- Origin Autonomous System field will be removed from ARIN’s database this July.
- ARIN recommends more secure alternatives like RPKI and IRR.
What happened: ARIN to retire Origin AS field
The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) will officially remove the Origin Autonomous System (Origin AS) field from its database on 28 July 2025. This move follows the ARIN-2021-8 policy, adopted in July 2023, which called for the field’s deprecation.
The Origin AS field historically allowed users to link IP address blocks with Autonomous System Numbers for routing purposes. However, ARIN now considers it outdated and potentially unreliable.
In a service update posted on 30 May, ARIN urged users still relying on this data to adopt more modern tools, such as Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) and the Internet Routing Registry (IRR). Both options offer more secure and accurate routing data validation.
Also read: ARIN improves RPKI services to enhance routing security
Also read: What is ARIN? Inside the organisation that runs the internet for North America
Why it’s important
This change reflects a broader shift toward stronger routing security practices across the Internet. RPKI, for instance, uses cryptographic methods to verify route announcements, helping prevent route hijacking and configuration errors.
However, the transition may not be straightforward for everyone. Smaller networks or legacy systems might struggle to update infrastructure in time. And while RPKI adoption is growing, it remains uneven across regions and providers. Questions also persist around its centralised trust model, which places considerable authority in certificate issuers.
With the 28 July deadline approaching, organisations still depending on the Origin AS field will need to act quickly—or risk losing access to routing data they once relied on.
