The management of thousands of IP-connected devices can be a huge task for many businesses. However, imagine having to determine the IP address assigned to every device, when the DHCP lease is expiring or what happens when an IP is changed? Here, you’ll learn what exactly is IPAM and what are the IPAM components as well as the advantages of using IPAM and many more. Learn more on this topic cybersecurity!
What Is IPAM?
IPAM Also called Internet Protocol Address Management, is a method of managing IP addresses within the corporate environment which allows for the organization, tracking and alteration of information that is related to the IP space for addressing.
What Is an IP Address?
An IP address refers to a series of numbers which identify the connected device to the internet. It determines where information is going to go. The method it uses to do that is to assign an unique address to every device. For computers to communicate with one another, they must be assigned an IP address so that information can get sent to the correct computer.
IP addresses usually take the format of four numbers separated by a period. For instance, 192.168.1.5 or 1002:c980:e24d:fb90:f92b:3df9:834f:e0bb.
What Are the Components of IPAM?
IPAM comprises three components: IP Address Inventory Management and the Domain Name Service (DNS) Management as well as the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Management.
#1. IP Address Inventory Management
The IPAM inventory includes planning, collecting information, allocating, and coordinating the IP addresses of your organization. Additionally, it keeps live updates on IPs and their state within networks to ensure that your company’s fixed IP space is utilized in a way that is appropriate.
#2. Domain Name Service (DNS) Management
This is among the main reasons why it offers users rapid and reliable access to Internet content. The DNS is the one that supports an Internet connectivity of the business is a centralized network operated by various companies across the globe. In essence, it consists of the owners of top-level and root-level domain servers as well as recursive names services and authoritative name services provided via the managed DNS operators, as well as domain registrars who manage domain names.
#3. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Management
DHCP is an operational protocol in the network which is used to assign static as well as permanent IP addresses to approved IoT devices. DHCP servers facilitate all the processes involved in assigning IP addresses and assist with the automatization and optimization of IP space within networks. To ensure the security and availability of IP addresses, they must be correctly configured, utilized, monitored, and maintained.
How Does IPAM Work?
IPAM broadly speaking is a system that works with its Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) as well as it is also known as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and also neighbourhood scanning. These protocols allow for IPAM to access data from every device that is part of your network. For example, the other one that I have mentioned earlier, SNMP is a protocol that has the function of aggregating and arranging data related to IP networks devices. This is crucial when changing or altering the performance of a device cybersecurity.
IPAM is able to succeed in controlling the IP ranges on your network due to the fact that it gathers all the necessary data through these monitoring and technical tools.
Automated IPAM is different from. Manual IPAM
It doesn’t matter how big the size of the IP address pool, managing IPAM by hand using spreadsheets isn’t a viable option to implement. However, it may be effective for smaller networks situated in a single geographic area. These networks can be switched to IPAM solutions which are open source rather than using spreadsheets.
But managing IP addresses using spreadsheets shouldn’t be in the question for companies that are global since administrators are wasting lots of time managing IP addresses. Additionally it is possible to make errors in the end when setting up the network.
Furthermore, large corporations have a lot of devices connected to the network. That is the reason using an automated IPAM solution is always better than manual ones.
The Link Between IPAM and DHCP
There are many who find the relationship between an IP address management program and an DHCP server as confusing.
This is that IPAM is usually available all the time in bundles together with the DHCP server. Even in the event that it is sold on its own it needs DHCP integration. However, certain DHCP servers also come with IPAM capabilities.
A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server is an application that makes it easy for administrators to configure the computers of clients in networks cybersecurity. It functions in a way of leasing IP addresses as well as different configuration options to clients connected to the network.
In contrast in the case of the sole use of a DHCP server, you’ll be able to share the IP addresses in accordance with IP allocation rules; however you won’t have a comprehensive IP pool view.
IPv4 vs. IPv6
IPv4 is the latest generation of Internet protocols. However, this isn’t enough considering the explosive development that is the web.
It utilizes 128-bit addresses instead of 32 bits, which allows the number of IP addresses available on the web to become 1028 times larger. This makes it much more difficult to exhaust the number of IP addresses that use IPv6.
While it is true that the IPv4 protocol was in use for quite a while, it is now at its limits. In 2016 the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers cautioned about this problem and advised users to adopt IPv6 as soon as they can.
In terms of IPAM It is important to know that a lot of modern IPAM solutions can support both types of IP versions. Some assist networks in making the transition from v4 V6 with ease. So, before selecting a solution for this it is worth whether it supports both protocols.
IPAM Challenges
The IPAM market has changed over time with a wide range of vendors catering to various needs. However, challenges still remain. A few of these issues are the inability to interoperate as well as incompatibility among systems and the lack of standardisation in data models cybersecurity. Other issues might be related to automation and scalability that result in needing highly-skilled administrators for this task.
Benefits of Using IPAM Solutions
What do microservices and databases, software, applications and other technological advancements share in common? It’s simple – they all require IP addresses. In addition, with high demand come huge management cybersecurity issues. To ensure that devices can successfully establish coordination and communication it’s essential to ensure that they have those IP addresses.
Here are the top IPAM benefits that you need to know about:
1. It Creates a Centralized Repository for Accurate Records
With IPAM the companies can create an inventory of subnets, networks, and IP addresses that are both public and private. Additionally, administrators will be able keep precise and up-to-date records on IP assignments and addresses that are available so that they do not run over IP addresses. IPAM will be able to provide particulars such as cybersecurty:
- Space allocated to IP addresses for free or assigned
- Status of IP addresses’ status
- Hostnames for IP addresses’ IP addresses
- IP addresses’ hardware
- Subnet size and current users
2. It Simplifies Administration Tasks
IPAM simplifies and automates many IP space management administrative tasks like DHCP configuration of settings and the writing of DNS records. It also improves visibility across IP resources across platforms, in real-time updates, automation of DNS-DHCP configurations, built-in reports and efficiency of data collection.
3. It Provides Reduced Complexity
To simplify the management of IP addresses, IPAM employs a single central repository, which contains IP address space data taken from RIR (Regional Internet Registry). In this way, administrators of networks can manage both private and public IP address plans, and also identify networks and gather data on the connected hosts.
4. It Enhances Reliability
Unconfigured subnets, misconfigurations, as well as IP address conflict that arise from growing networks cybersecurity could have negative effects on an network of the entire organization and can create more work for administrators of networks.
5. It Provides High-End Security for Network and Connected Devices
The detection of potential cybersecurity breaches or abuse of devices in the company’s network is an essential task for the administrator.
6. It Fulfils Compliance Requirements and Audit Trails
In addition to a central repository of IP addresses, IPAM aids the business in providing crucial information for keeping regulatory compliance. In particular, IPAM could provide information about network IP address logs, as well as related data.
7. It Maintains Network Health
IP address conflict and duplicates can pose serious problems for the majority of companies. While IPAM is able to meet the requirements of security and compliance, it also gives information on the status of the IP address and the state of the network of the company and also an assessment of the health of the network cybersecurity with a variety of aspects of IP addresses–whether static, dynamic or reserved.