RIPE NCC Vision and Focus Proposed Changes to Activities in 2006

0. Introduction

The RIPE NCC invites comments on this document. Any comments should be sent to the RIPE NCC Services Working Group Mailing List at <ncc-services-wg@ripe.net>.

1. Vision and Strategy

The RIPE Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation that supports a membership base of around 4,000 members in more than 65 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. The RIPE NCC operates under its principles of openness, transparency, neutrality and impartiality. All member and co-ordination services offered by the RIPE NCC are based on the input and needs of the RIPE community and the RIPE NCC membership.

For more than twelve years the RIPE NCC has been successful in providing technical co-ordination to the Internet community. An important aspect of this technical co-ordination is the reliable and stable allocation of Internet number resources to RIPE NCC members. The RIPE NCC will make continued improvements to the quality of the registration processes and the data related to allocating Internet number resources to its members.

The RIPE NCC will continue to take a leading role in the technical co-ordination of IP networking by adapting to meet the changing needs of its members and other stakeholders. The RIPE NCC will enhance the quality of the services it provides by improving their resilience, user-interfaces and value for operators and the global Internet community.

An important aspect of this work will be the secure provision of Internet number resources and related services. The RIPE NCC will work to ensure the reliable allocation of Internet number resources, the security of the processes associated with co-ordinating these resources as well as the security of the Internet’s routing system as a whole.

The RIPE NCC will develop relations with a growing community of stakeholders, industry bodies and government representatives. By demonstrating the proven success of the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) process and their communities, the RIPE NCC will secure continued support for the existing self-regulatory structures.

2. RIPE NCC Focus Points

Reliable and Stable Technical Co-ordination of Internet Number Resources

The RIPE NCC will improve the consistency and strengthen the robustness of the processes for distributing Internet number resources to members. This will enable the RIPE NCC to allocate Internet number resources with stable service time and improved data accuracy.

There will be a specific focus on the public registration data stored in the RIPE Whois Database. The aim will be to improve the accuracy, consistency and completeness of the data related to Internet number resource distribution.

High Quality Services for Operators and the Internet Community

As a neutral, credible and authoritative source of network and Internet-related information, the RIPE NCC will continue to supply timely, accurate and tailored services to operators and the Internet community.

The RIPE NCC maintains high-quality, scalable services that are resilient to a high volume of usage and responsive to the changing needs of the Internet community. The RIPE NCC will focus on improving the user-interfaces and written documentation of these services.

In 2005, the RIPE NCC began a significant overhaul of its internal infrastructure. This included replacing the existing telephony system with a modern one with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) capabilities. This overhaul also included the introduction of a new, company-wide ticketing system. The improved infrastructure will enable a number of projects to be developed, including the RIPE NCC Member Service Desk.

The aim of the RIPE NCC Member Service Desk is to provide members with any additional help necessary to resolve queries involving RIPE NCC Registration Services, the RIPE Database and RIPE NCC billing procedures. The desk will be available through direct e-mail and phone contact.

Security of Internal IT Infrastructure and Services

The RIPE NCC will focus on IT security activities to further secure its internal IT infrastructure and services. Over 2006, the RIPE NCC will also develop and deploy security systems to enable the introduction of existing and new activities, like support for routing security.

3. New Activity 2006

Support for Routing Security

The RIPE NCC will support its members and the Internet community to better secure the inter-domain routing system. As part of this support, the RIPE NCC will improve the quality of Internet number resource distribution data.

In addition, the RIPE NCC will actively work to help ISPs to improve routing security by supporting and co-ordinating the introduction of new technologies and procedures in this area.

Most proposals for improvements to routing security focus on Internet Registries issuing some form of digital certificate to help authenticate the use of IP address blocks and AS Numbers.

In 2006, the RIPE NCC will design and implement the process and technology to enable the RIPE NCC to issue such certificates. The RIPE NCC will also work with the RIPE community to further evaluate particular technical proposals and technology designed to improve routing security. These could include improved routing configuration tools, possibly based on certificates, and BGP protocol enhancements, such as SBGP and SoBGP.

Information about the budgeted costs for this new activity is available in the RIPE NCC Budget 2006 at:

http://www.ripe.net/ripe/draft-documents/gm-october2005/budget-2006.html

4. Closure of Activities

At the time of writing, none of the current activities are expected to close or terminate during 2006.

5. RIPE NCC Approved and Ongoing Activities

Information on the RIPE NCC’s approved and ongoing activities (Membership Services, Co-ordination Activities and Information Services) is available in the RIPE NCC Approved and Ongoing Activities Document at:

http://www.ripe.net/ripe/draft-documents/gm-october2005/services-2006.html

6. Unforeseen Activities

The RIPE NCC will keep a reserve of resources to take up any activities that appear necessary during the course of the year. These activities are entirely unforeseen at the time of writing the RIPE NCC Vision and Focus Document or have started recently and are not at the stage where they can be developed as regular services. A quick, well-focused reaction to the changing environment and new requirements of the RIPE NCC members and other stakeholders has always been a strong point of the RIPE NCC.