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D-U-N-S® Number
What is a D‑U‑N‑S Number?
The Dun & Bradstreet D‑U‑N‑S Number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses. This number is assigned once our patented identity resolution process, part of our DUNSRight methodology, identifies a company as being unique from any other in the Dun & Bradstreet Data Cloud. The D‑U‑N‑S Number is used as the starting point for any company's Live Business Identity, the most comprehensive and continually updated view of any company in the Data Cloud.
D‑U‑N‑S Numbers are often referenced by lenders and potential business partners to help predict the reliability and/or financial stability of the company in question. D‑U‑N‑S, which stands for data universal numbering system, is used to maintain up-to-date and timely information on more than 300 million global businesses. The D‑U‑N‑S Number also enables identification of relationships between corporate entities (hierarchies and linkages), another key element of Live Business Identity and commercial risk assessment practices. The D‑U‑N‑S Number has been likened to a Social Security Number for businesses. Although it is not issued by the government, it can be used similarly.
Because of its universal recognition and unique assignment, the D‑U‑N‑S Number can also serve as a primary data key within an organization's Master Data Management architecture. In this manner, the D‑U‑N‑S Number (and the connected Live Business Identity data), enables a single source of truth in the capture and storage of information related to a company's customers, partners, and suppliers.
Consider Dun & Bradstreet's unique Live Business Identity a dynamic descriptor of nearly every business on Earth, enabling reciprocal business relationship insight. The information in your Dun & Bradstreet credit report comes from the Live Business Identity of your company, enabling informed decisions about whether or not to work with your company and to what extent or under what terms.

How Can I Monitor My Business Credit File?
Once you have your D‑U‑N‑S Number, you will want to monitor your business credit file for changes.
D&B CreditSignal® is a free, alerts-based business credit monitoring product that uses indicators to show changes* to the scores and ratings in your business credit file. Begin monitoring your file for free and access your Dun & Bradstreet D‑U‑N‑S Number any time.