More than 50 network engineers, operators, and technical specialists converged recently to participate in intensive hands-on training sessions during the APNIC 62 conference. Designed to address the rapidly evolving demands of modern telecommunications and enterprise networking, the program focused heavily on cultivating practical skills in critical areas such as network security, operational automation, and next-generation service provider routing.
The educational lineup featured two distinct tracks hosted by the APNIC Academy, which together drew a total of 55 participants eager to sharpen their expertise. Additionally, a specialized routing workshop organized independently by INNOG attracted another 27 attendees. Across these varied sessions, participants engaged deeply with real-world operational challenges, working through complex lab scenarios and interactive exercises meant to translate theoretical concepts into tangible, deployable capabilities for their home networks.
Improving Network Security Capability
In an era defined by sophisticated cyber threats and increasingly complex attack vectors, strengthening infrastructure resilience remains a top priority for network operators across the globe. The Network Security Workshop at APNIC 62 tackled these pressing concerns head-on, offering a comprehensive curriculum designed to elevate the defensive posture of regional networks.
Led by local certified trainer Sourav Satpathy alongside APNIC instructional staff, the security workshop immersed participants in a wide array of vital topics. The agenda spanned cryptography, infrastructure security, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) mitigation, detailed packet analysis, and intrusion detection methodologies. Attendees also explored Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) operational security, Domain Name System (DNS) security, advanced routing security utilizing Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI), and the implementation of IPsec virtual private networks (VPNs).
Through rigorous, hands-on lab exercises, participants learned how to systematically identify vulnerabilities, enhance real-time monitoring and threat detection, and deploy robust security architectures capable of withstanding modern cyber attacks. The emphasis on practical application resonated strongly with the attendees, many of whom faced unique resource challenges within their respective home organizations.
One participant emphasized the critical value of the workshop’s focus on open-source solutions, noting that many subsidiary companies within their corporate network lack the financial resources to procure expensive commercial security platforms. The accessibility of the open-source tools covered during the sessions empowers organizations to establish legitimate, effective security capabilities while remaining firmly within the budget constraints typical of developing enterprises.
Another attendee outlined broader ambitions for the knowledge gained, explaining plans to urge government network operators to adopt current security best practices. By doing so, they hope to significantly reduce the vulnerability of national critical infrastructure while simultaneously collaborating with the APNIC team to host localized training workshops at a national level.
These enthusiastic responses underscored the profound ripple effect that targeted, practical training can achieve, demonstrating how empowering individual engineers ultimately reinforces the operational stability and security of entire regional ecosystems.
Advancing Network Automation Skills
As modern networks grow exponentially in scale and complexity, traditional manual configuration and management methods are rapidly becoming unsustainable. To help operators keep pace with these demands, the Network Automation Workshop adopted a specialized Train-the-Trainer (TTT) format. Delivered by Dave Phelan and Makito Lay, the session was structured to help participants establish scalable, reliable approaches to network operations through code and automated workflows.
Attendees dove into the core principles of network automation, examining the SALT framework, structured configuration management, and the use of YAML and Jinja templating languages. The curriculum also covered advanced concepts such as dynamic inventory management, event-driven automation, and rigorous validation workflows. By utilizing industry-relevant tools and methodologies in a controlled lab environment, participants gained the confidence needed to translate automation theory into everyday operational practice.
Because the workshop utilized a Train-the-Trainer format, it served a dual purpose. Not only did attendees build advanced technical competence for their own day-to-day responsibilities, but they also acquired the pedagogical tools necessary to share their newly mastered knowledge within their local organizations and broader technical communities.
The impact of the automation training was immediately evident in the feedback provided by attendees. One participant shared how the curriculum directly influenced their professional projects, noting that they had previously begun exploring network automation with SaltStack primarily to handle repetitive tasks within their Security Operations (SecOps) duties. Armed with the advanced techniques learned during the workshop, they now plan to expand those initial scripts into a comprehensive, end-to-end incident response automation system.
Another operational perspective came from an engineer at Bhutan Telecom, who highlighted the tangible administrative and technical benefits of the training. They pointed out that adopting these automation practices will help reduce manual intervention and minimize human configuration errors. Over the long term, these skills will be deployed to streamline network configuration, continuous monitoring, and other repetitive maintenance tasks. Furthermore, the Train-the-Trainer structure ensures that this knowledge can be systematically disseminated across their internal teams, elevating the overall automation maturity of the enterprise.
A similar sentiment was expressed by a participant representing the Myanmar network community and MMIX, who noted that the lessons learned would play a crucial role in improving operational consistency, minimizing deployment errors, and executing network changes with a much higher degree of safety. By sharing these insights with local engineers and the broader MMNOG community, the participant aims to foster a stronger, more collaborative automation culture throughout the region.
Exploring Next-Generation Service Provider Routing
Complementing the APNIC Academy sessions, the APNIC 62 conference also hosted the Next-Gen Service Provider Routing Workshop. Organized in collaboration with INNOG and expertly delivered by instructors Paresh Khatri, Thomas Corre, and Bastien Claeys, this intensive three-day program was tailored specifically for experienced carrier and service provider engineers.
The curriculum focused heavily on the advanced architectural technologies currently reshaping modern carrier-grade networks. Participants examined cutting-edge concepts including Segment Routing (SR), Ethernet VPN (EVPN), streaming telemetry, and the use of Containerlab for network emulation and testing. These technologies are increasingly vital for modern operators seeking to simplify complex network topologies, achieve granular visibility into traffic flows, and satisfy the rigorous service delivery requirements of contemporary enterprise and consumer markets.
Rather than relying purely on lectures, the workshop balanced foundational theory with extensive, hands-on lab exercises. Attendees worked directly with advanced routing environments, gaining invaluable practical experience in deploying and operating segment routing implementations, configuring EVPN services, engineering traffic paths with Flex-Algo, and establishing telemetry-driven monitoring architectures.
This deep dive into next-generation routing reflected a broader industry transition. As streaming telemetry and segment routing architectures move from theoretical blueprints into widespread production deployment, service provider engineers must master these tools to efficiently manage large-scale, high-performance infrastructure. The hands-on exposure provided during the INNOG workshop ensured that participating engineers returned to their home organizations equipped with the exact technical competencies required to lead these complex architectural upgrades.
Building Regional Capability
The workshops conducted at APNIC 62 successfully equipped dozens of network engineers and operators with actionable, real-world skills spanning security hardening, operational automation, and advanced service provider routing. By bridging the gap between theoretical network design and practical, day-to-day implementation, the training empowers attendees to make immediate, positive impacts within their respective organizations.
Ultimately, initiatives like these play a vital role in supporting a more secure, resilient, and reliable Internet infrastructure across the Asia Pacific region. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants highlighted the enduring value of educational programs that prioritize hands-on operational experience alongside robust knowledge sharing. Through the Train-the-Trainer framework and the dedication of regional operators, the lessons learned in the classroom will continue to multiply, strengthening local operator groups, enterprise teams, and national technical communities alike.
