Domain Names Policy

Please note that this policy has not yet been revised or converted to the new format .

Preamble

The Domain Naming System (DNS) is a global hierarchical system for naming devices and services on the Internet. It provides a means for subdividing and delegating control of the name space and avoiding name collisions/ambiguity.

Domain Name Authorities issue Domain Names because Domain Names have important implications for communications and marketing on the Internet. For example, car.com would be very useful for a car company in directing car buyers to its web site. The number of permutations of names that we might want to reserve easily blows out to a very large collection of domain names. Such names are likely to be administered by different naming authorities. Some of our requests might be refused and some names may already be in use.

Naming authorities have their own different and elaborate requirements (technical, administrative, cost and substantiation) for Domain Name Registration. Some naming authorities will require us to demonstrate in considerable detail that Monash University is an appropriate organization to be granted a name within their name-space - ie. that Monash University legitimately performs the type of business that the naming authority wants to have in their domain name space. Hence there is considerable work (time, effort, money) in each individual name application. Authentication checks by those naming authorities that apply strict requirements have the effect of, to some extent, protecting our brand name without us doing anything. Conversely, at the other extreme, some naming authorities impose no checks whatsoever. It is in these spaces that our brand name might be at most risk. Monash University needs to carefully manage the names that are applied for and the priority order of application.

There are four different conventions used:

1. The USA which does not use a country suffix - this format is also used by multi-national organizations, and organizations which do not want to tie their name/image to any one local country, eg: monash.edu
   

2. Countries (e.g. Australia) which use .edu. as an education sector category descriptor, eg: monash.edu.au
   

3. Countries (e.g. the United Kingdom) which use .ac. as an academic sector category descriptor, eg: monash.ac.uk
   

4. Countries (eg. Sweden) which do not subdivide their country name-space into industry categories (ie. no industry category field), eg: monash.se
   

Hence, Monash also requires different practices and procedures for each type of country.

Purpose

There are several purposes for this policy:

1. To define a consistent, flexible and simple structure and naming standard for internet devices and services operated by Monash University and related bodies.
   
2. To define sensible names that are easily remembered (even: guessed) and directly embody familiar branding of Monash departments, services and products.
   
3. To define a consistent regime across all countries in which the global Monash operates, having regard to both international conventions, and local variations.
   
4. To protect Monash’s brand names on the Internet.
   
5. To enable the effective routing of email and other Internet traffic under the centralised administration of ITS.

Responsible Officer

Executive Director, Information Technology Services.

Approving Body

UNITAC.

Policy

1. Information Technology Services (ITS) allocates and administers Internet Domain Names used by Monash University.
   
2. Applications for Domain Names from Domain Name Authorities shall only be made by ITS.
   
3. Names shall only be used for the purposes for which they were granted, subject to the University’s Regulations, and subject to external legislation and regulations.
   
4. Domain Names for bodies related to Monash University shall also be allocated and administered by ITS.
   
5. ITS will aggressively acquire Domain Names relevant to Monash University.

Regulations

1. The scope of this policy includes all of Monash University and the domain names employed by any element of Monash University. The policy covers both the internal sub-domain (prefix) part and the external (suffix) part of a Domain Name. Related bodies are those which Monash Staff or Students are involved in but are not necessarily independent organisations or subsections of other organisations. For example, a Collaborative Research group spread over multiple organisations including Monash University may wish to have a Domain Name along with the options for a web site and email address.
   
2. ITS is to provide the Domain Name Service hosting facility for Monash University Domain Names.
   
3. Domain Names and e-mail names are to conform to the Monash University Domain Name Plan, as outlined in Attachment 1(Pdf 268kb) . ITS is to publicise this plan. This plan may be amended with the approval of the Executive Director, ITS.
   
4. Domain Name Applications and Management expenses that is within the scope of this policy may be charged for cost recovery purposes by the Director, IT Facilities, IT Services.

Procedure

Amendment History