IP, an acronym for Internet Protocol, was earlier defined as a part of a suite called TCP (Transfer Control Protocol) or IP. For instance, 192.168.52.18 is an IP address. IP addresses are located between 192.168.0.0 and 192.168.255.255. IP addresses are based on the interconnection of an individual’s networks that address the packets to be transmitted across a network or through Internet such that every Internet location is identified by an IP address only. So we see IP addresses are very important an instrument for all internet users. They form an important constituent of any corporate network. Many large as well as small companies use IP addresses excessively with more applications and devices as compared to previous times. At the same time, the management of IP addresses in any network is another critical aspect. Every networked application and device, whether email services, web connectivity, file storage or networked printers, relies on IP and this requires address assignment. This is a big challenge in itself with the advent of new core services in the industry such as VoIP, while mobile networks enhance IP address assignment needs, which requires more robust allocation, classification, and locating of addresses, also collectively known as IP Address Management (or IPAM). IPAM allow administrators to get rid of network conflicts and outages, keep a track of important assets and also ascertain network security by provision of reports in sync with a number of parameters, such as IP address status, whether it is dynamic, static, reserved, available, etc., MAC address, hostnames and DHCP lease data, such as lease date & time, pending time on lease, time of last renewal, and so on.

A network administrator or a security officer requires real time access to IPAM data primarily, in order to be able to immediately access information on IP addresses in use, the time they were allocated, what devices were they assigned to and who is consuming them. This is very crucial information required for identifying potential network abuse or security breaches by internal or foreign users. IP addresses management assigned through a network also helps in regulatory compliance, since mandates like Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) need administrators to monitor and control who has access to, what from where.

A majority of companies have been running without having a proper IPAM strategy, which now realise the importance of the same and cannot go further without it. For the right solution one needs to do some homework to understand his company’s IPAM needs and the potential clients should start familiarising themselves with the new IPAM solution alternatives as well.



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