Definition of Internet Society (ISOC) in The Network Encyclopedia.
What is ISOC (Internet Society)?
Internet Society, aka ISOC, is a professional society founded in 1992 that provides leadership for the development and evolution of the Internet. The Internet Society (ISOC) comprises over 150 individual organizations, including government agencies and private companies, and is an umbrella organization for other Internet groups, including the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB).
The ISOC has more than 6000 individual members in more than 100 countries. It is governed by a board of trustees elected from its membership. The ISOC hosts conferences and issues publications related to the development and management of the Internet. The ISOC has taken the lead in promoting the formation of a nonprofit constituency for the new Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which oversees the Internet Domain Name System (DNS).
The ISOC essentially functions as a legal umbrella for the standardization processes managed by the IETF and the IAB.
Internet Society Vision and Mission
The Internet Society supports and promotes the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people’s lives, and a force for good in society.
ISOC work aligns with ISOC goals for the Internet to be open, globally-connected, secure, and trustworthy. We seek collaboration with all who share these goals.
- Building and supporting the communities that make the Internet work;
- Advancing the development and application of Internet infrastructure, technologies, and open standards; and
- Advocating for a policy that is consistent with our view of the Internet
