Domain Expiry Issues
What This Means
Domain expiry occurs when your domain registration lapses, causing your website to become completely inaccessible. This is a preventable but catastrophic issue.
Impact
- Complete site inaccessibility - All traffic lost
- Email failure - All domain email stops working
- SEO damage - Lost rankings and indexed pages
- Brand risk - Domain may be purchased by others
- Recovery costs - Redemption fees can be substantial
Domain Lifecycle
| Phase | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Until expiry | Normal operation |
| Grace Period | 0-45 days | Renew at standard price |
| Redemption | 30 days | Renew at premium price ($100+) |
| Pending Delete | 5 days | Cannot renew |
| Available | After delete | Anyone can register |
How to Monitor
Check Expiry Date
# WHOIS lookup
whois example.com | grep -i expir
# Using dig
dig +short -t txt _dmarc.example.com
Monitoring Services
- Domain registrar alerts
- WHOIS monitoring services
- Calendar reminders (90, 60, 30 days out)
- Automated monitoring tools
Prevention
1. Enable Auto-Renewal
Most registrars offer auto-renewal:
- Log into registrar account
- Navigate to domain settings
- Enable auto-renewal
- Verify payment method is current
2. Use Long Registration Periods
Register for multiple years:
- Reduces renewal frequency
- Often includes discounts
- Provides longer protection
3. Keep Contact Info Updated
Ensure registrar has:
- Current email address
- Valid phone number
- Accurate billing address
4. Set Multiple Reminders
Create reminders at:
- 90 days before expiry
- 60 days before expiry
- 30 days before expiry
- 7 days before expiry
5. Domain Locking
Enable registrar lock:
- Prevents unauthorized transfers
- Requires explicit unlock to transfer
- Extra layer of protection
Recovery Process
Grace Period (0-45 days after expiry)
- Log into registrar
- Renew domain at standard price
- DNS may take 24-48 hours to restore
- Verify site accessibility
Redemption Period (45-75 days)
- Contact registrar immediately
- Pay redemption fee ($100-300+)
- Complete renewal
- May take several days to restore
Post-Delete
If domain is released:
- Attempt to re-register immediately
- May need to use backorder service
- Consider alternative domains
- Legal options if trademark involved
Business Continuity
Pre-Incident Preparation
- Document all domain holdings
- Centralize domain management
- Assign domain responsibility
- Create renewal procedures
Incident Response
If domain expires unexpectedly:
- Identify registrar immediately
- Access account (may need password reset)
- Initiate renewal process
- Contact support if issues
Multiple Domain Management
For organizations with many domains:
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Consolidated registrar | Single dashboard |
| Bulk renewal | Efficiency |
| Unified expiry dates | Easier tracking |
| Domain portfolio monitoring | Automated alerts |