VeriSign, Inc the leading provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world announced today operational enhancements that are key to the root server infrastructure. This will help enable growth, innovation and will lead the way for additional security features for Internet operations.

VeriSign operates the “A” and “J” root servers; these are two of the crucially important Domain Name System (DNS) servers worldwide that enable Internet traffic. The DNS allows the domain names entered by Internet users to be seen as the domain name, being translated from the numerical IP addresses. Root servers redirect requests to the appropriate top level domain (TLD), making them an important DNS component.

"The enhancements that VeriSign is making are the next logical steps in improving the availability, efficiency and reliability of the core Internet infrastructure," said Ken Silva, Chief Technical Officer, VeriSign. "With the continuing explosion of consumer-driven services, such as Internet-enabled wireless devices and the advanced applications they utilize, the need to expand, secure and clear the delivery mechanism for those services is paramount."

VeriSign as part of its ongoing infrastructure investments has worked with the industry on a number of advanced technologies that will help further secure and streamline core Internet operations. Below is the list of technologies that VeriSign has deployed or has plans to implement for its root operations.

Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6): VeriSign has enabled the "A" and "J" root servers for IPv6, the next generation Internet protocol, to help Internet users in an IPv6 environment take full advantage of DNS. This change dramatically increases the usability of IPv6, which in turns helps ensure that developing global infrastructures will have sufficient IP address space to innovate. IPv6 also supports new global applications that require amounts of IP address space beyond what is currently available with IPv4. IPv6 expands the IP address length from 32 to 128 bits, providing nearly unlimited amounts of potential IP addresses to handle the proliferation of Internet-connected devices today.

Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC): DNSSEC is a set of extensions developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to increase the security of DNS by authenticating the origin of DNS data and verifying its integrity while moving across the Internet. DNSSEC can help combat compromised data in name servers, which could then be used to launch damaging attacks against users, enterprises and the Internet core itself. As the publisher of the DNS root zone, VeriSign plans to launch a testbed in Q2 to DNSSEC to help enable the root zone to anchor the global chain of trust for TLD registry operators who implement DNSSEC within their TLDs and registrars who provide DNSSEC services for their customers.

Root Zone Updates: VeriSign has deployed a new automated root zone provisioning system for operational testing in coordination ith the Internet Assigned Names Authority (IANA), the entity that oversees global IP address allocation, DNS root zone management, and other Internet protocol assignments. Upon the completion of testing by IANA, this system will provide an easier interface for TLD registry operators to submit changes to update to the root zone. This new system is expected to increase the overall efficiency, accuracy and speed of changes by automating currently time-consuming and cumbersome manual processes.

About VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) operates digital infrastructure services that enable and protect billions of interactions every day across the world's voice and data networks. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.