How RPKI Became a Critical Standard for Internet Routing in 2025
According to the APNIC Blog, Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) emerged as a key tool for securing Internet routing in 2025. Marking a significant shift in industry practices, RPKI adoption saw a surge as both enterprises and regional networks prioritized Internet security and reliability.
What is RPKI and Why It Matters
RPKI is a technology designed to prevent route hijacking and misconfigurations within the Internet’s Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). By associating cryptographic signatures with IP prefixes, network operators can validate the authenticity of routing data, greatly enhancing the stability and security of global Internet connectivity.
In 2025, the focus on RPKI grew due to increased threats to Internet infrastructure. High-profile incidents such as BGP hijacking events and nation-state cyberattacks pushed governments and enterprises to adopt advanced routing technologies. RPKI was at the forefront, with many operators deploying Route Origin Authorizations (ROAs) to ensure their networks were resistant to malicious routing manipulation.
Industry Context: Why RPKI Adoption is Booming
The adoption of RPKI reflects broader trends across the telecom and Internet industries. According to BGPStream, there were over 13,500 routing incidents globally in 2025, a 23% increase from the previous year. Issues like prefix hijacking and IP route leaks became more frequent, costing enterprises millions of dollars in downtime and data breaches.
Major players such as Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Cloudflare invested heavily in RPKI to secure their infrastructure, driving industry-wide momentum. Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) also played a role, offering tools and training to operators to deploy RPKI effectively.
Smaller ISPs faced challenges due to the technical complexity and resource intensity of implementing RPKI. However, managed service providers and open-source platforms began offering simplified solutions to lower the barrier for entry and accelerate adoption.
Future Outlook: Is RPKI the New Standard for Secure Routing?
As we move into 2026, experts expect RPKI to continue gaining traction as a best practice for Internet routing security. Major initiatives, such as the ‘MANRS’ (Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security) program, are encouraging global participation and collaboration among network operators.
However, challenges remain. Questions around centralized trust, operational complexity, and coordination between RIRs and networks need to be addressed. Industry analysts predict that additional frameworks could emerge to complement RPKI, making secure routing even more robust.
Economic incentives tied to routing security standards may also drive further adoption. With Gartner estimating that cyberattacks will cost businesses $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, minimizing risk through solutions like RPKI could be seen as a competitive advantage for ISPs and enterprises alike.
Conclusion: Have We Entered a New Era of Routing Security?
RPKI represents a major step forward for ensuring a safer and more resilient Internet. While challenges to widespread adoption persist, the momentum seen in 2025 suggests the technology is here to stay. As routing incidents continue to rise, RPKI could soon become the gold standard for network operators worldwide.
What do you think? Could RPKI transform Internet routing security for good? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
