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Making the .au trust layer visible
.au Domain Observatory (.auDO) is an independent public-interest observatory for the .au domain ecosystem. It repeatedly observes a fixed panel and preserves visible DNS, registration, mail and infrastructure signals over time.
It publishes bounded evidence and cautious explanation to support transparency, resilience and better governance. It does not score organisations, claim whole-namespace coverage or infer incidents from public signals alone.
Independent observation
Public evidence
Repeated collection
Cautious interpretation
Public utility
Observatory state
The .auDO panel is active
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Start with your question
What are you trying to understand?
Choose between checking one domain now and exploring repeated observations across the fixed .auDO panel.
Observed patterns over time
See the observed state of .au
Explore how visible domain-layer signals are distributed across the fixed .auDO panel and what relevant change has been observed during defined 30-day and 90-day windows.
View State of .auExplore .auDO
Follow the evidence
Examine the observation panel, explore curated cohort lenses or read the reports that preserve what changed and when it was observed.
Observed domains
See the observation panel
Start with the panel to see the domains .auDO watches and the public signals being tracked across them.
Open Observation PanelLatest picture
View the current state
See the latest summary of visible domain signals across the observed panel.
View State of .auAnalytical lenses
Explore observed cohorts
Examine current visible posture and observed change across curated, sometimes overlapping sets of panel domains. Cohorts are not rankings or whole-sector assessments.
Explore cohortsReports
Read the evidence trail
Start with the Continuous Evidence Archive and Monthly Observatory Brief, then read quarterly reviews and featured analysis grounded in repeated observation.
Read reportsGo deeper
Learn what the signals mean
Signals are the public clues .auDO uses to describe how a domain is configured, where it points, and how those details change.
Signal guide
Understand the signals
Learn how .auDO reads visible domain signals such as DNSSEC, DMARC, name servers, registrar details, mail settings and provider changes.
Plain-language explainers
Short guides that explain common domain and digital trust concepts without assuming deep DNS knowledge.
Read explainersHow observations are read
A guide to reading visible changes carefully, including what they may suggest and what they do not prove.
Open guideMethod
How .auDO collects, stores, classifies and publishes public observations.
Read methodAbout .auDO
Why the observatory exists, its public-interest role, flagship outputs, operating model and limits.
About the projectIntroduction PDF
A short, shareable brief for people who want a simple overview of what .auDO is, why it exists, and how to read its public observations.
Observation over time
fixed panelHow to read this visual
A symbolic view of repeated observation across selected points in the Australian domain namespace.
.auDO observes the same panel over time, preserves what was seen, and compares changes so patterns can emerge carefully.
A single lookup shows a moment. Repeated observation shows change and persistence.
Common questions
Which resource should I use?
Use the questions below to find the right starting point: check a specific domain, understand observed patterns across the .auDO panel, or review your organisation’s domain governance.
How do I check a specific domain?
.auDO is not an on-demand domain checker. It repeatedly observes a
fixed panel of selected .au domains so that visible
change and persistence can be examined over time.
To read the public DNS, mail, web delivery, certificate and registration signals visible for one domain now, use ThreatScope Check.
Does State of .au describe the whole .au namespace?
No. State of .au describes visible posture and observed change
across the fixed .auDO observation panel. It is not a measurement
of every .au domain or the broader internet.
State views show how selected domain-layer signals are distributed across the panel and what relevant change was observed during defined 30-day and 90-day windows.
How can I assess my organisation's domain governance?
.auDO observes and explains public domain-layer evidence. It does not assess whether an organisation has clear internal ownership, accountability or operating practices for its domains.
The Domain Governance Baseline is a separate practical self-assessment and resource set published by Bryan Chetcuti. It provides a checklist and supporting guidance for reviewing domain ownership, renewal, DNS, email authentication, monitoring and accountability.
Public-interest role
Independent evidence for an important but largely invisible layer
The .au namespace supports how Australian organisations are named, found and reached online. .auDO makes visible public trust signals easier to preserve, explain and use.
Mission
Independently observe and explain public domain-layer trust signals across the .au ecosystem, preserving evidence over time to support transparency, resilience and better governance.
Flagship outputs
The Continuous Evidence Archive, State of .au, Monthly Observatory Brief, quarterly and featured longitudinal analysis, and public method and guidance.
Role and limitations
.auDO is an observer and evidence resource. It is not a registry authority, regulator, assurance service, real-time whole-namespace monitor, incident detector or organisational risk-rating product.