IETF | Internet Engineering Task Force

IETF launches post-quantum encryption working group to address security concerns

Many cybersecurity experts worry that emerging super-powerful quantum computers will be able to crack current encryption methods within minutes.

Read about the new PQUIP WG

Upcoming events

IETF 116 Yokohama
IETF 116 starts Saturday 25 March and runs through Friday afternoon, 31 March.
Yokohama, Japan
IETF 116 Social Event (SOLD OUT)
The IETF 116 social on Thursday March 30, hosted by WIDE, will be at the Osanbashi Pier.

All events

What's new?

IETF Snapshot 2022
Want to catch up on IETF activity in 2022? The IETF Snapshot provides a short summary of IETF activity for the previous year.
8 Mar 2023
Suggested IETF 116 Sessions for Getting Familiar with New Topics
These IETF 116 meeting sessions are likely to include discussions and proposals that are accessible to a broad range of Internet technologists whether they are new to the IETF or long-time participants.
7 Mar 2023

All news

Search the IETF email archive

Much of the daily work of the IETF is conducted on electronic mailing lists. A new mail archive tool realizing the requirements developed in RFC 6778 is now in use:

Search IETF Datatracker

The IETF Datatracker contains data about IETF documents, working groups, meetings, agendas, minutes, presentations, and more:

Understanding the Internet Engineering Task Force

Working Groups

Working Groups are the primary mechanism for development of IETF specifications and guidelines. Working Groups are typically created to address a specific problem or to produce one or more specific deliverables (a guideline, standards specification, etc.).

See how IETF Working Groups operate

Featured Working Group

Network Time Protocol

Accurate, precise, and reliable time is an important function relied upon by modern systems, devices, and applications. This requires reliable and accurate network time synchronization over modern IP…

NTP ntp@ietf.org

Request for Comments (RFCs)

The IETF publishes RFCs authored by network operators, engineers, and computer scientists to document methods, behaviors, research, or innovations applicable to the Internet.

Learn more about RFCs

Featured RFC

Network Time Protocol Version 4: Protocol and Algorithms Specification

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is widely used to synchronize computer clocks in the Internet. This document describes NTP version 4 (NTPv4), which is backwards compatible with NTP version 3 (NTPv3)…

RFC 5905was: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-ntp-ntpv4-proto/

Topics of interest

Automated network management
The IETF is working on standards for automated network management which, as the name implies, aims to improve and make more efficient management of networks as they continue to increase in size and complexity.
The Internet of Things at the IETF
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or "things" embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity to enable objects to exchange data with the manufacturer, operator, and/or other connected devices.
New transport technology
The development of new transport technologies in the IETF provides capabilities that improve the ability of Internet applications to send data over the Internet.