In today's digital business world, it is a must for companies to develop an effective online strategy. Often, this strategy includes tried-and-tested means such as using business intelligence. Failure to do so could mean losing a competitive edge, missing growth opportunities, being unable to provide customer satisfaction, and lacking cost-effective processes.
These days, however, companies need to use other types of information such as domain intelligence and IP geolocation to monitor online properties and up the ante amid the proliferation of cyber threats.
What Is IP & Domain Intelligence?
Domain intelligence refers to the smart interpretation of domain information gathered in WHOIS records - e.g., current and prior registrants, date of registration and expiration, contact details, etc. - using artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and machine learning (ML) technologies.
It has been significantly contributing to the success of businesses for several years now, especially in the marketing field. It helps security professionals as well to check information about domain names and how these relate to an organization's operations.
IP intelligence, on the other hand, enables organizations to detect threats and block them before they can enter their network. Users track down malicious individuals via their IP addresses.
How Can Domain & IP Intelligence Improve Your Business Strategy?
Said intelligence can help address at least three of any company's most significant concerns-staying ahead of the competition, complying with stricter data regulations, and addressing the ever-increasing volume and sophistication of cyber threats. Here are some more specific use cases:
Personalization
Effectively grasping what their customers need can spell a whole lot of difference in how businesses operate. Geolocation data can help business owners get a better sense of where their customers originate. That way, they can focus their marketing and sales efforts on countries or regions where they are guaranteed bigger returns on investment (ROIs).
IP geolocation information can also help them personalize interactions with specific customers. It can, for instance, tailor-fit localized e-commerce sites' language and currency options based on customer location. It also helps with providing product recommendations based on specific customers' (identified by their IP addresses) purchase histories and browsing behaviors.
Cyber Attack Prevention
Business owners need to remember that cyber attackers don't discriminate in terms of target. Even the smallest business needs protection against cyberthreats, as most have suffered from a cyber attack. Some manage to survive, but others may have no other recourse but to close shop.
Using IP & domain intelligence, however, can come to business owners' aid. Brand monitoring, for instance, can help them identify potential phishers and cybersquatters using typo versions of their brand name that are then used to mislead customers or as a fraud weapon. Running visitors' IP addresses through a domain reputation checker, meanwhile, can help them weed out and block malicious individuals from accessing their sites.
Regulatory Compliance
These days, practically every country or region is governed by stricter data privacy regulations. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), for instance, imposes high fines for businesses that fail to protect the information of citizens from any European Union (EU) member country.
In such cases, IP & domain intelligence can help business owners identify which of their customers are from an EU country. That way, they can enforce stronger security where needed so they won't have to deal with huge costs should their networks suffer a breach. Much like matching products to client needs, WHOIS records and IP geolocation data can also help them match the right amount of security with the policies and regulations enforced in the regions or countries where the customers reside.
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Running an online business is tough. But if you want to stay relevant and keep up with your competitors, you have to use all available means to keep your customers happy and safe. And if you don't want to suffer the consequences that digital threats pose, including paying huge noncompliance fines, you have much to gain by using IP & domain intelligence for cybersecurity too.
About the Author
Jonathan Zhang is the founder and CEO of Threat Intelligence Platform (TIP) - a data, tool, and API provider that specializes in automated threat detection, security analysis, and threat intelligence solutions for Fortune 1000 and cybersecurity companies. TIP is part of the Whois XML API family, a trusted intelligence vendor by over 50,000 clients.
