• ARIN will discontinue FTP services by 31 March 2025; its data will remain available over HTTP and HTTPS.
  • Users who rely on FTP must switch to HTTP- or HTTPS-based methods before the deadline to keep accessing ARIN’s public data.

What happened: ARIN to retire FTP by March 2025

The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) has announced its plan to retire the use of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) services by 31 March 2025. This decision is part of ARIN’s ongoing efforts to enhance security and streamline data distribution methods. Currently, ARIN provides public data services, including bulk Whois data and other resources, via FTP.

After FTP is retired, these data will remain available over HTTP and HTTPS. HTTPS provides encryption and data-integrity protection. Users who rely on FTP need to update their retrieval or mirroring tools before retirement to avoid interruptions. Detailed information and guidance on this transition are available on ARIN’s official website.

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Why it is important

ARIN’s decision to retire FTP services by 31 March 2025, in favor of HTTPS, marks a significant shift towards enhancing the security and efficiency of data distribution. FTP, while widely used, lacks robust security features, making data transmissions susceptible to interception and tampering. Transitioning to HTTPS addresses these vulnerabilities by providing encrypted and authenticated connections, ensuring that data accessed from ARIN is both secure and reliable.

For organizations and individuals utilizing ARIN’s public data services, this change necessitates timely action to adapt their data access methods. Failure to move away from FTP by the 31 March 2025 deadline could result in disrupted access to critical information, potentially impacting operations that depend on ARIN’s data.

By proactively migrating to HTTPS, users will benefit from enhanced security and align with modern internet standards that prioritize data protection and user privacy. ARIN’s move reflects a broader industry trend towards deprecating outdated protocols in favor of more secure alternatives, underscoring the importance of adopting up-to-date technologies in maintaining the integrity of internet infrastructure.