This week, FastNetMon joined the North American network operator community in sunny Miami for NANOG 98, held on October 19–21 at the InterContinental Miami.
Representing FastNetMon were Pavel Odintsov and Virgil Truica, who spent three days catching up with familiar faces, meeting new people and discussing the latest developments in network security, DDoS protection and Internet infrastructure.
NANOG is always one of the highlights of our conference calendar, bringing together network engineers, ISPs, cloud providers, infrastructure vendors and many of the people who keep the Internet running.
And Miami certainly delivered! Between the beautiful weather, fantastic waterfront setting and a packed programme of networking events, this edition was a particularly memorable one.
AI is becoming part of everything
As usual, some of the most interesting discussions at NANOG happened outside the conference rooms.
One observation Pavel brought back from conversations with fellow operators was just how quickly AI is becoming part of everyday network operations and infrastructure planning.
More and more companies are using AI in their workflows, while others are actively building the infrastructure needed to support growing AI workloads. From data centre capacity and high-performance networking to automation and traffic management, the impact is becoming increasingly visible across the industry.
It was interesting to hear how different operators are approaching these changes, what challenges they are running into and where they see the biggest opportunities.
For us at FastNetMon, these conversations are particularly valuable. As networks grow and traffic patterns change, the need for reliable visibility, fast DDoS detection and effective mitigation remains just as important.
A little bit of everything on the agenda
The NANOG 98 programme reflected many of the topics shaping Internet infrastructure today, with sessions covering AI networking, routing security, RPKI, network automation, quantum-safe networking and global connectivity.
Among the highlights on the agenda were discussions around securing AI infrastructure, designing networks for AI data centres, and the challenges of making networks more autonomous. Other sessions explored BGP operations, route leaks, IPv6 routing and the practical realities of operating increasingly complex networks.
While we didn't manage to attend as many presentations as we would have liked, the programme offered plenty of interesting material, and many of those same topics continued to come up in conversations throughout the event.
That's one of the things we appreciate most about NANOG: the knowledge sharing doesn't stop when a presentation ends.
Miami made it even better
Of course, NANOG isn't only about the technical programme.
The hallway conversations, coffee breaks, dinners and evening socials are just as important for catching up with the community and making new connections.
And this time, Miami really exceeded expectations.
The weather was fantastic, the city was a pleasure to explore, and the social programme was on another level. From NANOG's traditional Beer 'N Gear to the evening parties and gatherings around the city, there was no shortage of opportunities to continue conversations in a more relaxed setting.
Even for first-time visitors to Miami, the experience exceeded expectations — and that's saying something given the city's reputation!
It's always great to see how much effort goes into the social side of these conferences. After all, some of the best conversations about networks happen nowhere near a conference room.
Thank you, NANOG!
A big thank you to the NANOG organisers, programme committee, volunteers, sponsors and everyone involved in putting together another excellent event.
And, of course, thank you to everyone who caught up with Pavel and Virgil, shared their experiences, or spent time discussing DDoS detection and mitigation, traffic visibility, network security and the challenges of operating modern networks.
These face-to-face conversations are one of the main reasons we keep coming back to NANOG. It's an opportunity to hear directly from operators, exchange ideas and reconnect with the people who make this community what it is.
We had a fantastic time in Miami, and this edition will certainly be one to remember.
Until the next NANOG — thanks for the great conversations, wonderful company and a little Miami sunshine!
Event: NANOG 98
Date: October 19–21, 2026
Location: InterContinental Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
Event: NANOG 98
Date: October 19–21, 2026
Location: InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL 33131, USA
See the official NANOG 98 website for registration and the latest event information.
