How to overcome IPv6 inertia

Technologists still struggle to convince businesses owners and decision makers to make the leap to IPv6. Marco Hogewoning, Acting Manager, Public Policy and Internet Governance at the RIPE NCC outlines the arguments

In November 2019, the RIPE NCC, Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia, officially ran out of IPv4 addresses. This was another step on the path towards exhaustion of the world's remaining IPv4 addresses and highlights the need for greater adoption of the latest version of the Internet protocol: IPv6.

Intended to futureproof the Internet, IPv6 has 340 trillion, trillion, trillion addresses - compared to IPv4's 4.2 billion. This can accommodate the rapid growth in both Internet users and connected devices we are currently witnessing. Developed in the mid-nineties, IPv6 is a tried and tested technology and is a common feature in all major hardware and software products. The device you are using right now likely has IPv6 support built-in. But despite this widespread support, technicians still struggle to convince businesses owners and decision makers to make the leap to IPv6.

A prevailing attitude is that upgrading to IPv6 is a large and often risky project, or simply one not needed for business as long as they have enough IPv4 to cover their current needs. As a result, many businesses don't see an incentive and are choosing to stick with IPv4 for as long as they can. But this approach can only buy so much time. So, how do you begin to address the "inertia" surrounding IPv6?

Changing attitudes

The challenge for many IT professionals is that inertia runs all the way up to the board level. Once an IT department decides it needs to upgrade to IPv6, the next hurdle is selling the idea to the leadership team to get their buy-in.

The business will have reasonable concerns around the cost, time and risks involved in the project, which can all be barriers to approval. Forming a small task force with a few IPv6 champions that know how to build a business case is often the best place to start. This can help to build momentum internally to support the decision.

A key argument for deploying IPv6 is that while it might seem easier to stick with IPv4, it will get progressively harder to do so over time. It's important to get clear on how many IPv4 addresses your organisation has left, when you expect to run out, whether you will need to buy addresses from the transfer market in the future, and the potential costs of doing so.

A common misunderstanding is that enabling IPv6 means switching-off IPv4 and that existing customers and business will be lost as a result. This is not the case. IPv6 was specifically designed to co-exist alongside an already operational IPv4 network. It is important for decision makers to understand that there is no risk here, but also that continuing on an IPv4-only basis, with more people and services switching on IPv6, might jeopardise future growth as your business is increasingly seen as lagging behind.

Upgrading to IPv6 doesn't need to happen overnight. You can take a gradual approach to manage the workload and expenses. Creating a plan to enable IPv6 whenever hardware or software is upgraded over time means everything will, in time, become IPv6 compatible. The same approach applies when changing service providers, which is also a great opportunity to add IPv6 support. Taking it slow and integrating IPv6 with other projects manages the risk and cost, so it is more likely to get backing and trust from management.

The long-term cost of sticking to IPv4

For as long as the IPv4 protocol exists, it'll seem easier to stick with the status quo for a little longer. But the ‘easy' approach is going to become the harder option in the future. For businesses, it will become more complex and costly to run IPv4-only networks.

The reality is that the cost in sticking with IPv4 is rising, which should be a concern for businesses. The emergence of an IPv4 transfer market has allowed companies to purchase used addresses to satisfy their immediate demand for additional addresses. But with IPv4 addresses in short supply, prices are rising. Addresses today are going for between $25-30, so businesses shouldn't ignore the impact this additional cost will have over time. Transfers are a short-term solution at best, and the added costs will influence the profit margin and thus the price of the final product, which ultimately impacts competitiveness.

While some businesses search for additional IPv4 addresses, others have looked to do more with the addresses they already have. This is mostly achieved using a technical workaround, Carrier Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT). This allows a single IPv4 address to be shared by multiple customers, in some cases thousands. But CGNAT brings its own complications to the network, not to mention higher running costs, which again makes it feasible only in the short term.

Preparing for the future

Contemplating the cost and risks involved in IPv6 and the challenge of getting everyone on board, can be enough to delay the upgrade. But the growing costs and complexities associated with the continued use of IPv4 are driving a change in this calculation. Having a dedicated task force that can effectively sell the idea and articulate why progress must happen now is key to getting the project off the ground.

Now is the time for businesses to start investigating how a smart and timely deployment of IPv6 could help reduce their dependency on IPv4. Ultimately, having a long-term strategy for IPv6 will save companies money, ready them for the future, and enable sustainable growth.

Marco Hogewoning, Acting Manager, Public Policy and Internet Governance at the RIPE NCC