The .SZ is a top-level domain (TLD) for eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, as dictated by the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard. This standard is developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and it provides codes for the names of countries, dependent territories, and special areas of geographical interest.
According to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which is in charge of the global coordination of the Domain Name System and operates the root zone for internet resources, University of Swaziland is the sponsored organization responsible for the operation of the .SZ domain registry as of their most recent update.
Specific technical information about the TLD .SZ is contained in the root zone database provided by IANA. Here, it is reported that the Network Information Center (NIC) record for ‘SZ’ exists and that the University of Swaziland is the sponsoring organization, with the administrative contact listed as the Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS). Technical contact is mentioned as SITA-SA (South Africa).
The .SZ TLD uses Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), as indicated in the root zone database. DNSSEC is a security feature that helps prevent certain types of attacks on the Domain Name System, which can result in users unwittingly being sent to malicious websites.
Not all the domain names under the .SZ are accessible directly. Some second-level domains such as .org.sz, .co.sz, .ac.sz (for academic institutions) are available. Registering a .SZ domain requires contacting the National Information and Communication Technology Department of Eswatini – NIC.sz, which manages the domain registration process.
The .SZ TLD serves as a national identifier in the cyber realm, allowing organizations and individuals to associate their websites, email addresses, and other web-based resources with the eSwatini. This not only promotes a national identity but also boosts the local digital economy through increased visibility and credibility.
Sources used include the ISO’s official website, IANA’s Root Zone Database, the official NIC.sz web page and resources from the ICANN’s (International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) website.
Source(s):
1. International Organization for Standardization. (n.d.).Country codes – ISO 3166. ISO. https://www.iso.org/iso-3166-country-codes.html
2. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. (n.d.). Root Zone Database. IANA. https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db
3. NIC.sz. (n.d.). Domain Registration and Services. NIC.sz. http://www.nic.sz/
4. ICANN. (n.d.). Understanding the Domain Name System. ICANN. https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/dns-2014-01-09-en
5. ICANN. (n.d.). DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC). ICANN. https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/dnssec-what-is-it-why-important-2019-03-05-en
