Tehama County domain names changes July 1

Tehama County has made an important update to its main website and email systems effective July 1 by changing its primary domain name from "co.tehama.ca.us" to "tehama.gov," in compliance with a state mandate.

The mandate, AB 1637, requires all California cities and counties to move their public-facing and employee websites, along with their email addresses, to a “.gov” or “.ca.gov” domain, which aligns the ongoing efforts to enhance cybersecurity and ensure the county’s constituents can easily and securely access official information. According to county administration, the “.gov” domain is exclusively reserved for U.S.-based government entities, enhancing the authenticity and security of the county’s digital presence, and significantly reduces the risk of cyber threats, such as phishing attacks, where criminals mimic official websites or emails to steal personal information or distribute malware.

As of July 1, Tehama County’s official new website address will be www.tehama.gov .

Although the new domain will be operational immediately, all existing links to "www.co.tehama.ca.us" and “tehama.us” will remain active until June 30, 2025, to ensure a smooth transition; including all county email addresses transitioning from “co.tehama.ca.us” to “tehama.gov”.

“We encourage everyone to update their bookmarks and links to reflect the new ‘tehama.gov’ domain before the cutoff in June 2025. This change is a critical step forward in our commitment to providing secure and reliable access to county services and information,” said David Bliss, Tehama County Information Systems manager.

Tehama County administration reports the following benefits associated with the change:

1. Enhanced Credibility and Trust: A .gov domain is exclusively reserved for government entities, which helps establish authenticity and credibility. This can increase trust among residents and stakeholders, reassuring them that they are accessing official communications and services.

2. Improved Security: The .gov domain is managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which ensures a higher standard of security protocols compared to commercial domains. This includes mandatory HTTPS, which encrypts data between the user and the site, reducing the risk of interception or tampering.

3. Consistent Identity: Using a .gov domain provides a consistent and recognizable web identity that is easily identifiable as a legitimate government operation. This consistency helps in building a unified brand across various departments and services.

4. Reduced Risk of Spoofing and Phishing: Because obtaining a .gov domain requires proof of legitimate government status, it is harder for malicious actors to impersonate or create fake websites with a .gov extension. This reduces the risk of phishing attacks targeted at citizens.

5. Eligibility for Government-Only Programs: Certain programs, resources, and funding opportunities are available only to entities with a .gov domain, ensuring that benefits and communications intended for government agencies are not misdirected.

6. Clear Distinction from Political and Commercial Content: A .gov domain helps distinguish official government communications from political or commercial content, which can be particularly important during election cycles or public outreach campaigns.

For any questions or concerns regarding the domain change, please contact Tehama County Office of Administration at (530) 527-4655.