Upgraded version of stats.sidnlabs.nl features 50-plus .nl statistics
Greater insight into .nl and the internet in the Netherlands
The original blog is in Dutch. This is the English translation.
Our brand-new version of stats.sidnlabs.nl now boasts 50 graphs providing a wealth of information about .nl, whose 6-million-plus domain names make it a vital part of the internet in the Netherlands. In this blog, we provide a run-through of the site's new features. We also reveal our new year's resolution: to provide a guided tour of what you can find on stats.sidn.nl.
What's stats.sidnlabs again?
For some years, SIDN Labs has used stats.sidnlabs.nl to publish statistical graphs on the use of .nl. The graphs cover things such as domain name registrations, the DNS traffic we handle, plus the security status of web servers and mail servers linked to .nl domain names. Most of the supporting information comes from our own systems and analytical platforms, such as DMAP and ENTRADA. However, we also source data from external systems, including OpenINTEL and Netcraft.
Who is stats.sidnlabs.nl aimed at?
Our graphs are potentially interesting to various audiences. Technical experts and researchers can use the information we publish to monitor technological developments and inform academic research. However, the statistics are also relevant to policymakers and journalists who want to know how .nl domain names are used, and how the Dutch internet domain is evolving.
What have we changed?
Over time, more and more graphs have been added to stats.sidn.nl. As a result, the site's dashboard gradually became a little cluttered. Feedback from users also suggested that some graphs were hard to interpret or no longer relevant. We therefore decided to improve the dashboard in 3 ways.
First, by re-grouping the graphs. Instead of being grouped according to the supporting data source, the graphs are now grouped by subject. The new site has 6 subject groups: Domain names, DNS traffic, DNSSEC, Web, Mail and Abuse.
The second way we've improved the site is by reviewing the relevance of the graphs. That led to us taking down some graphs because they related to outmoded technologies, for example. But also to us adding some graphs on topics such as the abuse of .nl domain names and the length of domain names (see Figure 1).
Finally, we've made a raft of changes designed to increase the site's accessibility. For example, we've reviewed all the graph descriptors and edited the written information to make it as concise and to-the-point as we can. In addition, we've made it easier to download the graphs and the supporting data.
New year's resolution: daily explanations
Hopefully, our upgraded dashboard can help you understand how .nl domain names are used and how the Dutch internet domain is developing. So our new year's resolution is to take you on a guided tour of the dashboard with a daily series of bite-size explanations. Every day in January, we'll put out a tweet and LinkedIn post about one of the 50-plus graphs on the site. The idea being to pique your curiosity and motivate you to take a closer look at stats.sidnlabs.nl.
Feedback and collaboration ideas welcome
Data in a graph doesn't always paint a clear picture. So do let us know what you think of the way we interpret the numbers presented on our site. You can respond to our social media posts, or mail sidnlabs@sidn.nl. We're also open to any ideas you might have about additional graphs or further improvements to the dashboard.
Happy browsing!
