Modern technology has become an integral part of so many industries, and any business that wants to survive and thrive in the modern world needs to be ready, willing, and able to embrace technological innovations and move with the times, seeking upgrades and advancements as and when necessary in order to keep up with the competition.
Nowhere is this more important than in the field of networking. It doesn’t matter what kind of business you’re running, you probably make use of different devices each and every day. The average office, for example, can contain many computers, printers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and more, all needing access to secure networks and all with their own individual IP addresses.
As more and more of those IP addresses are added to the network, it can become more and more challenging to keep everything under control. This is where IP address planning solutions and IPAM (IP address management) come into play. IPAM is all about registering and handling IP addresses across your business network, and it can be quite complex.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that many businesses find themselves searching for IPAM solutions to take care of IP-related matters more easily and conveniently. But there are a lot of those solutions out there, and it can be tricky, especially for business owners who are less tech-savvy, to know which one to choose. Here are some key questions to ponder when trying to find the best IPAM solution.
Can This Solution Scale to Meet Our Needs?
Scalability is of huge importance in many areas of business. Over time, businesses can grow and shrink in size, depending on decisions, rate of growth, mergers, acquisitions, downsizing, changes in the industry, and so on. You need to be able to adapt your digital systems and solutions, scaling them up or down to meet the changing needs of your business.
When it comes to IPAM solutions, some are far more scalable than others. Certain solutions can be altered almost in the blink of an eye, adding or subtracting resources as needed to match the changing size of your company. Others are far less efficient in this field, so if your company is expected to grow in the future, you need to make sure you find an IPAM solution that can grow with you.
Is This IPAM Solution Secure?
In this day and age, cybersecurity is of the utmost importance to the vast majority of businesses. No matter how big or small your company happens to be or what sector you work in, you could be a target of the millions of cyber-attacks that happen every single day, and it’s vital to invest in strong cybersecurity solutions to protect your data and business against these kinds of attacks.
Cybersecurity extends to IP address management too. The best IPAM solutions are able to offer high standards of cybersecurity, protecting your devices and networks from intruders and viral infections, so it’s reasonable to say that your choice of IPAM management could have a true impact on how strong your business’ defenses are against hackers, malware, and very costly data leaks.
How Easy Is This IPAM Solution to Use?
When it comes to choosing IPAM solutions, ease of use is another big factor to take into account. After all, many businesses, especially small businesses and start-ups, don’t have the budget or resources to be able to have extensive IT departments with lots of trained professionals ready to handle the day to day management of complex IPAM systems. These businesses are looking for simple, seamless, straightforward solutions to handle IP addresses as easily as possible.
It makes sense, therefore, to look for IPAM solutions that are rated as easy to set up and migrate to by other users. Otherwise you could face a lot of challenges when it comes to switching out your existing DDI infrastructure to a new provider or migrating network data to a new system. In other words, a good quality IPAM solution will be quick and easy to set up and use, while a lesser product will be time-consuming and inconvenient for all.
Final Word
The right IPAM solution can offer so many advantages for your business, improving your cybersecurity, strengthening your network management, and providing you with a fully scalable solution to work with you as your business grows. However, with so many options of different quality levels out there, it’s vital to make the right choice. Hopefully, this guide can help you identify the perfect IPAM product for you.