InfoBlox announced BloxOne DDI — a cloud-managed service that extends network services to branch offices. The company claims the service will help enterprises fully realize the benefits of SD-WAN, simplify IT management, and improve uptime and reliability.

DDI services integrate domain name systems (DNS), dynamic host configuration protocol (DCHP), and IP address management into a unified platform.

BloxOne DDI is aimed at enterprises operating a large number of remote offices around the globe, allowing them to deploy, manage, and optimize these various functions. It is sold a virtual appliance, which can be implemented as a virtual machine or container, or optionally as a white box. Once the service is deployed across an organization's branch offices, network services can be managed at scale from the cloud using templates to define policy.

According to PG Menon, director of product marketing at InfoBlox, the service was developed in response to market trends: namely the widespread migration to the cloud, adoption of SD-WAN, and increased dependance on software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications like Microsoft Office 365.

"What's happening is people are taking workloads out of the data center and moving it to Amazon, Azure, and Google," Menon said. "When that happens you have workloads spinning up in the cloud that have a whole different set of IP addresses, DNS, DHCP, and coordinating that is becoming extremely difficult. So, a unified common platform to manage DNS, DHCP and IP addresses becomes even more useful."

According to Brandon Butler, an analyst at IDC cited in the BloxOne DDI announcement, DNS, DHCP, and IPAM critical, but often overlooked as enterprises adopt SD-WAN. “A new lightweight DDI solution is needed that allows organizations to execute DDI functions in the branch,” he said. “This allows DNS queries to be resolved locally, without having to backhaul to a datacenter. It allows enterprises to get the full value of their SD-WAN deployments and provides direct connections to public cloud platforms.” 

For enterprises with a significant presence — whether it be manufacturing, hospitality, or retail — a managed DDI can have significant benefits, said Menon. The biggest advantage is local survivability should a remote office get cut off from headquarters.

"Imagine if you're a manufacturing plant in Puerto Rico, and there is a hurricane, and you get cut off from headquarters in New Jersey," he said. "This manufacturer comes to a complete halt because their IP phones can't come up because they don't have an IP address."

With BloxOne DDI, Menon said the company's SD-WAN would continue to operate as intended the manufacturing plant could continue work uninterrupted.

The second advantage is local internet breakout, which can reduce latency and improve SaaS performance by ensuring branch offices are connecting to the closest entry point.

"If you've got a branch office in Miami and your head office is in Boise Idaho, you don't want to backhaul your traffic to Boise, Idaho," he said. "In fact, you don't want to have anything to do with Boise, Idaho, because all your applications are in the cloud. You want to enter the internet close to Miami."

Menon notes that while it's possible to achieve similar results using dedicated hardware or open-source software, these approaches can be both expensive and time-intensive to set up and manage.

BloxOne DDI is expected to be available in mid October.