A method, at a processing device, of operating a network comprising: responsive to detecting an unavailability of at least a first node device of a plurality of node devices (150A-C) of a network , activating a proxy device to correspond to the first node device; detecting a consensus operation among the plurality of node devices (150A-C), wherein the consensus operation comprises a plurality of vote transmissions within the network ; and characterised by controlling, by the processing device , the proxy device to provide a proxy vote transmission as part of the consensus operation, detecting the consensus operation among the plurality of node devices (150A-C) comprises examining an approval status of each of the plurality of vote transmissions; and wherein, controlling the proxy device to provide the proxy vote transmission as part of the consensus operation comprises: responsive to determining that a count of the plurality of vote transmissions that indicate approval exceeds a defined vote threshold, transmitting instructions to the proxy device to transmit a proxy vote transmission comprising an approval of the consensus operation; and responsive to determining that the count of the plurality of vote transmissions that indicate approval does not exceed the defined vote threshold, transmitting instructions to the proxy device to transmit a proxy vote transmission comprising a disapproval of the consensus operation. responsive to detecting an unavailability of at least a first node device of a plurality of node devices (150A-C) of a network , activating a proxy device to correspond to the first node device; detecting a consensus operation among the plurality of node devices (150A-C), wherein the consensus operation comprises a plurality of vote transmissions within the network ; and characterised by controlling, by the processing device , the proxy device to provide a proxy vote transmission as part of the consensus operation, detecting the consensus operation among the plurality of node devices (150A-C) comprises examining an approval status of each of the plurality of vote transmissions; and wherein, controlling the proxy device to provide the proxy vote transmission as part of the consensus operation comprises: responsive to determining that a count of the plurality of vote transmissions that indicate approval exceeds a defined vote threshold, transmitting instructions to the proxy device to transmit a proxy vote transmission comprising an approval of the consensus operation; and responsive to determining that the count of the plurality of vote transmissions that indicate approval does not exceed the defined vote threshold, transmitting instructions to the proxy device to transmit a proxy vote transmission comprising a disapproval of the consensus operation. responsive to determining that a count of the plurality of vote transmissions that indicate approval exceeds a defined vote threshold, transmitting instructions to the proxy device to transmit a proxy vote transmission comprising an approval of the consensus operation; and responsive to determining that the count of the plurality of vote transmissions that indicate approval does not exceed the defined vote threshold, transmitting instructions to the proxy device to transmit a proxy vote transmission comprising a disapproval of the consensus operation. <EOS>