Custom Domain Data Collection (CDDC) - Overview

What is CDDC?

Custom Domain Data Collection (CDDC) is a solution that allows you to send your analytics data to a subdomain of your own domain (e.g., ignis.yoursite.com) rather than to Piano Analytics' default domain.

Why choose CDDC?

• SDK Loading: Load the Piano Analytics SDK directly from your CDDC rather than from our CDN, reducing your exposure to adblockers and limiting browser restrictions

• Better data quality: Bypasses certain browser limitations like Safari's restrictions on third-party cookies (degradation of organic and marketing traffic source recognition)

• Service continuity: Increased collection robustness against browser restrictions and blocking extensions

• Domain control: You maintain control over your DNS infrastructure

• Enhanced security: SSL/TLS certificates dedicated to your subdomain

• Flexibility: Compatible with all implementations (client-side, server-side, TMS)

CDDC and privacy

CDDC addresses technical limitations imposed by browsers and extensions, not privacy protection measures. Piano Analytics remains 100% GDPR compliant and respectful of user privacy, with or without CDDC:

• User consent: Always required and respected, regardless of your configuration

• No cross-site tracking: Piano Analytics never tracks users across different sites

• Anonymized data: No personal data collected without explicit consent

• Certifications: ISO 27001, data hosting in Europe

Two available options

Piano Analytics offers two management modes for your CDDC:

Certificate lifespan

Evolution of security standards:

• March 2026: Maximum certificate duration reduced to 200 days.

• 2027: Maximum certificate duration reduced to 100 days.

• 2029: Maximum certificate duration reduced to 47 days.

With a custom certificate (BYOC - Bring Your Own Certificate):

• ⚠️ Manual process: purchase, CSR generation, import, renewal.

• ⚠️ Major risk: If renewal is forgotten = total loss of data collection

• ⚠️ Increasing operational burden with reduced validity periods

Which option to choose?

Choose Piano-managed if:

• You want a simple, fast, and maintenance-free solution

• You have no specific security constraints requiring a custom certificate

• You want to avoid certificate expiration risks

• You prefer to delegate technical management to Piano

This is the case for 95% of our clients

Choose Custom Certificate only if:

• You have strict security requirements mandating a specific certificate

• Your organization requires the use of certificates purchased from a specific authority

• You have compliance constraints requiring full certificate control

⚠️ Warning: This option requires proactive management and carries operational risks.

Benefits of SDK loading via CDDC

By loading the Piano Analytics SDK from your CDDC rather than from our third-party CDN:

• Reduced blocking: Adblockers and privacy extensions block first-party resources less frequently

• Consistency: SDK and collection use the same first-party domain

Next steps

To get started with Piano-managed (recommended)

1. Consult the setup guide: CDDC Piano-managed - Setup Guide

2. Follow the 3 simple setup steps

3. Migrate your collection to your CDDC and configure SDK loading

For a custom certificate

1. Consult the technical guide: CDDC Custom Certificate - Technical Guide

2. Validate with your Customer Success Manager the contractual implications

3. Prepare the necessary technical resources (IT team, certificate budget)

💡 Piano Analytics Recommendation: We strongly recommend the Piano-managed option to ensure reliable and uninterrupted data collection, while minimizing your operational burden and benefiting from first-party SDK loading.