IP address management

IP address management (IPAM) is a means of planning, tracking, and managing the address space used in a network.

IPAM integrates DNS and so that each is aware of changes in the other (for instance DNS knowing of the IP address taken by a client via DHCP, and updating itself accordingly). Additional functionality, such as controlling reservations in DHCP as well as other data aggregation and reporting capability, is also common.

IPAM tools are increasingly important as new IPv6 networks are deployed with larger address pools, different subnetting techniques, and more complex 128-bit hexadecimal numbers which are not as easily human-readable as IPv4 addresses. IPv6 networking, mobile computing, and multihoming require more dynamic address management.

When it comes to network and machine security, access to IPAM data can make it far easier to detect potential breaches or abuse within your infrastructure. IPAM data include information such as the IP addresses in use, what devices each IP is assigned to, the time each was assigned and to whom each IP was assigned. This information can be helpful in identifying patterns that indicate security breaches or other abuses of your network. Of course, preventing or bringing to an end such security issues is of extreme importance in order to maintain data integrity and the health of your network and systems.

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Wikipedia