VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc. is an American company that provides internet infrastructure services, including managing two of the world's most popular top-level domains, .com and .net. The company plays a critical role in ensuring the stability and security of the Domain Name System (DNS). Founded in 1995, VeriSign is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, United States.

History

• 1995: VeriSign was founded as a spin-off from RSA Data Security, Inc. to focus on digital certificates and public key infrastructure (PKI) services.
• 2000: VeriSign acquired Network Solutions, the original registrar for .com, .net, and .org domains.
• 2010: VeriSign sold its authentication and PKI business to Symantec and refocused on DNS and domain management operations.

Role in Internet Infrastructure

VeriSign is a central player in the operation of the global internet. It ensures:

• The stability of over 170 million registered domains under .com and .net.
• Secure and uninterrupted operation of the DNS root zone.

Criticism and Controversy

• VeriSign has faced criticism over its pricing practices for .com and .net domain registrations.
• In 2020, ICANN approved VeriSign’s request to increase .com domain prices, sparking controversy.

Financial Performance

VeriSign is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol VRSN. Its profitability is primarily derived from managing .com and .net domains.

See Also

• Domain Name System (DNS)
• ICANN
• .com
• .net

External Links

• Official VeriSign Website
• VeriSign at ICANN