Domain Name System (DNS)
In short
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the internet's directory service, translating human-readable domain names such as phoenixcaribbean.com into the numeric IP addresses that computers use to locate servers.
Every time a browser or app is told to visit a domain, it queries DNS to find the correct address to connect to. DNS also carries records beyond simple website addresses: MX records route email to the correct mail server, TXT records hold verification and anti-spoofing entries such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC, and CNAME records point one name to another, which is how many third-party services (booking systems, CDNs, email platforms) get connected to a business's own domain.
For a business, DNS is a single point that, if mismanaged, can take down a website, break email delivery, or be hijacked to redirect visitors to a malicious site. Good practice includes using a reputable registrar, enabling registrar-lock to prevent unauthorised transfers, keeping DNS records documented, and setting up SPF, DKIM and DMARC correctly to stop attackers spoofing a business's domain in phishing emails.
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