Spam is rapidly taking over email networks and clogging messaging systems. With estimates reaching as high as 80% of all mail sent is spam, your business is being impacted hard. Networks are being compromised and resources are being overwhelmed. Filtering technologies do not reduce the strain on already over-extended networks and servers. Solutions are needed that stop the flow of spam before it reaches your network and your customers. By reducing both the flow of spam into your network as well as into your messaging system, you can dramatically improve your service delivery and retain more customers.

MAPS' mission is to rid the Internet of spam. We recognize that we cannot do this alone; therefore we have established a program to encourage ISPs to join us in our fight against spam. By working together we can improve our ability to identify and thereby shutdown the compromised networks that spammers use for spamming the Internet. We will assist all ISPs that join in this fight by identifying IP addresses within their network that are compromised by spammers and are being used to spam other networks. We will also help establish policies and procedures to continue to protect their valuable IT resources from abuse by spammers.

This is the mission of the Alliance for Spam Free Networks^SM (ASFN^SM).

The ASFN^SM was developed with the purpose of creating a spam free Internet, and we plan to achieve this goal by working with one ISP at a time. All ISPs are invited to join and participate at no cost. As part of membership, you will receive valuable insight and assistance regarding spam prevention methods. And as a member, you can obtain elite status by having your network certified as Spam Free, thereby letting your customers and the ISP community know that you are committed to delivering the very best service possible.

Also, as a member of the ASFN you will have access to our Internet Bureau of Investigation and its highly trained agents. A dedicated agent will assist in certifying that your network is spam free and help maintain the ongoing integrity of your network. The two main requirements that MAPS has for ISP participation is that the ISP provide their dynamic IP addresses or ranges and a contact that the MAPS IBI agents can work with on resolving any issues that may arise.