Porter County Government To Transition To .gov Domain

Starting in January 2025, Porter County Government will officially change its online presence from porterco.org to portercountyin.gov. The new domain, www.portercountyin.gov, will become the primary web address for the county, and similarly, staff email addresses will transition from the @porterco.org domain to @portercountyin.gov. Please take a moment to update your bookmarks to the new domain to ensure seamless access to our website. For your convenience, you can click here to be directed to the Porter County Government website.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we make this important change to enhance security and trust in our online communications.

Why The Change To .gov?

The switch to a .gov domain underscores Porter County Government’s commitment to enhancing security, trust, and transparency in its digital operations. The .gov domain is reserved exclusively for U.S. government entities and is managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). By moving to portercountyin.gov, Porter County joins a growing number of local governments adopting this secure and trusted domain.

Key Benefits Of The .gov Domain

1. Enhanced Security: The .gov domain is tightly regulated, reducing the risk of phishing attacks and other cybersecurity threats. Citizens can feel confident that websites and emails ending in .gov are legitimate and secure.
2. Increased Public Trust: The .gov domain assures residents and businesses that they are interacting with official government communications, improving trust in online services and information.
3. Clear Identification: The .gov designation makes it immediately clear that Porter County is a government entity, reducing confusion with commercial or non-governmental organizations.
4. Alignment with Federal Guidelines: Federal cybersecurity initiatives encourage state and local governments to adopt the .gov domain to standardize and secure online communications.

What Changes Should Residents Expect?

• Website: While www.porterco.org will still redirect to the new site for the time being, residents and businesses are encouraged to begin using www.portercountyin.gov as the primary web address starting January 2025.
• Email Addresses: County employee email addresses will also transition to @portercountyin.gov. For example, an email address like jdoe@porterco.org will become jdoe@portercountyin.gov. Emails sent to the old addresses will continue to forward temporarily, but residents and partners should update their contact lists.

Why This Matters

Local government websites and email communications are critical touchpoints for public services, including tax payments, permits, and public safety updates. As online interactions continue to grow, ensuring that these communications are both secure and trustworthy is paramount. The .gov domain provides a visible layer of credibility, ensuring that citizens can confidently access accurate information and interact with county services.

Next Steps For The Community

Porter County encourages all residents and businesses to:

• Bookmark the new website: www.portercountyin.gov.
• Update email contacts for county employees to @portercountyin.gov.
• Stay informed through announcements as the transition progresses.

This change represents a significant step forward in the county’s commitment to serving the community with security, transparency, and trust.