DUNS

A DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System) is a unique nine-digit identifier for a business, issued by Dun & Bradstreet. It's a widely used way for organizations and vendors to verify that a company is a real, registered entity.

In an IT context, the place it most often comes up is enrolling in Apple Business, which requires a DUNS number to verify your organization before issuing managed Apple IDs and enabling device management. Most established organizations already have one; if you don't, it's free to request, though it can take a little time to be issued.

It's worth checking whether you have a DUNS number early, since it can be a prerequisite step — and a potential source of delay — when setting up business platforms that need to confirm you're a legitimate organization.