One of the most common question we are asked is how an entity can become an accredited .KE domain name Registrar. In order to understand the application process, you must first understand what a domain Registrar is; A domain Registrar is a company that registers domain names on behalf of the Registrant. These companies are granted the accreditation by KeNIC and are also licensed by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

If you a reseller seeking to grow to be a domain Registrar, below are the steps to guide you on your application process.

Step 1: Delivery of application forms

Organizations seeking to become domain Registrars should formally apply to KeNIC. The application forms can be downloaded from the KeNIC website. You will also need to sign an Accredited Registrar Agreement (2 copies)which is also available on the KeNIC Website.

Once filled the physical forms should be delivered to KeNIC offices located at the CA centre, opposite Kianda School. Some of the mandatory requirements include:

• The applicant must have at least 15 .ke domains registered as a domain reseller. These could be either 3^rd level or 2^nd level domain names.
• The applicant must have a Limited Company registered in Kenya with physical presence.
• Up-to date documents such as the CR12, Certificate of Incorporation, Tax compliance and the PIN certificate.

Step 2: Evaluation of the application forms

There are a number of questions that the applicant has to answer that will provide KeNIC with the following information

1. Technical information
2. Marketing information
3. Finance and Admin information

The applicant will be evaluated based on how they answer these questions. The evaluation process takes two weeks.

Step 3: Payment of the Accreditation fees

If your accreditation application is approved, you will be required to pay an accreditation fee of Ksh 5000. The payment options are Bank transfers, iPay and Mpesa paybill. Note that the accreditation fee is non-refundable. Payment of the required fees does not complete the on-boarding process; you will need to apply for the Registrar license from the Communications Authority as well.

Step 4: Application for the Registrar License from the Communications Authority (CA)

Once your application has been approved and the accreditation fees paid, you will get a recommendation letter which will aid your application to CA. This letter is a mandatory requirement and you can not proceed with the application without it.

The CA team will review your application and advise. For more information on CA licensing procedures and requirements, kindly visit https://www.ca.go.ke/document/application-form-for-bpo-dot-ke-subdomain-name-registrar-services-tl-7-2/

Final Step: Access to the KeNIC Registry.

Once you get the CA license, you will be granted access to the Registry platform, which you will use to manage your domain portfolio. You will be listed in the KeNIC website as part of the Licensed Registrars. Finally, you will be assigned an account manager who will be your contact to KeNIC.

The internet has opened up borders and removed limitations on what you can as a way of making income online.

1) Online shop / e-commerce Website

This is the most common way to make money online by selling and buying of gods. It doesn’t require any physical storage by the seller, but it involves Third Party affiliates who deliver goods to the end consumer. The seller doesn’t interact with the goods anywhere.

2) Blogging

You can get paid by blogging on various brands and also ad placement on your website from entities seeking to pass product knowledge to their clients.

3) SSL Certificates

You can sell SSL certificates via your Website to interested and make some income from the same.

4) Offer Digital Marketing Services

You can offer a number of services ranging from

• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Social Media Marketing (SMM)
• Email Marketing
• Google Ads and Facebook Ads

5)  Domain Names

If you are a Web developer, chances are that you can make an extra coin by selling domains as a reseller too. You can partner with a domain Registrar then sell domains through your .KE Website.

Times are definitely changing in the technology world, which results in our being careful with what we expose our children to. The school session has just began, the hackers, identity thieves, and other unethical people are also ready to take advantage during this time.

Examples of scam alerts to watch out for during this season are:

• An email claiming to contain some important information or a problem with the registration process of a school portal.
• Scholarship scams with fake tuition payment processors
• Fake and spam phone calls
• Text message requesting personal information such as passwords and login details. Such information should be confidential.
• Fake friend requests are especially common on children’s social media handles. Parents should regulate what their children are watching on the internet and social media.

In this article, we shall highlight some of the ways to stay safe during this back-to-school period.

• Having a strong password on all your school accounts

By “strong password,” that means coming up with the most comprehensive and unique password for all your accounts. It is advisable to have unique passwords for all your online accounts. Avoid using the same password and email address for all your accounts because if one of them is breached, be sure the rest have been too.

• Embrace using a multi-factor authenticator:

A multi-factor authenticator (MFA) is an authentication method that requires a user to provide two or more verification factors in order to gain access to a certain online platform. The MFA adds a layer of security in a world where passwords are being used even on social media accounts.

• Share any information with caution.

Be extremely cautious when sharing any school-related information. Some methods include being cautious with the information that is shared, particularly on accounts that require online access and share limited information.

In conclusion, cybersecurity education and awareness is paramount to safeguarding personal or public information. Visit KeNIC’s website www.kenic.or.ke to learn more about cybersecurity.