Operations | Monitoring | ITSM | DevOps | Cloud

NANOG 93 brought the networking community together for insightful discussions on the future of connectivity, emphasizing continuous learning, adaptation, and collaboration. Justin Ryburn highlights key takeaways from this premier event in the world of networking.

Mission-critical communication networks are the backbone of strategic national assets, including sectors such as energy (electricity, gas, oil, nuclear), transportation, water supply, governmental operations, and military communications.

Ever wonder how the Internet actually works? It’s not just magic (though it sometimes feels that way). Behind every webpage you load, every video call you make, and every meme you send, tiny digital messengers called network packets are zipping through cyberspace, carrying data from one point to another. Think of them as the text messages of the Internet; small, efficient, and sometimes frustrating when they don’t arrive on time. But what exactly are network packets? How do they work?

The retail industry has evolved into a mix of physical stores, e-commerce, digital payments, and omnichannel interactions. Now, GenAI has been added to this mix, which changes how people shop, how retailers operate, and how employees work. While this shift creates opportunities for retailers of all sizes, it also presents serious challenges in maintaining network performance and staying compliant with industry regulations.

Whether you're a business owner or an IT pro, you know that a solid network is the foundation of your organization’s success. And that’s where Network Reliability comes in. Think about it: a key video call with a client, a crucial file transfer right before a deadline, or an online transaction on your e-commerce site. What do they all have in common? They all depend on a network that just works—no glitches, no interruptions.

In this second installment of Beyond Their Intended Scope, we analyze a recent BGP leak out of Brazil that briefly affected networks around the world. Because this routing mishap was a path leak (i.e., did not involve any mis-originations and therefore immune from RPKI ROV protection), it demonstrates why we need a thing called ASPA … ASAP.

It's the start of a new year. Like last year, I want to examine what analysts are predicting for the cybersecurity landscape in 2025 and the risks they feel will be front and center. There is no shortage of predictions for this year’s cybersecurity landscape outlook—so many, it's impossible to compile them all. While not a thorough summary of the threats and risks in 2025, this article highlights the most common topics covered by cybersecurity specialists.