Verisign

Verisign: The Backbone of Internet Infrastructure

Imagine the internet as a vast, complex city with millions of buildings and streets. Verisign is like the city planner who ensures that every address is correctly assigned and that traffic flows smoothly. This American company, based in Reston, Virginia, has been at the heart of internet infrastructure since its founding in 1995 as a spin-off from RSA Security.

From Network Solutions to Verisign

In 2000, VeriSign purchased Network Solutions, taking over its role in the Internet’s Domain Name System (DNS). This acquisition marked the beginning of a new era for Verisign, as it transitioned from a smaller player to one of the largest certificate authorities. The naming services division, which operates authoritative domain name registries for .com, .net, and .name, has been at the core of its business ever since.

Root Servers and Critical Infrastructure

The root servers form the top of the hierarchical Domain Name System that supports most modern Internet communication. Verisign manages two root nameservers, ensuring that the internet’s address book remains accurate and reliable. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of online transactions and communications worldwide.

The Sale of Authentication Services

In 2010, Verisign sold its authentication business to Symantec for $1.28 billion, marking a significant shift in its focus. However, the sale was not without controversy; Symantec later sold it to DigiCert due to certificate validation issues. This move allowed Verisign to concentrate on its core naming services and network intelligence divisions.

Naming Services and Network Intelligence

The company operates two main businesses: Naming Services, which manages top-level domains and critical internet infrastructure, and Network Intelligence and Availability (NIA) Services, which handles DDoS mitigation, managed DNS, and threat intelligence. Verisign’s naming services division is responsible for maintaining the globally recognized root zone file and processing changes to it.

Achievements and Challenges

In 2011, Verisign was selected to operate the .gov top-level domain. However, in 2023, it lost this contract to Cloudflare, highlighting the evolving landscape of internet infrastructure management. Despite these challenges, Verisign continues to innovate and adapt to new technologies and regulatory environments.

Data Centers and Security Breaches

Verisign owns three data center properties in Dulles, Virginia; New Castle, Delaware; and Fribourg, Switzerland. These facilities are mirrored for redundancy, ensuring that internet services remain available even during unexpected outages. The company has faced several security breaches over the years, including a 2010 network security breach that raised concerns about data disclosure.

Government Involvement and Domain Seizures

In 2010, U.S. ICE seized 82 .com websites involved in counterfeit goods sales with Verisign’s assistance. This led to calls for a decentralized DNS service without centralized registry operators. The U.S. government has the power to seize domains ending in .com, .net, .cc, .tv, .name, and .org if the companies administering them are based in the U.S. Verisign’s role as an intermediary between governments and internet users continues to be a point of discussion and debate.

The Future of Internet Infrastructure

As we look towards the future, Verisign faces both opportunities and challenges in maintaining its position at the heart of the internet’s infrastructure. With the rise of decentralized technologies like blockchain, the company must adapt to new paradigms while continuing to ensure the reliability and security of online communications.

Will Verisign continue to be the backbone of the internet, or will it evolve into something more distributed? The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: as long as we rely on domain names and DNS services, Verisign will play a crucial role in our digital world.