Key Criteria for Evaluating DDI Solutionsv1.0

An Evaluation Guide for Technology Decision Makers

Table of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. DDI Primer
  3. Report Methodology
  4. Decision Criteria Analysis
  5. Evaluation Metrics
  6. Key Criteria: Impact Analysis
  7. Analyst’s Take
  8. About Ivan McPhee

1. Summary

Private and public enterprise networks often span dozens of buildings, hundreds of locations, and thousands of users, each using multiple private and public IP addresses. Short for DNS-DHCP-IPAM, DDI is a collective term encompassing domain name systems (DNS), dynamic host configuration protocols (DHCP), and IP address management (IPAM). DNS associates IP addresses and hostnames to keep network traffic flowing, DHCP provides dynamic IP address assignment for devices or users accessing the network, and IPAM manages all IP addresses across the network (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. DDI’s Three Core Components

Designed for server, network, and other infrastructure and operations professionals responsible for DNS, DHCP, and IP address allocation, DDI products help transform network management and reduce operating costs. Comprising DNS, DHCP, and IPAM capabilities within a single solution, DDI solutions enable enterprises to manage their IP address, DNS, and DHCP services to increase operating efficiencies and enhance overall availability and scalability to support corporate growth. DDI solutions comprise, among other features, network discovery, bidirectional APIs, DNS analytics, DNS firewalls, auditing, reporting, cloud integration, and Microsoft Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP integration.

The GigaOm Key Criteria and Radar reports provide an overview of the DDI market and highlight vendors and products that excel. This Key Criteria report identifies capabilities (table stakes, key criteria, and emerging technology) and evaluation metrics for selecting a DDI solution. The corresponding Radar report provides an overview of DDI vendors that excel. Together, these reports offer essential insights for managing IP services, helping decision-makers evaluate solutions before deciding where to invest.

How to Read this Report

This GigaOm report is one of a series of documents that helps IT organizations assess competing solutions in the context of well-defined features and criteria. For a fuller understanding, consider reviewing the following reports:

Key Criteria report: A detailed market sector analysis that assesses the impact that key product features and criteria have on top-line solution characteristics—such as scalability, performance, and TCO—that drive purchase decisions.

GigaOm Radar report: A forward-looking analysis that plots the relative value and progression of vendor solutions along multiple axes based on strategy and execution. The Radar report includes a breakdown of each vendor’s offering in the sector.

Solution Profile: An in-depth vendor analysis that builds on the framework developed in the Key Criteria and Radar reports to assess a company’s engagement within a technology sector. This analysis includes forward-looking guidance around both strategy and product.