Your domain is the address of your website and email. DNS is the system that translates it into server addresses. Understanding the basics helps avoid costly mistakes.

Domain ownership

Make sure the domain is registered in your company's name with a company email address you control – not in the name of a former employee or agency. Ownership disputes can take your website and email offline.

Renewals

Domains must be renewed regularly. Enable auto-renewal and keep payment details and contact emails current. An expired domain can be lost to someone else.

Important DNS records

  • A / AAAA: point the domain to a server's IP address (website)
  • CNAME: an alias pointing to another name (for example www or external services)
  • MX: which servers receive your email
  • TXT: verification and email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
  • NS: which nameservers are responsible for your domain

TTL

The time to live defines how long DNS answers are cached. Lower it before planned changes, so updates spread quickly.

Common problems

  • Website works but email stops after a DNS change (missing MX or TXT records)
  • Mixed configurations after changing nameservers
  • Expired domains or certificates
  • No one knows the login for the registrar

Best practices

  • Document all DNS records
  • Use a registrar with two-factor authentication
  • Keep domains, DNS and hosting access in a secure company vault
  • Consider registering important variants (.de, .com) and protecting your brand

When to get help

DNS changes are quick but can have big effects. Our Managed Hosting and IONOS Management services include domain and DNS management, so your website and email keep working.

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