What Is Internet Network Operations Center (INOC)?

In the past, the Internet was like a big, wild party. Then it got bigger. And wilder. More Internet. And then someone died, and everyone said, "Whoops! We should probably start monitoring this thing." So we did—with INOCs (Internet Network Operations Centers). These super-secure facilities monitor all traffic passing through core routers and gateways of the Internet. They're staffed 24/7 by teams of highly trained experts who know how to keep things running level while they make sure nothing goes wrong. The result? A safer, better Internet—and one that can host parties that don't end in death more often than once every decade or so! The Internet Network Operations Center (INOC) was a control facility that monitored and controlled all traffic passing through the core routers and gateways of the Internet. The INOC was located in a secret underground facility in Colorado and staffed by a team of highly-trained technicians who monitored all Internet traffic 24 hours per day. The center was equipped with powerful computers that could monitor activities on the web—including email messages, web page requests, and social media postings—and instantly respond to any suspicious activity. The mission of the INOC was to protect America from cyber threats, so it worked closely with law enforcement agencies like the FBI. Homeland Security and other government agencies ensure we protect our national security from foreign hackers or terrorists who might try to access our networks outside our borders. INOC, or InterNIC, was the Internet's central registry of domain names. It was run by Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN), based in Massachusetts. The INOC worked by registering all new domains and assigning them to companies or individuals who wanted them. Today, there is no centralized form of INOC. Instead, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has taken over its role.