Billions of people use the Internet daily, taking its stability and accessibility for granted. Have you ever wondered who's responsible for keeping its proverbial lights on? Not the search engine, social media, or e-commerce behemoths that take advantage of the infrastructure but the organizations that define and develop it.
This article examines six such organizations. Take our brief tour and familiarize yourself with the linchpins that shape the Internet as we know it.
Decentralization and openness are at the core of how the Internet operates. Even so, it would quickly fall into disarray without standards and conventions. ICANN is a non-profit organization set up to facilitate the standardization, allocation, and development of key Internet resources.
Specifically, it oversees the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), a coordinated set of procedures & protocols that ensure operational and conflict-free Internet infrastructure. IANA is responsible for general and country-specific top-level domain allocation, like .com, .gov, or .uk.
The authority also handles IP address cluster allocation to the world's five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). These then distribute the clusters in the regions they're responsible for.
Finally, IANNA maintains records about Internet protocol parameters. These ensure that protocols remain compatible and provide a baseline for further development.
The IETT is the chief organization in charge of furthering and promoting various standards instrumental in maintaining and expanding the Internet's underlying architecture. It's a non-profit with an open approach that invites stakeholders to voice concerns and contribute to regularly published technical standards.
Different groups within the IETT develop standards and resolve technical issues related to various Internet-related technologies. The TCP/IP suite is the most critical, followed by Transport Layer Security (TLS), which is integral to upholding the HTTPS protocol that's made general Internet use much more secure.
We also have IETT to thank for developing DNS and IPSec. The Domain Name System allows for the naming, categorization, and identification of Internet resources and connected devices. Internet Protocol Security is the prerequisite for creating secure connections like the ones used by virtual private networks.
Whereas our first two organizations are concerned mainly with the technical aspects of the Internet, ISOC goes a step further. The Internet Society's mission is to steer the Internet towards becoming a globally beneficial tool for the betterment of humankind.
Achieving this lofty goal comes through different ISOC activities. ISOC’s broad-scale involvements promote governance, accessibility, and security of the Internet as a whole. However, ISOC also supports local initiatives that bring the Internet to marginalized groups or make it available in isolated areas.
Internet governance is an overarching term that encompasses the technical, legal, and decision-making aspects that determine the Internet's operation and evolution. The United Nations established the IGF as a platform that brings stakeholders together to discuss and resolve governance issues.
The IGF emphasizes the need for collaboration between governments, civil organizations, academia, and technical experts in advancing governance. The discussions and groups it facilitates address and issue policies on a wide range of issues that shape Internet governance, like digital privacy rights, cybersecurity, AI's impact on the Internet landscape, or global access inequality.
While we rely on the underlying infrastructure the above organizations direct, we mostly experience the Internet through the web and its services. The World Wide Web Consortium, or W3C, is the body that governs the Web's standardization and steers its advancement.
We have W3C to thank for standardizing HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various other technologies that shape how we view and interact with the Web. Accessibility is among the W3C's core tenets. The organization puts considerable effort into creating and advancing accessibility standards that make the Web more inclusive for people with disabilities. Similarly, its internalization efforts promote Internet access unhindered by language and education barriers.
The Internet’s rapid development comes with increased cybersecurity risks. The Center for Internet Security (CIS) helps even the odds by developing and advising governments, organizations, and companies on cybersecurity best practices. It regularly publishes benchmarks – recommendations organizations can use to assess their vulnerability and reduce their attack surface.
Individuals still need to rely on measures like a password management tool and VPNs to safeguard their accounts and protect their Internet privacy. However, the CIS's continually updating recommendations and best practices ensure companies who follow them are more resistant to data breaches and cyberattacks, ultimately benefiting Internet users in general.
Choosing the best password manager is an essential step for anyone looking to improve their online security. These tools not only store your credentials securely but also generate strong, unique passwords for every account, reducing the risk of reuse and breaches. A reliable password manager offers features like encrypted storage, cross-platform syncing, and two-factor authentication support, making it a cornerstone of personal and professional cybersecurity.
The above organizations and ones like them will continue to labor away from the spotlight, yet they deserve much more appreciation and awareness. We hope this article helps put into perspective the effort and dedication it takes for the Internet to function as smoothly and seamlessly as it does.
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