Do you want to protect your most valuable digital asset?
Your domain name is much more than a web address. It represents your brand, your business, and your reputation online. If you lose control of it, you risk losing everything.
72% of companies have less than 50% of the security measures they need in place. In other words, most businesses are vulnerable and defenseless.
The good news? You can keep your domain secure with the right strategy. And entity-attribute modeling is one of the most effective (yet underutilized) methods to do just that.
Let me show you how…
Here’s what you’re about to discover:
- What is an entity-attribute security model
- Why most traditional domain protection methods fall short
- How to build your domain security protection framework
- The key security measures you absolutely must have
What Is Entity-Attribute Modeling For Domain Security?
Entity-attribute modeling is a methodology for categorizing and safeguarding the various elements that make up your domain security.
Think of it this way:
Your domain is not just one singular asset. It’s an infrastructure made up of dozens of entities. These include your registrar accounts, DNS records, subdomains, email authentication records, SSL certificates, and much more.
Each one of those entities has its own unique attributes, which also need protection.
The power of this methodology is that it allows you to map out every single component of your domain infrastructure. Once you have this complete picture, you can implement a comprehensive, no-stone-left-unturned security strategy.
This matters for two reasons…
First, most domain hijacking occurs because a single point of failure was overlooked. It could be an old DNS record left unchecked. A subdomain that nobody knows about. Entity-attribute modeling makes sure nothing gets left behind.
Secondly, attackers are always looking for the weakest link. The more of your domain assets you protect, the harder it is for a bad actor to find a point of entry.
The Problem With Most Traditional Domain Security
Protecting your domain traditionally is mostly reactive. You set up a password and then hope for the best. Maybe you even enable two-factor authentication.
That is the approach and…
That isn’t going to cut it anymore. Attackers are evolving and getting more sophisticated. Phishing attacks are increasing by 150% annually. Domain hijackers are amassing more tools than ever before.
And their attacks are growing more targeted and sophisticated. In early 2024, 8,000 domains and 13,000 subdomains were hacked from well-known companies like eBay, Intel, and McAfee.
This is huge.
These were not small businesses with lax security. These were long-established brands that should have known better. But they got hit anyway.
Traditional security measures focus on individual protections. The answer is to think about domain security as a complete system. Entity-attribute modeling makes that possible.
Building Your Domain Security Entity-Attribute Model
Ok. Now it’s time for the meat and potatoes. How do you actually implement this methodology?
Map out Your Domain Entities
First, start by listing every single entity related to your domain:
- Registrar account
- DNS records (including A records, CNAMEs, MX records, etc)
- Subdomains (active and inactive)
- SSL certificates (current and expiring)
- Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC records)
- Admin accounts and users (who has access to login)
This should be easy, right? Well, apparently not. Over 440,000 DNS records currently have subdomain hijacking risk because they belong to companies that have forgotten their old subdomains.
Define Your Security Attributes
For each domain entity, you should then identify all of its security attributes.
These are the individual features which help to keep it secure.
Your registrar account needs to have strong authentication, registry lock, and contact verification. Your DNS records need to have redundancy and DNSSEC. Monitoring and alerts are a critical attribute.
The key is to figure out the right attributes for each entity. Not everything needs everything, otherwise you end up with gaping holes.
Establish Relationships
Here is where the entity-attribute model really shines…
You want to draw out the connections between all of your entities.
Your DNS records are tied to your registrar account. Your SSL certificates are dependent on your DNS. Your email authentication records are dependent on your DNS records.
When you map this out, you start to see how a breach in one area can impact other ones. You can build redundancies into your security strategy that protect the entire chain.
Critical Security Measures To Implement Now
Ok, let’s get practical. Based on the principles of the entity-attribute model, here are the security measures you must have right now.
Registry Lock
Registry lock is the nuclear option for domain protection. It prevents changes to your domain registration. Even if someone hijacks your registrar account, they can’t make any changes to your domain info.
It’s like putting your domain in a vault that requires multiple keys to open.
Most businesses don’t even think about this because it sounds so difficult. Don’t be one of them.
Multi-Layer Authentication
Passwords alone are dead. Period. You need MFA on every single access point. But don’t stop there…
Device fingerprinting. Approval for new login locations. Hardware security keys for admin users. The goal is to make it so hard for attackers that they give up and move on.
Active Monitoring Systems
This is a feature most people forget…
Security is not just about prevention. Detection is equally important. You want to have systems in place that alert you the moment something changes.
A new DNS record. A new SSL certificate installed. A login from a new location.
Entity-attribute modeling helps you identify every critical component that needs active monitoring. If an attacker tries something, you’ll know about it before it’s too late.
Subdomain Management
Subdomains are the blind spots of domain security. Companies create them for internal projects. Then they leave them, unmaintained and forgotten.
Attackers know this. Forgotten subdomains are perfect targets for subdomain hijacking.
Review your subdomain list every three months. Delete ones you no longer need. Secure the ones you do. It’s simple and so, so effective.
Why Entity-Attribute Modeling Is Better Than Standard Methods
Traditional domain security is like a checklist you get to tick off.
Entity-attribute modeling is an ecosystem in which everything is connected. Everything is relevant. You cannot secure one part and ignore the others.
The beauty of the model is that it’s also easy to scale. As your domain portfolio grows, you can apply the same framework to new domains. You are not starting from scratch each time.
It also makes it very easy to identify your weakest links.
The map clearly shows where you should be focusing your security efforts for the biggest impact.
Taking Action On Your Domain Security
You don’t have to do all of this at once. Pick the highest priority entities. Map them out. Define their critical attributes. Implement security for those first.
Then tackle the lower priorities. The framework makes it clear what to work on next.
Domain security is no longer optional. It is a foundational business requirement. One successful attack and you could lose millions in lost revenue, brand damage, and customer trust.
Entity-attribute modeling is a battle-tested framework for safeguarding what matters most to you. Your domain. Your brand. Your business.
Final Thoughts On Protecting What Matters
Domain security used to be simple. Not anymore. With 80% of lookalike domains held by third parties that have malicious intent towards your brand, you need a plan of action.
Entity-attribute modeling provides that plan. It turns the confusing mess of domain security into a repeatable, structured process. Every component is identified. Every vulnerability is addressed. Nothing is missed.
Businesses that adopt this mindset will sleep much better at night. Those that don’t. Well, they’re just waiting to become the next cautionary tale.
Your domain is too valuable to risk being unprotected. Build your security framework around your entity-attribute model today. Your future self will thank you.
Mudsr