September 7, 2022 - The RIPE Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) hosted an RPKI webinar in collaboration with the Communications and Information Technology Commission in Saudi Arabia (CITC) to strengthen the Internet landscape in the kingdom. The webinar was conducted with RIPE NCC industry experts who underlined the vital role of the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) security and Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) in enhancing network security and strengthening the Internet landscape in the kingdom.

The event was convened virtually and dedicated to Mobile Operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and the regulator’s technical team. It highlighted the critical role of network routing in enhancing cybersecurity and offered insights into the deployment of RPKI in networks in Saudi Arabia. The Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) is a framework designed to secure the Internet's routing infrastructure and enable network operators to address cybersecurity threats and find appropriate solutions to tackle them.

Fahd Alduraibi, Manager of Cybersecurity Operation at CITC, said: “Capacity building is crucial to technological advancement and deploying RPKI will provide KSA with a better Internet landscape. The workshop helped CITC to understand how RPKI can help Saudi Arabia network operators to improve Internet infrastructure security. We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with the RIPE NCC.”

Chafic Chaya, Regional Manager for Public Policy and Government Affairs at RIPE NCC Dubai office, said: “Conducting webinars and training programs for our members and partners underlines our commitment to facilitate the sustainable development of the Internet landscape.  We are collaborating with CITC and other regulators to promote and establish a more stable and resilient Internet in the region. Our long-standing trust and partnership with the CITC allow us to move forward with this common goal.”

He added: “As the Regional Internet Registry for the Middle East, Europe and parts of Central Asia, RIPE NCC will continue to offer technical expertise and support to members and governments to raise awareness on issues of high importance in the digital world, such as IPv6 implementation, network security, peering, and public policy Internet-related issues, through dedicated meetings, workshops, webinars and RIPE NCC initiatives.”

Through the webinar, attendees gained in-depth knowledge about RPKI, how to create route origin authorizations (ROAs) for the IP address space, deploying RPKI validators, configuring an RTR session between a validator and a router, and validating BGP announcements using RPKI data.

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