Sometimes, a domain name is so important or so valuable that its registrant wants to have control of the name and, in particular, to be sure that its registration can’t be changed without explicit consent. This might apply to any domain name whose potential downtime leads to serious damage.

Registry Lock is the service that offers an extra layer of security. With .amsterdam Registry Lock, the registrant has direct control over the domain name and is therefore able to protect it better. Nothing can be done with the domain name without the registrant’s prior consent.

The Registry Lock service has been specially developed for .amsterdam registrants who want to have control over their domain names, such as banks, government bodies and other institutions, as well as the registrants of names used for e-commerce, news site owners and registrants whose domain names are particularly valuable. The value of a domain name is, of course, very personal. So Registry Lock is in fact for anyone who wants to be able to look after their own domain name.

Registrars familiar with .nl Control for .nl domain names will notice that .amsterdam Registry Lock follows exactly the same procedures.

Registrars that want to apply for a Registry Lock can contact their account manager at dotAmsterdam B.V. for the required documents and information about the associated fees.

Signing up for Registry Lock

• Like the other services provided by dotAmsterdam B.V., the new service is made available to .amsterdam registrants through registrars. dotAmsterdam's back-end provider (SIDN) takes care of the operational aspects.
• The service is provided for individual domain names, not automatically for all of a registrant’s .amsterdam domain names.
• To arrange Registry Lock for a domain name, an application form has to be completed and signed by the registrant, then submitted to SIDN by the registrar responsible for the name. On the application form, the registrant has to specify who will be authorised to approve changes involving the domain name. The form also has to be accompanied by documentation demonstrating that the application comes from the registrant or someone legitimately acting for the registrant. That will typically mean a Trade Register extract, possibly a letter of attorney and always a copy of an identity document for the signatory and, where relevant, for the person who will be authorised to approve changes.
• On receipt of the form via the registrar, SIDN makes direct contact with the registrant to verify that the application is in order. The new control arrangements are not implemented until SIDN has completed its checks.
• The following EPP statuses are set for the .amsterdam domain name in question: serverDeleteProhibited, serverTransferProhibited and serverUpdateProhibited.
• It is possible to assign up to two authorised persons that can also approve updates to the domain name.

Updating a .amsterdam domain with Registry Lock

Updates are arranged as follows:

• The update request is made through the domain name’s registrar, just as if the domain name wasn’t covered by the Registry Lock service.
• Because the name’s EPP statuses prohibit any updates, the update request isn’t processed automatically, but is referred for manual assessment within SIDN.
• The assessment process entails calling the registrant to verify the request and obtaining signed written confirmation. To that end, full details of the requested update are sent to the registrant for review.
• When the glue records for a name server are updated, authorisation is required only if the name server is covered by Registry Lock and the ‘include glue record protection’ option is enabled.
  NB: When you enable glue record protection, only in-zone name servers are protected; out-of-zone name servers are not.
• If a Registry Lock domain name is amongst the names involved in a partial or comprehensive domain name takeover, the registrant is contacted and informed about the change once the takeover has been processed.

Cancellation of Registry Lock

• Subscription to the Registry Lock service ends automatically if the domain name’s registration is cancelled with the registrant’s consent or is conveyed to another registrant.
• Subscription to the service can also be cancelled by the registrant. To do so, a special cancellation form has to be completed and signed by the registrant, and submitted to the registrar that manages the .amsterdam domain name in question. The registrar then makes the necessary arrangements with SIDN.
• If the relationship between the registrant and the registrar comes to an end, the registrant needs to transfer all affected .amsterdam domain names and the associated service subscriptions to another registrar. SIDN will inform the registrant how to go about this. If the registrant fails to arrange a transfer, the Registry Lock service will be cancelled by SIDN.

Delivery and billing of .amsterdam Registry Lock

• The Registry Lock service is delivered to the registrant via the registrar responsible for the relevant domain name.
• Registrars are billed in arrears for the Registry Lock service on a monthly basis.
• If the registrant of a domain name with Registry Lock requires support, they deal with the registrar (not SIDN).
• Registrars with queries and support requests in connection with the use of Registry Lock may contact SIDN’s Registration and Service Department during office hours by e-mailing support.amsterdam@sidn.nl or calling (+31) (0)26 352 5555.