In today’s tech landscape, the traditional separation between “internal” and “external” networks is becoming increasingly blurred. As a result, the management of network elements and systems has also become intertwined. This integration has led to a situation where DNS, DHCP, and IP Address Management (DDI) systems, originally designed for internal network management, are also being utilized for external, authoritative DNS functions.

While the convenience of using DDI solutions for authoritative DNS may seem appealing, there are significant drawbacks to this approach.

The Drawbacks of Using DDI for Authoritative DNS

Security Concerns

Running authoritative DNS on the same infrastructure as internal DDI systems increases the vulnerability to DDoS attacks, potentially disrupting both internal and external operations simultaneously. This integrated approach amplifies the impact of outages and complicates recovery efforts.

Scalability Challenges

DDI solutions are often inadequate in handling the scale and geographical distribution required for authoritative DNS. As companies expand, the limitations of DDI solutions become more apparent, resulting in degraded user experiences and application performance.

Architectural Limitations

The architectural constraints of DDI solutions, particularly those utilizing BIND, hinder their capability to efficiently support common authoritative DNS functions such as ALIAS records at the apex and traffic steering, essential for optimizing user experience.

Cost Considerations

While deploying DDI solutions for authoritative DNS may seem cost-effective initially, the long-term expenses associated with infrastructure maintenance, capacity limitations, and required specialized resources make it less economical compared to managed DNS services.

Transitioning from DDI to Managed Authoritative DNS

To mitigate the challenges associated with using DDI solutions for authoritative DNS, companies can consider transitioning to a managed DNS provider like NS1. NS1’s managed DNS solution offers enhanced global coverage, resilience, and functionality at a fraction of the cost of maintaining DDI infrastructure.

Starting with NS1 as a secondary option for authoritative DNS allows organizations to gradually transition their traffic, mitigating operational risks and allowing for a seamless cutover process.

Ready to explore the benefits of NS1’s Managed DNS solution over DDI? Contact NS1 today to initiate a proof of concept.

By Senior Director, Product Marketing

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important to separate authoritative DNS from internal DDI systems?

Separating authoritative DNS from internal DDI systems reduces the risk of simultaneous network downtime and provides better scalability, security, and functionality for external operations.

What are the benefits of transitioning to a managed DNS solution like NS1?

Managed DNS solutions offer expanded global coverage, improved resilience, and a wider range of functionality at a lower cost compared to traditional DDI infrastructure.

How can companies transition from DDI to managed authoritative DNS seamlessly?

Companies can start by using a managed DNS provider like NS1 as a secondary option, gradually migrating traffic and workloads to the new system, minimizing operational risks during the transition.