National Cyber Awareness System: DNSSEC Key Signing Key Rollover

Original release date: August 21, 2017
On October 11, 2017, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will be changing the Root Zone Key Signing Key (KSK) used in the domain name system (DNS) Security Extensions (DNSSEC) protocol.

DNSSEC is a set of DNS protocol extensions used to digitally sign DNS information, which is an important part of preventing domain name hijacking. Updating the DNSSEC KSK is a crucial security step, similar to updating a PKI Root Certificate. Maintaining an up-to-date Root KSK as a trust anchor is essential to ensuring DNSSEC-validating DNS resolvers continue to function after the rollover. While DNSSEC validation is mandatory for federal agencies, it is not required of the private sector. Systems of organizations that do not use DNSSEC validation will be unaffected by the rollover.

US-CERT encourages administrators to update their DNSSEC KSK before October 11, 2017. See the NIST/NTIA Roll Ready site and the ICANN Root Zone KSK Rollover resources page for more information.