscape-report-cyber-risks-opportunities-resilience" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">40% of cyber team members</a> who intentionally don’t report cyber incidents out of fear of losing their jobs.</li>



<li>Geopolitical contingency planning, by aligning threat intelligence with geopolitical risk teams to mitigate state-sponsored IP theft and disruption campaigns.</li>
</ol>



<h2>Cybersecurity statistics: conclusions</h2>



These cybersecurity statistics for 2025 paint a landscape where technological innovation outpaces defensive maturation.



While AI and zero-trust frameworks offer promise, systemic vulnerabilities in supply chains, talent pipelines, and geopolitical risk management persist.



The projected $10.5 trillion cybercrime toll (Virtasant, March 2025) underscores an urgent need for C-suites to transition from reactive compliance to anticipatory resilience architectures.



Organizations adopting integrated AI-human defense models, coupled with cross-sector threat intelligence sharing, will be best positioned to navigate this escalating crisis. If you’re in the domain industry and are at all impacted or concerned by these facts, explore how we treat security at Openprovider, or <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/products/security/website-security-scan">scan your website for free</a> now.

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cybersecurity stats 2025 - custom img

With trade wars reshaping the economy, Canadian consumers are turning inward &#8211; over 80% say they’re buying more Canadian products. 



What does this mean for businesses and the .CA domain? 



We sat down with Byron Holland, CEO of <a href="https://www.cira.ca">CIRA</a>, to find out.







OP: How was 2024 for the .CA ccTLD?



BH: Last year .CA reached a big milestone with more than 3.4 million domains under management, despite challenging economic conditions in Canada, with rising inflation and slowing economic growth. While domain name industry growth has slowed overall, .CA domain growth continues to outpace many ccTLDs, including the CENTR Top 30. 



Despite our forecast, we’ve seen a reduction in cancellations from the previous year, and renewal rates reached 83%. This is a great sign that we continue to have a strong and loyal customer base.



CIRA is at a crossroads. We’ve made major investments that have set the stage for the next phase of .CA growth. All these changes, investments, and activities, as always, are aligned with our purpose &#8211; a trusted internet for Canadians.



OP: In 2023 alone, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/population-growth-canada-2023-1.7157233">Canada’s population</a> grew by 3.2%. A spin-off effect of population growth is a new wave of businesses &#8211; is the .CA TLD well positioned to take advantage of these favorable demographic trends?



BH: With a larger population comes new opportunities for .CA to reach new audiences and capture the attention of young and new Canadians, all of whom will be the economy’s driving force.



Even though the domain industry is mature, and growth is harder to find, there is still plenty of upside for .CA domains in Canada. Much of Canada’s population growth is happening through immigration, and our commitment to supporting the country’s multicultural communities is a critical reason why younger, values-driven consumers prefer .CA over .com.&nbsp;



The landscape around corporate ownership of Canadians’ digital lives is changing due to privacy, sovereignty, and control concerns. There is real potential to grow and speak to these audiences about the value of a .CA domain name and owning their own corner of the internet.



Our team is working to better understand shifting demographics and so far, the results show that business ownership and self-employment rates are generally higher among new Canadians. And if conversations around U.S. tariffs have shown us one thing, it is that .CA is still the best way to declare that you are Canadian online, and that&#8217;s why we will continue to champion that message.&nbsp;



OP: Can you tell us about the Canadian market overall &#8211; from the outside it’s one that feels large, yet quite “local” in terms of the support for Canadian businesses. Is this reflected in the way .CA is viewed by both entrepreneurs and consumers alike?



BH: U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods have given rise to a new wave of Canadian pride in both entrepreneurs and consumers alike. The percentage of Canadians that say they are “very proud to be Canadian” has jumped by 10 points in recent months. Additionally, CIRA’s research shows that the number one reason that buyers choose .CA is to declare that they are proudly Canadian, which is now more important than ever. .CA domains are also important for Canadian consumers as they see it as an iconic symbol of Canada on the internet that helps them easily find Canadian businesses to support. What’s more, 85% of Canadians prefer to be on a .CA site over a .com when supporting local businesses.&nbsp;



OP: For domain resellers who have yet to add .CA to their portfolio, why is now the right time to make the move? And how can CIRA help resellers be successful with .CA domains?&nbsp;



BH: There’s never been a better time to sell .CA!&nbsp;



For Canadian businesses, the time to show their Canadian pride online is now &#8211; especially when it comes to e-commerce and online shopping. The brewing trade war between the U.S. and Canada has sparked Canadian consumers to support all things Canadian or find a local alternative to American brands.&nbsp;



Many businesses are looking for ways to show their customers they are Canadian and are turning to .CA as an easy and affordable way to do so. After all, 85% of Canadians prefer to be on a .CA website over a .com, according to a study done by the Strategic Counsel.



