What advice do you have for others considering BlueCat Adaptive DNS?

In our case, it has been a challenge to make sure we get the correct information. We are using some additional tools to get that corrected. One of the things we've purchased is Forward Networks, which discovers your network and all the devices and all the connections. We are populating Integrity from that data. So if a subnet no longer exists, it will delete it, and if host records are no longer on the network, it will delete them. It will also discover and add subnets that we may not have known about, such as when some remote site has a subnet that is not represented in Integrity. If someone at an organization doesn't think that they need a full-stack DDI management solution, I would have to ask them how they are handling it now. If you don't have an IPAM solution, and the size of your organization would be a big piece of it to get your return on investment, I can't see how you wouldn't. I know of a company that is managing all of its external zones manually, and there is a team of about four people handling that. They could probably do that with one person if they had the correct setup using Integrity.

I would rate BlueCat Integrity nine out of ten. The only negative is the complexity that can occur around migrations. BlueCat is not typically used to directly prevent downtime. While its DNS functionality helps resolve domain names, this depends entirely on how it's configured within your organization or solution. BlueCat doesn't actively support downtime prevention. Although it aids in the handover process between multiple DNS or DHCP servers, it offers no active functionality to prevent downtime for a single DNS server. Upgrading BlueCat Integrity requires some downtime, regardless of whether it's a physical or virtual appliance. The process involves setting up the new appliance and migrating the configuration from the old appliance. While virtual appliance migration typically takes under an hour, physical appliance upgrades require additional time for installation and initial setup. The configuration transfer is relatively quick, simply importing and exporting existing settings. If someone believes they don't need a full DDI solution, I recommend they first verify their IP address management is accurate and all allocated addresses are being utilized effectively. They should also confirm their DNS is functioning correctly and that critical services are operating as expected. There's a high chance of misconfigurations or outdated settings that could lead to downtime or security vulnerabilities. This is where a dedicated DDI solution can provide comprehensive management and prevent potential issues. New users should understand their organization's IP structure and DNS configurations before implementing BlueCat for a smooth experience. It is important to be familiar with DDI technologies.

I would recommend a DDI solution like BlueCat Integrity if you have more than 100 users at multiple locations. BlueCat provides plugins for various applications, such as ServiceNow and Cisco Umbrella. They have plugins for many applications, but we do not use these plugins. BlueCat Integrity is a very easy tool. If you know what you are doing, you can do it in a minute. I would rate BlueCat Integrity an eight out of ten.

To those individuals at an organization who don't think that they need a full-stack integrated DDI management solution, I'd say the biggest selling point is availability and uptime. If you have to patch a Windows operating system, which is probably the largest competing product to BlueCat in the typical enterprise, if you have to worry about Windows patching, all those problems disappear. I'd rate the solution nine out of ten. I'd advise new users to get professional services engaged as quickly as they can. Don't try to manage it individually very complex organizations, and don't try to just learn it overnight. Spend a little bit of money and engage with professional services to get them to help you through your migration path.

I would rate BlueCat Integrity eight out of ten. The majority of our clients who use BlueCat Integrity are enterprise customers. Once BlueCat Integrity is deployed there is no maintenance required. We did not face any challenges when integrating BlueCat Integrity into our client's systems. Even for organizations hesitant about needing a full-suite DDI management solution, BlueCat Integrity's time-saving features and cost-effectiveness make it a compelling choice. I recommend BlueCat Integrity to others.

I would rate BlueCat Integrity ten out of ten. We heavily rely on BlueCat Integrity, and it's been very dependable. When we demonstrate our network management to other teams, they're impressed by the level of control we have. There's very little to complain about – it's a well-architected and implemented solution. The built-in redundancy and global distribution are particularly helpful, contributing significantly to its overall effectiveness. Apart from system updates, no maintenance is required for BlueCat Integrity. For those who say they don't need a full-stack integrated DDI management solution, I simply offer good luck. Dedicated DDI solutions provide far greater visibility compared to less mature options. This is crucial – without it, we'd be flying blind. Security is paramount for our company as well. A reliable vendor should quickly release patches for any Common Criteria Evaluation issues affecting our DNS, DHCP, and IT infrastructure. This allows us to swiftly update our security team and maintain a proactive stance. Remember, while DNS, DHCP, and IPAM aren't complex products, they are critically important. A single vulnerability can cripple the entire company. A proper response and vendor support during high-impact situations are essential. While the need for a solution like BlueCat Integrity scales with company size, even smaller organizations benefit from the peace of mind and efficiency it offers. Frankly, having experienced the advantages of DDI solutions, I wouldn't dream of working without one today. For a smooth experience with BlueCat Integrity, prioritize initializing your IPAM component. Updating BlueCat with all your IP addresses upfront helps prevent future management challenges. Since IPAM can be complex, leverage automation as much as possible to automatically collect IP address information. Additionally, security is paramount when dealing with DNS, so always prioritize security best practices.

I rate BlueCat Integrity nine out of 10. If you have a decent-sized network, you will have errors and gaps. Those spreadsheets and other systems are inadequate in today's changing world. Things move around so much, and having more automated and integrated solutions frees your engineers to do more worthwhile and advanced things. I would recommend Integrity to companies managing large networks. We've tried other leading vendors and systems in this space. While some of them have small cost advantages, they lack flexibility and features. We've had plenty of mergers and acquisitions, so we've seen the systems other companies used, and Integrity has always exceeded those.

I would rate BlueCat Integrity nine out of ten. We have five users within our organization. Our client is an enterprise organization. I recommend BlueCat Integrity to others.

