subject: Need for automated IPAM solutions [print this page] Need for automated IPAM solutions Need for automated IPAM solutions
In today's electronic age, nearly all enterprises across the world rely on TCP/IP networking for core business services. A network supports both critical business applications like ERP, customer or sales force management, etc. and supporting functions such as file storage, company e-mail and web. Intranets also link enterprises with their stakeholders.
Every device on a network uses IP addresses and DNS records. IP addresses allow devices to communicate with each other and DNS information names devices in a way that humans can read and access them without having to know the specific IP address. The onus of IP address management falls on the network team. The task of Internet Protocol Address Management, or IPAM, as it is commonly called, comprises planning, assigning and tracking IP address space accurately.
Knowing that a network outage can literally cripple a company, an increasing number of managers are opting for an automated IP address management solution. An automated IPAM solution reduces the risk of errors, makes research faster and more efficient and also reduces IP management expenses.
An automated IPAM takes a strategic approach to network management with features such as a centralized database, diagnostics and automated reporting. It mitigates the risks of network downtime, reliability and security. IPAM tools help in generating automatic utilization reports, updating important network elements and re-numbering IP addresses easily.
An IPAM solution allows customized views of IP address space and domain names, supports integration with the enterprise's existing information infrastructure and automatically collects information, saving staff time. Besides, a good IPAM solution seamlessly accommodates the scalability of your business in the future and saves time and money by eliminating the need to request additional IP address space from service providers.
Network teams often experience that tracking IP subnet allocations in spreadsheets manually results in numerous errors, duplicate allocations and delays without accountability. Automated IPAM removes such cases of human errors by eliminating the communication of conflicting information across configuration files and spreadsheets and allowing the user to see exactly which changes are made by whom.
The importance of the network and IP Address Management will only increase over time, making it as essential as electricity. Taking a disciplined network management approach, an automated IPAM will deliver immediate as well as long-term benefits like virtually halving network expenses. An automated IPAM solution will assist an enterprise's network teams manage changes and effectively take the company into the future.