This is why it’s important that those domain resellers who have yet to add .CA to their portfolio make the move today.&nbsp;



CIRA knows the Canadian market well and is here to help resellers be successful. We have a growing roster of resellers and are seeing positive return on ad spend in many of our reseller marketing campaigns. Through co-marketing initiatives, CIRA has the expertise to help you put more .CAs in the hands of Canadians.&nbsp;



OP: As a brand, can you tell us the strengths of .CA? How is it perceived online in an age of globalization and e-commerce? How can resellers communicate the unique value of .CA domains to their customers?



BH: According to our research, .CA is perceived online by SMEs as being safe, trusted, and professional. It’s still the only domain extension that identifies most brands as Canadian. To keep .CA Canadian, we have Canadian Presence Requirements to ensure only Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents with a physical presence in Canada can register .CA domains. This way, consumers can trust that they are interacting with a real Canadian business.



Resellers can communicate the value of .CA through many outlets, including our branding on their websites, sharing blog posts, newsletter outreach, and more. When you run partnership campaigns with CIRA, we are there to help registrars and resellers create content and campaigns that best resonate and reach our target audiences. We also share our data, research claims, and audience targeting to help create effective marketing campaigns.&nbsp;



OP: Cybersecurity is top of the agenda for many businesses, especially as data security threats have become more international in nature. You say, “To help protect Canadian organizations from rising threats, we have created innovative and robust solutions to stay one step ahead of the bad guys.” Can you tell us about these solutions?



BH: CIRA not only supports 38% of all TLDs on the internet right now, but we also provide Canadian solutions designed for our local challenges.&nbsp;



By building a trusted internet for all Canadians, we ensure it is stable, safe, and reliable with tools like CIRA <a href="https://www.cira.ca/en/canadian-shield/">Canadian Shield</a> &#8211; a free public DNS for Canadians to stay protected from ransomware, malware, and phishing attacks. Our enterprise-grade version,<a href="https://www.cira.ca/en/cybersecurity/dns-firewall/"> CIRA DNS Firewall</a> is designed for organizations without malware protection. The DNS filtering mechanism can help avoid connecting to malicious sites, ensuring a safer browsing experience. It also allows organizations to control what content can be accessed on their networks, enhancing overall security. Employees and individual Canadians can grow their cybersecurity knowledge, including spotting and evading personal attacks, such as phishing emails with CIRA Cybersecurity Awareness Training. Both services are highly effective, low maintenance, and affordable for small businesses.



OP: Lastly, looking ahead to the rest of 2025 and beyond, can you give us some reasons for optimism around the .CA ccTLD?



BH: The “Buy Canada” sentiment generated by the threat of U.S. tariffs is already creating a mindset shift that benefits entrepreneurs and consumers alike.&nbsp;



Canadians are looking to support local businesses, and there is nothing more Canadian than a .CA domain. So, despite economic uncertainty and changes in the domain market, we’re optimistic about 2025!&nbsp;



Our new marketing strategy, which puts additional emphasis on our channel partners and conversion-focused activities, is also starting to show benefits. CIRA fundamentally believes that even in a mature industry, there is still room for .CA to grow and that there is untapped potential in the Canadian market.&nbsp;&nbsp;



By leveraging our data, exploring new audiences, and implementing new tools for marketing measurement, we’re refining our go-to-market strategies. We’re confident these changes will position us well for the future as we continue to champion .CA, and work towards building a trusted internet for all Canadians.&nbsp;



Conclusion



The .CA domain is in demand &#8211; registrations at Openprovider were up 109% in January 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. 



For anyone wondering <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/blog/ca-domains-for-resellers">why they should buy .CA domains with Openprovider</a>, the answer is easy: resellers can use <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/membership-plans">Openprovider Membership</a> to access all their .CA domains at wholesale price.



At the time of writing, Openprovider Members get their .CA domains with a 34% discount on our regular price! ​​With a handful of .CA domains, the subscription pays for itself.



And with our limited-time offer, you can become a Member today with <a href="https://signup.openprovider.com/promo/">90% off your first year’s subscription!</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ca-3-1024x1024.jpg" alt=".CA domain price Openprovider" class="wp-image-41636" srcset="https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ca-3-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ca-3-300x300.jpg 300w, https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ca-3-150x150.jpg 150w, https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ca-3-768x768.jpg 768w, https://assets.openprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ca-3.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



And <a href="https://www.openprovider.com/blog/ca-domains-for-resellers">here’s</a> how our prices stack up against some of our competitors.



Byron Holland (MBA, ICD.D) is the president and chief executive officer of CIRA, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, which manages the .CA domain and develops cybersecurity, DNS, and registry services.

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