Strong Networking, Weak Auditing: How Carriers Meet Order No.176 Traceability Compliance for Internet Access

Carriers excel at broadband provisioning, ONT deployment, network coverage and fault maintenance. However, real-name authentication and internet log auditing are rarely native features of traditional networking setups. Stable connectivity does not equal verified user identities, complete log retention, or fast incident traceability when violations occur.

Order No.176 of the Ministry of Public Security (Measures for Cyberspace Security Supervision and Inspection by Public Security Organs) took effect on October 1, 2026. It brings internet access providers, public Wi-Fi operators, network operators and maintainers, and network product vendors under formal inspection. Key audit items include user registration data, access log retention, and cyber attack prevention.

For carriers, networking delivers connectivity, while authentication and logging answer who used the network and whether records can be traced. The core challenge is to add these compliance capabilities on top of existing infrastructure without rip-and-replace upgrades.

I. Why Carriers Have Auditing Shortcomings Despite Strong Networking

1. ONTs provide connectivity, not full audit capability
   Carrier networks are built around ONTs designed purely for broadband forwarding. Most legacy ONTs lack built-in captive portal authentication and persistent log storage. Even after full network deployment, carriers may lack the technical foundation for identity verification and behaviour recording.
2. No closed traceability chain linking authentication, logs and sessions
   Traceability is more than just storing device logs. If user credentials, terminal access records and traffic logs exist as isolated datasets, cross-correlation becomes extremely difficult.
   Compliance requires three things: complete log collection, native binding between user identity and session data, and retrievable historical records.
3. Order No.176 raises the bar for security accountability
   The new regulation covers cybersecurity management systems, log retention, vulnerability remediation and threat defence. Carriers and equipment suppliers must clarify their legal responsibilities. A fully operational network no longer counts as proof of adequate security governance.
   If existing ONTs lack authentication and logging, carriers must upgrade capabilities proactively instead of scrambling to generate records during inspections.

II. AINOPOL Cloud Portal + Cloud Log Audit: Filling Carriers’ Audit Gaps

AINOPOL’s solution avoids full network reconstruction. Instead, Cloud Portal and Cloud Log Audit plug into compatible carrier ONTs to overlay authentication and audit functions on top of existing broadband infrastructure.

1. Cloud Portal: Add real-name authentication to existing networks
   Many carrier ONTs have no native captive portal. AINOPOL Cloud Portal connects as a plug-in to enable real-name verification for public internet access.
   Operators can configure flexible authentication workflows to replace open Wi-Fi and shared passwords, creating clear user access trails as the foundation for log correlation and incident investigation.

The solution preserves the original networking architecture. Carriers can first inventory ONT models, network topologies and interface compatibility before phased rollout, cutting capital expenditure and maintenance workload caused by large-scale hardware replacement.

1. Cloud Log Audit: Make access logs recordable and searchable
   Identity authentication is only the first step. Cloud Log Audit works with Cloud Portal and network devices to complete the logging workflow for public internet scenarios.
   The platform captures standardized log fields and ties them to authenticated user accounts, access timestamps and session data. Administrators no longer need to manually piece together scattered records across multiple ONTs.

Deployment must align with regulatory requirements, covering log scope, mandatory fields, 180-day retention cycles, storage capacity and data protection to avoid compliance gaps.

1. Cloud-native deployment lowers barriers for legacy network upgrades
   Audit upgrades must balance technical feasibility, massive legacy device fleets, cost and long-term O&M. The Cloud Portal + Cloud Log Audit stack runs on cloud SaaS and integrates with existing ONTs, eliminating the need for on-premises audit servers at every site.

Carriers can carry out network surveys first, then complete ONT adaptation, authentication policy configuration, log validation and query setup step by step. Regular operational checks ensure stable authentication, continuous log generation, sufficient storage and retrievable historical data.

This approach lets carriers retain their core networking strengths while building audit capabilities gradually, without large-scale hardware overhauls.

AINOPOL offers two differentiated paths for different network models:

• Carrier broadband networks: Use Cloud Portal + Cloud Log Audit to add authentication and audit layers on top of existing ONTs.
• Enterprise self-built campus networks: Deploy the All-in-One Communication & Encryption solution built on all-optical networking, audio-video convergence and embedded security. The Dream Gateway consolidates real-name authentication, log retention and threat protection in one box.

Matching the solution to the actual network architecture prevents misconfiguration and redundant investment.

Under Order No.176, carriers must evolve from pure connectivity providers to full-service operators with access governance and audit capabilities. AINOPOL Cloud Portal and Cloud Log Audit help carriers build compliant systems with minimal retrofits: every access has a user record, every historical session is searchable, and every security incident can be fully traced.

Networking forms the foundation; auditing fills the gap; traceability is the ultimate goal. Only by integrating these three capabilities can carriers leverage their network construction advantages and standardize public internet service management.

FAQ

Q: Our team has no prior log audit experience. Can we operate this platform smoothly?
A: Cloud Log Audit transforms on-premises server deployment into cloud SaaS. Staff do not need expertise in server deployment, storage scaling or backup management. Daily work only covers plug-in status monitoring and report export on the cloud console. Multi-source log ingestion is pre-integrated with zero secondary development; logs are pushed directly from devices to the cloud without extra collectors.

Q: Must we replace ONTs with no built-in audit functions?
A: No. Cloud Portal and Cloud Log Audit connect to existing ONTs as plug-ins. They do not alter the ONT’s original broadband forwarding logic, require hardware swap-outs or new cabling. We add authentication and audit layers above the access layer instead of replacing it.

Q: Why do inspectors fail to pull complete browsing records by mobile number?
A: The most common root cause is disconnected authentication and logging systems with no session-level binding. AINOPOL Cloud Log Audit generates a unique session ID upon successful authentication, and ties all subsequent traffic logs to this ID. Identity correlation is established at the data collection stage, rather than stitching IP and timestamp data manually during inspections.