

BlueCat Integrity and IBM NS1 Connect compete in the DNS, DHCP, and IPAM solutions category. BlueCat Integrity is noted for its robust stability and comprehensive management, giving it an edge in infrastructure reliability, while IBM NS1 Connect's API-first approach offers superior automation and real-time telemetry.
Features: BlueCat Integrity provides a stable and user-friendly platform with robust automation and advanced DNS functionalities, known for its Linux-based reliability. It supports comprehensive DNS, DHCP, and IPAM integration, delivering a flexible single pane of glass view. IBM NS1 Connect emphasizes infrastructure automation and real-time telemetry. Its strengths include DNS management, geo-load balancing, and latency detection, providing significant automation benefits and performance insights.
Room for Improvement: BlueCat Integrity needs improved automation with newer IPv6 technologies, enhanced reporting formats, and built-in tools for bulk operations. It also faces challenges in high availability across different subnets and complex configuration management. IBM NS1 Connect's monitoring reliability requires enhancement due to false positives. There is demand for a more robust API and a better UI for detailed searches and reporting.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: BlueCat Integrity accommodates on-premises, hybrid, and cloud setups, with highly-rated customer service and fast support. Some users report occasional slow technical support response times. IBM NS1 Connect is primarily cloud-focused, ideal for enterprises preferring cloud deployments. Its technical support is knowledgeable but can experience delayed response times, contrasting with BlueCat's more responsive service model.
Pricing and ROI: BlueCat Integrity is more expensive yet offers substantial ROI through reduced downtime, improved IT productivity, and automation-led cost savings. It balances its higher cost with essential features and superior service. IBM NS1 Connect's pricing is competitive, reducing total ownership costs while delivering valuable functionalities. Users appreciate its aggressive pricing strategy compared to other options in the market.
As we are migrating other tools into this one, there can be 30% to 40% cost savings.
We did see a return on investment as we only have a team of six who are managing BlueCat Integrity infrastructure 24/7, and with the help of automation, we were able to reduce the headcount as we automated most of the requests using BlueCat Integrity API.
The consolidation of five different tools into one BlueCat solution did provide savings.
I have definitely seen a return on investment with IBM NS1 Connect as it has given our organization more control and flexibility in managing DNS at a global scale, which almost was impossible before.
I have seen a return on investment with IBM NS1 Connect, as application uptime has improved by 40% to 45%.
At that tier, when you are willing to pay for it, their support level is impeccable.
I would give the support a score of 10.
The support from BlueCat was exceptional, as all issues were addressed without any major impacts, with support being very quick and faster compared to the previous vendor we had.
They are very proactive and supportive, available 24/7.
The customer support for IBM NS1 Connect is very proactive and responsive twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Currently, we are at over 150 BlueCat Integrity devices, running at least 70 primary mainstream hospitals and over 1,200 clinical locations.
If we have the virtual infrastructure up and ready, we can scale without a need for licensing.
Regarding scalability, our solution has so many servers and so much redundancy, and we did not even get into a point where we needed to add more servers because of load.
It has managed to handle all my organization's growth.
With the assistance of BlueCat Integrity and re-architecting, redesigning, and redeploying, our failure rate has gone to zero.
BlueCat Integrity is a platform that is mature and that we can trust.
We encountered a couple of situations where our BlueCat Integrity Address Manager was in a hung state, requiring us to rebuild it after performing an upgrade.
IBM NS1 Connect is very stable as I have not experienced any lagging or downtime.
IBM NS1 Connect is very stable.
One has to be very clear with their requirements in terms of what they want to achieve in the target design before making a purchase decision.
The API aspect could be improved with more use cases and better handling of object attributes.
In order to update this environment with 150 plus devices, I have to go through one at a time.
Pricing can be more transparent, especially when dealing with tight budgets.
DNS timeout issues should be resolved.
Our licensing model with BlueCat Integrity is cheaper than Infoblox.
I heard that it wasn't that expensive, and what BlueCat offered for the price was very worthwhile.
We did see a cost reduction in overall infrastructure as BlueCat Integrity offered services at much more effective rates compared to other OEMs.
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing of IBM NS1 Connect has been that it is one of the most cost-effective tools and very affordable.
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that the cost can be more transparent, especially for organizations working on a tight budget.
Centralized management is the number one and most critical advantage.
The primary benefit my previous company realized from using BlueCat Integrity was that it was very cost-effective.
BlueCat Integrity provides a single-pane-of-glass view of the IP address space through integration of all infrastructure with BlueCat Integrity's Address Manager.
The best features that IBM NS1 Connect offers include routing based on user verification, endpoint switching based on latency, DNS response time, real-time monitoring, intelligent traffic routing capabilities, API-driven functionality, HTTPS redirects, secondary DNS, and API integrations.
The intelligent traffic routing and API-driven features of IBM NS1 Connect have helped my team by allowing routing based on user location, endpoint switching based on latency, and DNS response time.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| BlueCat Integrity | 2.0% |
| IBM NS1 Connect | 2.5% |
| Other | 95.5% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 5 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 24 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Midsize Enterprise | 3 |
| Large Enterprise | 10 |
BlueCat Integrity simplifies IP address management by offering a centralized and scalable platform suitable for DNS and DHCP oversight. It reduces downtime and human error through robust automation and comprehensive transparency.
BlueCat Integrity is a powerful platform for centralized management of DNS and DHCP, providing single-pane transparency across IP space management. Its Linux-based architecture ensures system reliability and integration flexibility, crucial for effective cloud infrastructure management. Its automation capabilities help minimize human error while enhancing operational efficiency and maintaining compliance.
What are the key features of BlueCat Integrity?BlueCat Integrity has proven valuable in industries that demand reliable DNS and DHCP solutions. Organizations with complex DDI challenges, including public, internal DNS management, and cloud integration, find its features essential. This platform supports efficient and secure network operations across expansive infrastructures.
IBM NS1 Connect delivers comprehensive DNS management with features like DNSSEC, low latency, and intelligent traffic routing. It integrates seamlessly with automation tools, making it ideal for improving infrastructure management.
IBM NS1 Connect offers a robust DNS management platform combining security, speed, and reliability. Its API-driven functionality allows for seamless integration with Terraform and other tools, enhancing geolocation-aware capabilities and real-time performance monitoring. Smart Domains ensure optimal routing, while Pulsar boosts user experience. Real-time telemetry and intelligent traffic routing minimize load times, contributing to efficient service delivery and application uptime. Recommendations for improvement include enhancing DNS timeout resolutions and providing educational resources for networking novices.
What are IBM NS1 Connect's key features?In healthcare, IBM NS1 Connect enhances CDN routing and facilitates efficient DNS management. Financial institutions leverage its geo-load balancing capabilities for secure transaction processing. E-commerce brands use its low latency and automation features to improve website responsiveness and reduce error rates. Telecom companies benefit from its API integration, allowing for seamless upgrades and network optimizations.
We monitor all Managed DNS reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.