The Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) serves as a modern replacement for the outdated WHOIS protocol, aimed at improving access to domain registration data.

Introduced by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in 2015, RDAP became mandatory for all generic top-level domain (gTLD) registries and registrars by late August 2019, with WHOIS officially retired on January 28, 2025.

The adoption of RDAP signifies a move towards a more secure, efficient, and transparent system for accessing domain registration data, benefiting cybersecurity professionals, businesses, and law enforcement agencies alike.

RDAP enhances security features, including HTTPS connections, authentication mechanisms, and role-based access control to protect sensitive registration data.

Unlike WHOIS, RDAP offers a standardized RESTful API format, ensuring consistent and machine-readable data retrieval across providers.

The protocol allows for differentiated access levels, enabling registrars and registries to control who can view specific registration information, addressing privacy concerns prevalent in WHOIS.

The implementation of RDAP aligns with data protection regulations like GDPR, ensuring that legitimate stakeholders can access necessary domain information legally.

RDAP supports internationalization, accommodating domain names in various scripts, such as Arabic and Chinese, through full Unicode support.

RDAP is crucial for cybersecurity as it helps professionals access structured data to combat fraud, phishing, and other malicious activities effectively.

HYAS Insight integrates RDAP seamlessly, allowing security teams to access enhanced domain intelligence without additional setup, streamlining the process of threat detection and response.

Additionally, HYAS Insight leverages RDAP alongside exclusive infrastructure intelligence to enhance cybersecurity efforts by providing real-time visibility into threats and malicious domains.