SSAC

The Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) is a technical committee within ICANN that provides guidance on security and stability issues affecting the Internet’s naming and addressing systems. Its work focuses on identifying risks, analyzing security and operational concerns, and offering technical recommendations to the ICANN community and stakeholders.

SSAC’s mandate covers a wide range of topics related to the Domain Name System and related infrastructure, including DNS security extensions (DNSSEC), root zone management, routing security, incident response, abuse mitigation, and the interaction between policy and technical infrastructure. The committee aims to inform ICANN policy development, operational practices, and collaboration across the broader Internet ecosystem.

The composition of SSAC includes security professionals from industry, academia, and government, drawn from around the world. Members are selected through ICANN’s governance processes, and the group is chaired on a rotating basis. SSAC operates independently within ICANN and coordinates with other ICANN communities, as well as external bodies such as the IETF and DNS operators.

SSAC produces documents known as SSAC Advisories (often referred to as SAC advisories) and SSAC Reports. These publications assess emerging threats, propose mitigations, and provide guidance for registries, registrars, operators, policymakers, and end users. Their advisories have influenced technical practices and policy discussions within ICANN and the wider Internet governance ecosystem.

Notable topics over the years include DNSSEC deployment and key management, root server security, BGP and routing safeguards, and measures to improve the resilience of critical Internet infrastructure.