Working with APRICOT to Improve Routing Security

We’re pleased to announce that the Internet Society and the Asia Pacific Network Operators Group Ltd (APNOG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in supporting the MANRS initiative in the Asia-Pacific Region. APNOG is the non-profit entity that has assumed responsibility for delivery of the annual APRICOT technology summit. This MoU continues a long-term relationship between APRICOT organizers (previously APIA, now APNOG) and the Internet Society.

APNOG and the Internet Society will undertake initiatives and activities to promote the security of the Internet’s global routing system and Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security (MANRS). MANRS is a global initiative, supported by the Internet Society, that provides crucial fixes to reduce the most common routing threats.

The organizations will tackle routing-related cybersecurity incidents such as route hijacking, route leaks, IP address spoofing, and other harmful activities that can lead to DDoS attacks, traffic inspection, lost revenue, reputational damage, and more.

Specific activities include hosting events on routing security at the annual APRICOT Summit and/or online; promoting MANRS participation to APRICOT attendees; helping develop the MANRS community in the region; and working together on the MANRS Observatory, which demonstrates a network’s level of MANRS readiness and serves as an indication of the general state of routing security.

“We believe Internet routing security issues can be resolved through collective action and a shared sense of responsibility. We look forward to welcoming more MANRS members from the Asia-Pacific region, and working together with APNOG to improve routing security both, regionally and globally”, said Rajnesh Singh, Regional Vice-President, Asia-Pacific for the Internet Society.

“We run APRICOT to cultivate the skills and understanding needed to develop a robust Internet infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region – a goal also strongly supported by the MANRS community and the Internet Society. The partnership will let us work more closely together, and I look forward to MANRS playing an increasingly important role among key Internet builders in the region,” said Philip Smith, Director of APNOG.

Learn more about APRICOT.