IP Address Management Best Practices

Effective IPAM requires proper allocation of address space across the enterprise including extensions into private and public cloud services, so there is adequate address capacity where it’s needed when it’s needed. Best practices IPAM also entails accurate configuration of DHCP servers for dynamic address users, including differentiation of employees versus “guests”, as well as accurate and timely configuration of DNS servers so resources can be accessed easily. Sometimes referred to as DHCP-DNS-IPAM or "DDI", we refer to this collectively as stemming from the root function, IPAM.

When these behind-the-scenes tasks are flawlessly executed, network users don’t need to contact the help desk with complaints about accessing the network. In addition to flawlessly configuring and managing each of these three foundational elements of IPAM, the IP address manager must also cohesively integrate these three areas collectively and integrate these management functions into the broader IT network management environment.

Another core function of IPAM involves its importance in facilitating overall network security. With nearly every IP transaction beginning with a DNS query, it behooves network security specialists to observe DNS transactions to monitor and detect potentially nefarious intent. IPAM’s role and impacts on network security planning are highlighted in this paper and extended in more detail in a companion white paper, DNS Security Strategies, and we invite you to read that paper as well for more details on the various DNS vulnerabilities, detection methods and mitigation approaches.

This white paper provides IT professionals a guide for how to effectively execute IPAM tasks and recommends best practices for simplifying the IPAM process. These best practices are derived from the Cygna Labs Diamond IP leadership team’s collective experience in the IP management space obtained through numerous implementations of IPAM systems, managing customer IPAM environments, and frequent interactions with end users and industry analysts.