CSC launches support for companies seeking .BRAND domains

CSC has launched a programme to support companies applying for a .BRAND top-level domain during ICANN's latest application window for new generic top-level domains.

The current window is the first chance for companies to apply for new gTLDs since the previous round in 2012. CSC is offering support to enterprises seeking to file a .BRAND application.

A .BRAND top-level domain gives a company control over its own branded suffix, rather than relying solely on addresses under shared endings such as .com or .net. CSC says that can reduce exposure to lookalike registrations by third parties, which are often used in phishing and spoofing attacks.

CSC manages more than 160 .BRAND domains, which it says is more than one-third of the global total. It also supported more than 250 .BRAND applications in the first round and says it achieved a 100% application evaluation success rate.

Security focus

The renewed application period comes as companies face a more complex online threat environment than they did in the last round. CSC links that shift to the growth of artificial intelligence, which it says is increasing both the scale and sophistication of cyber risks tied to domains and brand impersonation.

"The cyber threat landscape has escalated dramatically since the last .BRAND registration period in 2012, with AI now increasing the volume and complexity of various cyber risks ranging from automated phishing kits to domain generation algorithms," said Gretchen Olive, Vice President, Policy & Strategic Account Management, CSC Digital Brand Services.

Olive also pointed to a change in how large companies are approaching the issue, saying major global technology companies are already consolidating infrastructure services under .BRAND TLDs because of the added security, privacy and spoofing protection.

CSC says branded domain extensions can be integrated into wider security planning by giving organisations direct control over the namespace used for customer-facing and internal online services. Those protections can then apply across all domains operating under the branded extension.

Application support

CSC says its support includes registry management and operational assistance for companies that secure a .BRAND domain. Clients with compliance requirements can also choose between multiple registry back-end systems hosted in different countries.

Those arrangements are intended to help businesses address industry-specific and national rules covering security, data processing and privacy. CSC also noted its ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications.

One customer highlighted the administrative burden of operating branded top-level domains under ICANN's rules. "CSC supports us with the whole operational package around our three .BRANDS," said Charlotte Falck, Head of Group Trademarks and Brand Related IP.

"The compliance that we have to undertake according to the ICANN program is extensive and also quite complicated if I may say so. So, we have outsourced everything to CSC, and I think it works very well."

AI and discovery

CSC also argues that the case for .BRAND domains now extends beyond security. It says companies are increasingly considering how they are identified by automated systems as well as by customers, and that exclusive branded domains can serve as a clearer marker of authenticity online.

The company ties that argument to changes in digital discovery as AI tools become more involved in surfacing and assessing information about organisations. In that context, a branded top-level domain may provide a stronger signal of legitimacy than conventional domain structures.

"AI is reshaping how buyers and stakeholders discover and evaluate brands," said Ihab Shraim, CTO at CSC. "Success in 2026 and beyond hinges on how well an organization shows up for GEO and AEO, and a .BRAND provides a verified authority signal that both AI systems and human visitors can recognize-and trust-in real-time."

CSC says many businesses entered the first application round without a clear operational plan, often driven by competitive pressure. It argues that the latest round is taking place in a different environment, where the uses for a .BRAND domain are more closely tied to security, trust and digital infrastructure.

Some executives only became aware of the opportunity after the first application period had closed, CSC says. A typical .BRAND application takes six to eight weeks to prepare, making early internal discussion important for companies considering a submission.

According to CSC, there is no known timing for another application window after the current round.