Guidance

Choose a good registrar or DNS provider

How to choose a good registrar or DNS provider when registering domain names for a government organisation.

From:
Central Digital and Data Office and Cabinet Office
Published
7 October 2019
Last updated
9 June 2023 — See all updates

You’ll need a registrar to help you to register a .gov.uk domain. In most cases the registrar will also provide you with:

  • Domain Name System (DNS) records
  • web hosting 
  • email hosting

However, you can choose to use a different supplier for one or all of these services.

A good supplier will help:

  • keep your domain live on the internet 

  • keep your domain secure

  • fix problems quickly if your domain goes offline

Do not evaluate suppliers based on cost alone. Make sure the service has the required security and support you need to protect and manage your domain. A good starting point is to ask a large government organisation in your area about the registrar they’re using and if they’re happy with the service.

You should perform due diligence on any supplier in line with your organisation’s procurement policies even if you have received a recommendation.

Select a good supplier using this checklist

The CDDO Domain Management team cannot recommend a specific supplier for you to use. 

The .gov.uk registry operator provides a list of registrars who can register .gov.uk domains.

You should research a few registrars from this list. A good way to check whether a registrar or DNS supplier meets your requirements is to use this checklist below. Ask them confirm to you that they will: 

  1. Have the resources to manage your domain securely.

  2. Be your Technical Point of Contact with CDDO and the Registry Operator if you want them to do the technical management of your domain name.

  3. Follow guidance to keep your domain name secure, for example registry lock and renew domains on time for you.

  4. Agree to implement any fixes or recommendations from the CDDO Domain Management Team.

  5. Provide good technical support for services you buy like websites and email.

  6. Provide an emergency phone and email contact.

  7. Explain how they would respond to a major incident and what backup and recovery capabilities they have in place.

  8. Require you to create strong passwords and use multi-factor authentication (also known as 2-factor authentication) when giving you access to any management portals.

  9. Provide you or the person you have appointed with direct access to manage your technical domain name records if you request this.

  10. Let you decide who in your organisation (if anyone) can make changes to domain records and let them do it quickly and easily.

  11. Send you email notifications when changes are made to your domain.

  12. Use multi-factor authentication in their interaction with the .gov.uk registry.

Domain names are critical government assets. When using them you must choose a reputable supplier who manages your domain securely or allows you access to a secure portal to manage it in-house

Cost of buying a domain

The baseline cost for a new domain name from the current .gov.uk registry provider is £100 plus VAT for the first 2 years. The renewal fee is £50 plus VAT every 2 years. You can expect your supplier to charge a markup depending on the level of service they provide.

If your organisation is using many domains, consider using multiple suppliers for important domains. This means that if one supplier ever suffers an outage, your services will continue to work.

Published 7 October 2019
Last updated 9 June 2023 + show all updates

  1. Added a new point 2. The supplier will be your Technical Point of Contact with CDDO and the Registry Operator if you want them to do the technical management of your domain name.

  2. We've created a checklist to help organisations choose a good supplier to manage their .gov.uk domain name,

  3. Changed subheadings under the 'How to choose a good supplier' section and restructured the page to make it clearer

  4. The Domain Management team has now moved to the Central Digital and Data Office. This update removes any references to the Government Digital Service (GDS).

  5. Help domain owners think about the the user experience by making sure the name is not too long or complex.

  6. Suggesting that applicants can check which registrar their parent organisation is using and also checking if potential providers support Registry Lock services

  7. First published.

Contents

Part of Apply for a .gov.uk domain name: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if your organisation can apply

    1. Benefits of getting a .gov.uk domain
    2. Check your organisation can get a .gov.uk domain name
    3. Get permission to apply

  2. Step 2 Identify a domain name administrator and choose a registrar

    You must identify someone to manage the domain name. The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) must be able to contact them.

    1. Identify a domain name administrator
    2. You are currently viewing: Choose a good supplier for your .gov.uk domain

  3. Step 3 Choose your domain name

    1. Choose an appropriate .gov.uk domain name

  4. Step 4 Apply for your domain name

    1. Apply for your .gov.uk domain name

  5. Step 5 Appeal your rejected domain name application

    1. Appeal your rejected .gov.uk domain name application

  6. Step 6 Use your domain name

    You must follow the Cabinet Office guidelines when your domain is live, or CDDO will withdraw it. For example, you must keep your contact details up to date.

    1. Get started with your .gov.uk domain name
    1. How you are accountable for protecting your .gov.uk domain
    1. Keep your domain name secure

  7. Step 7 Manage your domain name

    You can make changes to your .gov.uk domain name.

    1. Renew your domain name
    1. Modify or transfer your domain name

    If your organisation no longer needs a domain name, you must take steps to protect it.

    1. Stop using your domain name
    1. What to do if your domain is compromised