Cloudflare has launched a self-serve API for its Bring Your Own IP (BYOIP) service, simplifying the previously cumbersome process of onboarding IP addresses. Customers used to wait weeks for approval after submitting requests and documentation, including a Letter of Agency (LOA). Now, with this new API, customers can manage their IP prefixes independently, reducing the time and complexity involved. The system employs Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) to enhance security, automating ownership validation and generating LOAs on behalf of customers. The traditional method of verifying IP ownership relied heavily on manual checks of documents, which posed security risks and delays. Cloudflare's new model uses a two-step verification process that includes creating RPKI Route Origin Authorizations and modifying Internet Routing Registry (IRR) records. This approach allows for quicker onboarding and more rigorous checks than simple document reviews. The API is initially limited to IP prefixes tied to Cloudflare's own autonomous system number (ASN), AS 13335, to ensure a safe and reliable rollout. Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) govern the allocation of IP addresses, and the Internet Routing Registry (IRR) helps manage routing information. The article explains that modifying IRR records offers a strong indication of a user's rights to an IP prefix. For those who prefer an alternative to IRR-based validation, reverse DNS (rDNS) can also be used to confirm ownership. This shift to a self-serve model aims to empower customers, giving them greater control over their IP address management on Cloudflare's network.