CSC, an enterprise-class domain registrar and world leader in mitigating brand, fraud, domain, and domain name system (DNS) threats, today announced a new program to coincide with ICANN's new Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) application window and to support enterprises submitting a .BRAND TLD application between April 30 and August 12, 2026. Owning a .BRAND domain gives an organization exclusive control over its entire domain infrastructure, mitigating third-party lookalike domain registrations that lead to phishing and domain spoofing.
First time ICANN has opened applications for new gTLDs since inaugural round in 2012.
CSC manages more than one-third (160+) of all .BRANDs globally.
CSC prepared, submitted, and supported more than 250 .BRAND applications in round one with 100% success rate.
ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certified.
Typical .BRAND application requires six to eight weeks of preparation.
AI-driven security threats and AI-driven consumer search have transformed .BRANDs into practical enterprise assets.
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. Major global technology companies are already consolidating infrastructure services under .BRAND TLDs, citing enhanced security, privacy, and spoofing protection as primary drivers. Custom .BRAND domain extensions align digital infrastructure with broader enterprise security strategies. These protections cascade automatically to every domain under the branded extension, complementing existing endpoint threat intelligence investments. On top of the security benefits, .BRAND domains provide a competitive advantage for brand trust and AI-era discoverability. They eliminate the noise of third-party lookalike registrations and create an instantly recognizable, exclusively owned digital space. They also provide a structural credibility marker that signals authenticity, strengthens customer trust, and becomes a powerful source of authority for AI that traditional domains can't match.
AI is reshaping how buyers and stakeholders discover and evaluate brands. 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. In this second round, AI-driven security threats and the growing role of AI in how consumers search and evaluate brands have transformed .BRAND TLDs into a practical enterprise asset. Organizations entering round two in 2026 have a clear rationale grounded in security, trust, and long-term digital strategy. CSC encourages organizations to bring this opportunity to the C-level early, so leaders can have time to assess its full strategic implications across security, brand, and digital infrastructure. Since a typical .BRAND application requires six to eight weeks of preparation, organizations need to take steps now to meet the August 12 deadline.
About CSC
CSC is the trusted security and threat intelligence provider of choice for the Forbes Global 2000 and the 100 Best Global Brands (Interbrand) with focus areas in domain security and management, along with digital brand and fraud protection. As global companies make significant investments in their security posture, our DomainSec platform can help them understand cybersecurity oversights that exist and help them secure their online digital assets and brands.
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