- Sessions highlighted technical methods to detect spoofed traffic and improve routing integrity.
- British Computer Society presented tools to support self-development and up skilling for IT professionals.
What happened: Technical defence meets professional development at NetUK2 2025
NetUK2 2025, held on 7 to 8 July, gathered engineers, operators, and IT leaders to explore routing security, ISP best practices, and digital skills development. Organised by the UK Network Operators’ Forum, the event featured technical sessions addressing key threats to internet infrastructure and practical approaches to workforce growth.
A standout session came from Nick Ryce, who presented on “Identifying Non-Spoofed Traffic at ISP Ingress”. He outlined real-world techniques for validating traffic at the edge of ISP networks, helping operators defend against spoofing, route leaks, and BGP hijacks. These risks are becoming more urgent as global incidents such as RPKI route misconfigurations continue to undermine internet reliability.
Meanwhile, Mandy Bauer from the British Computer Society (BCS) introduced a structured framework to help professionals assess their skills, plan development goals, and align with broader career paths in IT. Her presentation offered practical steps for individuals and organisations to track progress using competency models.
Why this is important
Spoofed traffic remains a serious concern for internet service providers. Malicious actors can forge IP headers to bypass filters, inject false routes, or conduct man-in-the-middle attacks. Ryce’s presentation addressed how proactive ingress filtering can reduce risk and restore trust in routing systems. This aligns with wider efforts across the industry to improve routing hygiene, including community-driven initiatives like MANRS.
Equally important is the focus on human capital. As the UK’s tech sector grows, so does the demand for structured skills development. Bauer’s framework supports this by giving IT professionals a clearer path to progress. It complements government and industry efforts—such as those promoted by TechUK—to close digital skills gaps and build long-term resilience.
By bringing these topics together, NetUK 2025 reinforced the critical connection between technical security and professional capability. The forum continues to serve as a valuable platform for collaboration across the UK’s digital infrastructure community.
