From November 2024, all ICANN-accredited registrars that wish to use registrar data escrow services on a cost-neutral basis are obligated to deposit their registration data with DENIC Services.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has selected DENIC Services GmbH & Co. KG as its sole Designated Trustee for Registrar Data Escrow (with registrars’ data escrow fees paid by ICANN). From November 2024, all ICANN-accredited registrars that wish to use registrar data escrow services on a cost-neutral basis are obligated to deposit their registration data with DENIC Services. Around 2,500 registrars with a volume of appr. 219 million domains are expected to make use of this opportunity.
This ensures that in the event of a registrar's failure, business operations can continue with the help of securely stored data, and domain owners do not lose their domain. As the sole Designated Registrar Data Escrow Agent, DENIC Services thus assumes a central role for the future security of the Internet.
Since 2018, DENIC Services has been approved as a Data Escrow Agent for registrars at ICANN - the coordination center for the allocation of domain names and IP addresses. Following an international tender, ICANN has decided that there will only be one Designated Registrar Data Escrow Agent in the future and has assigned DENIC Services this exclusive position.
Andreas Musielak, Board Member of DENIC eG, expressed his delight: "Our reputation, based on excellent service, industry competence, and a leading role in domain registration, has earned us this recognition. We are proud to have been selected as a driving force for the future of the Internet."
Over the past five years, DENIC Services has introduced a series of innovations and now offers fully automated solutions for registration groups.
"Our ongoing innovations and consistent focus on the domain industry have enabled us to manage registration data particularly efficiently," says Stefan Pattberg, Managing Director of DENIC Services. "Thanks to our fully automated solution, we can integrate all 2,500 registrars within 15 months, which were not with us before." Pattberg emphasizes DENIC Services' commitment to ensuring internet security with their motto "We Protect Your Business“ and promises to facilitate the transition process with online tools and webinars.
Registrars also have the option to store their data either in the European Union in accordance with GDPR or in accordance with US data protection regulations in the US.
Tom Keller, board member of DENIC, stressed the importance of this achievement in terms of DENIC's cooperative objectives: "We are proud that we have taken a significant step closer to our goal of a secure and stable Internet. This is an important milestone on our path to support the international Internet community."
About Data Escrow
Data Escrow refers to the deposit of data with a third party – the trustee. This data can be used by an independent party to continue business operations in the event of the original provider's failure or bankruptcy. ICANN requires all accredited registrars to regularly deposit their data sets with an independent Escrow Agent. In the event of the registrar's failure, this data can be handed over to a partner designated by ICANN.
About DENIC-Services
DENIC Services GmbH & Co. KG is a subsidiary of the German domain registry DENIC eG. Under the motto "We Protect Your Business", the company provides services for domain registries and registrars of generic top-level domains worldwide. These are in particular data escrow and anycast DNS services that contribute to the security of the Internet. The company manages a portfolio of German domains for DENIC eG, which are registered directly with DENIC eG. Since the beginning of 2023, with Digital Escrow the company has also been offering its escrow services for companies that are not part of the internet economy but have important digital assets to deposit. The company is ISO27001 and ISO22301 certified.