For a medium-sized company, having a DNS solution is essential. Whether it's BlueCat, Infoblox, or another option, it's crucial for smooth operations. While it's technically possible to work with Linux Spine or other solutions like F5 DNS, they are often challenging to manage due to the absence of a graphical user interface. Having a dedicated DNS solution tailored for medium-sized companies, like BlueCat, is indispensable for scalability and efficiency. Before implementing BlueCat, it's advisable to ensure that employees undergo training. You may consider requesting an evaluation license from BlueCat to set up a lab for training resources dedicated to working on the BlueCat DNS solution. Additionally, exploring a POC could be beneficial. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

I would rate BlueCat Integrity a nine out of ten. BlueCat Integrity is a fantastic product that's never let me down in my infrastructure. Since deploying and signing it up, it's been rock-solid and exceeded expectations. BlueCat Integrity is deployed throughout our entire company, including both the corporate headquarters and individual departments. We have it operational in four data centers strategically located around the world: the East Coast and West Coast of the United States, Amsterdam, and the APAC region. This infrastructure supports all 150 of our enterprise offices worldwide, as well as 400 Green Light Hubs or customer success centers. It automatically assigns IP addresses to all these locations, serving our 40,000 employees. In addition to the occasional unscheduled security patch, they release regular quarterly updates to address any bugs or issues. This is the primary focus of our maintenance efforts, ensuring the platform stays up-to-date and secure. Using a full-stack integrated DDI management solution has significantly improved my understanding of our environment's address space allocation. It clarifies which addresses are assigned via protocols like DHCP and reveals the existing DNS records. Under a single pane of glass, managing these services takes much less time. As a DDI professional, I strongly believe we should always consider these services as one, not three separate components. Viewing them individually creates significant gaps while recognizing them as a unified whole removes these disparities. Whether BlueCat Integrity is right for you depends on your specific needs. For some organizations, like ours, it was a game-changer when we were scaling rapidly. We needed a service that could grow with us, and BlueCat fit the bill perfectly. However, smaller companies might not require the sheer power and features that BlueCat offers. It's a sophisticated tool, and simply clicking buttons in the UI won't unlock its full potential. But if you're committed to building automation and robust processes around your DDI stack, then BlueCat is worth exploring.

I give BlueCat Integrity a ten out of ten. BlueCat Integrity does not require maintenance. There are no specific patches and the solution updates automatically so we don't have any additional downtime. The value and security that BlueCat Integrity adds to an organization demonstrates the value of a full-stack integrated DDI management solution. BlueCat Integrity is the most reliable DDI solution with awesome customer support. Whenever we have any issues or urgent customer or business needs, they are always there to help. We call them and they immediately start working on the issue, and they come up with a solution quickly. We can usually implement the solution within one or two days. Their customer support is that good.

I would rate BlueCat Integrity eight out of ten.

I would rate BlueCat Integrity eight out of ten. BlueCat Integrity is deployed in our corporate environment across multiple locations around the world.

We use the API to do certain calls, however, not with ServiceNow or any other ITSM. It's more for other really technical tools that need specific kinds of information. We don’t really do integrations. To anyone at an organization who doesn't think they need a full stack integrated management solution, I'd say, actually, this is an absolute must-have. Automation really is the biggest driver. I could not see how someone could ever do any meaningful automation without having this kind of platform. Also in terms of security, it's important for security initiatives. You simply need to have the visibility of your network. That's another big one. If a person is interested in the solution, it's important to evaluate the product. Look for a reference customer and dig into the possibilities of the product. I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

I give BlueCat Integrity a ten out of ten. I suggest that any organization which doesn't believe they require a comprehensive, integrated DDI management solution should consider utilizing the consultation services offered by BlueCat Integrity. This will help them understand the value it brings. I recommend that organizations try BlueCat Integrity, as they will love it.

I give BlueCat Integrity a ten out of ten.

Make sure you have your data available. You should have your IPAM data and your DNS data. You need to be able to bring it in, so you need to have a mechanism to pull that. You can test the solution, probably in a small VMware environment. It doesn't have to be cloud. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. If you have a small lab, you can probably throw this together. To someone at an organization who doesn’t think that they need a full-stack, integrated DDI management solution, I'd say that I don't care how big or how small an organization you are. You need some type of solution to manage your network. You need to have at least some type of IPAM. You need something that's going to keep track of your network space and your DNS space. You need to be able to look at it at a glance and be able to manage those systems and make changes on the fly. Whether you're a small school or a small business, you need to have something. Overall, I'd rate it a nine out of ten. The reason why I rate it a nine is the documentation. I've always had problems with their documentation.

It provides a good service and experience. There is a single pane of glass, and Address Manager provides a full view of everything. Most solutions do have that, but the big thing for me is stability and not having any issues for a long time. When we had Infoblox, the remote sites would die pretty often. All of the sudden, the site wouldn't receive IP addresses because the little box at the site died. You have to go and either kill the process completely or reboot the device. That was a problem. I have not seen that with BlueCat. We have more than 15 appliances at different locations, not just a single one. Over the past two years that I've been around, none has gone down. To someone at an organization who doesn’t think that they need a full-stack, integrated DDI management solution, I would say that in our current situation, for some reason, we ended up not combining DHCP and DNS. We only had the DHCP and then DNS was being done by AD. That caused us a tremendous amount of problems in terms of just integrating systems and so on. So, it would make more sense to have an integrated full stack of it so that it's doing everything that you need instead of having it piecemeal. That became very prominent when we were doing our merger with the new company. They were using the full stack of it, and we were not. Overall, I'd rate it a 10 out of 10.

I rate the solution a seven out of ten.