Web Commerce Security Design and Development

IANA

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)¹¹ is the body responsible for coordinating some of the key elements that keep the Internet running smoothly. Although the Internet is renowned for being a worldwide network free from central coordination, some key parts of the Internet must be globally coordinated — and this coordination role is undertaken by IANA.

Specifically, IANA allocates and maintains unique codes and numbering systems that are used in the technical standards (“protocols”) that drive the Internet. IANA's various activities can be broadly grouped into three categories:

• Domain names: IANA manages the DNS root, the .int and .arpa domains, and an IDN practices resource.
• Number resources: IANA coordinates the global pool of IP and AS numbers, providing them to Regional Internet Registries.
• Protocol assignments: Internet protocols' numbering systems are managed by IANA in conjunction with standards bodies.

IANA is one of the Internet's oldest institutions, with its activities dating back to the 1970s. Today it is operated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, an international non-profit organization set up by the Internet community to help coordinate IANA's areas of responsibilities.

IANA does not directly set its own operating policies, but instead implements agreed policies and principles in a neutral and responsible manner. Using the policy setting forums provided by ICANN, many different stakeholders determine policy development for ...