What's going to happen
in 2013?

For SIDN, 2013 will be a year
of new activities.

An extensive innovation programme was started in 2012, which is expected to yield two realistic business cases in the coming year. The cases will involve the application of SIDN's unique knowledge of internet-related markets. SIDN is also in talks with a number of smaller registries about the possibility of providing them with back-end technical services. The decision to pursue these options was taken with the interests of the Netherlands and the internet community in mind.
Cloud

Maintenance with fewer interruptions

At the end of 2012, SIDN laid the infrastructural foundations for one of its key goals for 2013: to enable (virtually) interruption-free maintenance. In a number of maintenance windows, changes will be implemented
to make it possible to perform maintenance at the different production locations separately. The planned infrastructural changes represent the first steps towards virtually interruption-free services availability.

New billing system
and pricing policy

It is very likely that SIDN will start providing registry services for other domains in 2013. In connection with that move, SIDN will implement a new billing system during the year, to allow for the automated billing of registrations and updates in domains other than .nl.

Various changes to SIDN's pricing and billing policies will also be rolled out, bringing the arrangements more in line with registrars' needs.

New registration system for gTLDs

To enable the provision of technical support for new gTLDs, such as .amsterdam, SIDN is developing a domain name registration system called AlfaRIS. The new system is derived from DRS5, the system that SIDN uses for the .nl zone.
Abuse

CENTR Jamboree Amsterdam

In June 2013, SIDN is hosting the CENTR Jamboree in Amsterdam. CENTR is an organisation through which registries exchange experience and expertise with a
view to enhancing service quality and taking the internet forward. Although the registries active in CENTR are predominantly European, there are no geographical restrictions on membership. CENTR Jamborees are multi-day gatherings at which a variety of issues relevant to registries are discussed.

Research activities

The content emphasis of the SIDN Labs research and innovation programme will be on the development of tools and services to enhance SIDN's ability to analyse the .nl zone – with a view to further reinforcing security and optimising SIDN's operations, for example. That will involve building a number of prototypes. As well as being used internally, the results will be shared via platforms such as the internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). As in 2012, SIDN Labs will collaborate with universities, research institutes and other R&D organisations.

Staff development and satisfaction

SIDN has a strong interest in maximising and maintaining levels of motivation and enthusiasm amongst its staff. By understanding what motivates them, by allowing scope for development and by pursuing good social policies, SIDN seeks to encourage its people to perform to their full potential. In 2013, SIDN will

continue investing in the personnel development and expansion of expertise.

In addition, another Staff Satisfaction Survey will be carried out, continuing the regular satisfaction monitoring cycle.

New working

Amongst SIDN's workforce, there is a desire for more flexible ways of working. In 2013, SIDN will therefore develop a policy designed to support its personnel in that regard, by enabling people to work from home and introducing flexible workplaces. The changes will help personnel to strike a more agreeable work-home life balance, as well as reducing the amount of time and money spent travelling and the associated carbon footprint.