A Security Incident That Could Have Been Avoided
Over the years, this customer had used various domains for their online presence. Initially, they operated under the domain xxxxx.co.at. Later on, when the shorter .at domain became available, they made the strategic decision to migrate their website to this new address. Everything was set up smoothly, and business continued as usual.
However, the original .co.at domain was still tied to an old credit card that eventually expired. As the payment method lapsed, so did the renewal of the domain. Since the domain was no longer seen as essential, its expiration went largely unnoticed—until the domain was picked up by an untrustworthy third party.
This in itself might seem like a minor issue. But unfortunately, many older online accounts and services were still registered using email addresses associated with the now-abandoned domain. The new owner began testing password reset functions on various services, hoping to gain access to any accounts still tied to the domain. And they succeeded—at least with one major service.
Why Subscription Management Is Crucial?
This incident highlights the importance of actively managing digital assets—not just the ones you use every day, but especially the ones you’ve “moved on from.” Domains, SaaS subscriptions, cloud storage, backup services, monitoring tools, even forgotten trial accounts: each one carries a potential risk if not properly tracked.
In this case, the client had intended to give up the old domain, but the decision had been made with the assumption that nothing critical was still linked to it. The expired credit card accelerated the process, leading to a loss of control over a digital asset that still held value—not for its branding, but for the access it inadvertently provided.
How to Avoid This?
Here are some key takeaways and best practices that can help prevent such issues:
Maintain a Subscription Inventory
Keep a centralized list of all your subscriptions, domains, SaaS tools, and related services. Make sure it includes key information such as billing details, login credentials, associated email addresses, and renewal dates.
Use a Consistent Email Domain
Whenever possible, use a company-wide, long-term domain for creating accounts. Avoid personal email addresses or domains you may retire. That way, even if systems change, your recovery options remain stable.
Set Up Renewal Notifications
Many services offer email notifications for upcoming renewals. Make sure these alerts go to a monitored inbox, and not to a forgotten alias or former employee.
Implement a Subscription Monitoring Tool
Tools like Teisko can help you track, monitor, and get notified about renewals or anomalies with your subscriptions. With a solution like this, you avoid surprises and ensure visibility into your entire digital ecosystem.
Audit Regularly
At least once a year, conduct a full audit of all domains, services and users. Check what’s still in use, what’s redundant, and what can be consolidated or eliminated.
Conclusion – What’s Your Strategy?
The digital landscape is complex and constantly evolving. Over time, it’s easy to accumulate a web of services, tools, and domains—each with their own billing cycles and associated risks. Staying on top of them isn’t just good business hygiene; it’s a vital part of cybersecurity.
With tools like Teisko, staying organized doesn’t have to be difficult. You’ll receive alerts, track renewals, and always know what services you’re paying for—and more importantly, what risks you’re carrying.
How do you manage your subscriptions? Reach out to see how Teisko can support your team or try it yourself.