WILMINGTON, DE — CSC is urging enterprises to pursue proprietary “.brand” internet domains ahead of a limited ICANN application window, positioning exclusive domain ownership as a cybersecurity and brand-protection strategy as AI-driven phishing and spoofing threats intensify.
The company announced a support program for organizations planning to apply for branded generic top-level domains, or gTLDs, during ICANN’s upcoming application period running from April 30 through August 12, 2026.
The opening marks the first opportunity for organizations to apply for new gTLDs since ICANN’s initial 2012 expansion of the internet’s domain naming system.
CSC, which manages more than 160 branded domains, argues that owning a dedicated .brand extension allows companies to reduce exposure to fraudulent lookalike domains commonly used in phishing attacks and impersonation schemes.
The push comes as corporations face increasing cybersecurity risks tied to AI-generated phishing campaigns, automated domain generation, and digital impersonation tactics designed to exploit brand trust.
“The cyber threat landscape has escalated dramatically since the last .BRAND registration period in 2012,” Gretchen Olive, vice president of policy and strategic account management at CSC Digital Brand Services, said in a statement.
CSC also framed .brand ownership as part of broader enterprise digital infrastructure and search strategy efforts, particularly as AI systems increasingly influence how users discover and evaluate brands online.
“AI is reshaping how buyers and stakeholders discover and evaluate brands,” Chief Technology Officer Ihab Shraim said.
The company noted that many organizations entered ICANN’s 2012 application cycle without clearly defined use cases for branded domains, while current interest is being driven more directly by cybersecurity, digital identity control, and AI-era brand verification concerns.
CSC said organizations considering applications should begin planning early because .brand submissions typically require six to eight weeks of preparation before the August 12 filing deadline.
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