With the transition to IPv6 network addresses gaining
momentum, organizations are checking their infrastructure to ensure they are
ready.
The last
blocks of IP addresses were allocated to Regional Internet Registries (RIR)
in a public ceremony on Feb. 3. While each RIR has its own policies and rules
for how these remaining addresses will be assigned, they are not expected to
last out the year. In fact, the counter widget on IPv4 Address Report estimates the last address will be assigned sometime on Sept. 23.
The network switchover from the current IPv4 addresses to
the newer 128-bit IPv6 addresses has security implications as well, according
to several industry experts. The IPv6 namespace seems almost infinite in the
possible number of addresses, with 340 undecillion possible addresses.
There’s a lot of room for spammers to stretch out in, Qing
Li, Chief Scientist at Blue Coat Systems, told eWEEK. There won’t be any "new
spam problem" with the move to IPv6, it will just be a more "emphasized problem"
because of the sheer amount of available addresses, he said.
For more, read the eWeek article: IPv6 Structure Will Require New Security Policies and Tactics.