IBM NS1 Connect vs Infoblox BloxOne DDI comparison

IBM and Infoblox are both solutions in the Managed DNS category. IBM is ranked #12, while Infoblox is ranked #8 with an average rating of 10.0. IBM holds a 1.2% mindshare in MDP, compared to Infoblox’s 0.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 66% of Infoblox users who would recommend it.

IBM NS1 Connect

Read 11 IBM NS1 Connect reviews

2,000 Views
995 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Infoblox BloxOne DDI

Read 3 Infoblox BloxOne DDI reviews

140 Views
75 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

IBM NS1 Connect

Infoblox BloxOne DDI

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM NS1 Connect and Infoblox BloxOne DDI based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Managed DNS solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM NS1 Connect vs. Infoblox BloxOne DDI Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM NS1 Connect vs. Infoblox BloxOne DDI

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM NS1 Connect

Ranking in Managed DNS

12th

Average Rating

9.6

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Infoblox BloxOne DDI

Ranking in Managed DNS

8th

Average Rating

9.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

IP Address Management (IPAM) Tools (6th), DDI (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Managed DNS category, the mindshare of IBM NS1 Connect is 1.2%, down from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Infoblox BloxOne DDI is 0.2%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Managed DNS

Featured Reviews

Adam Surak

VP of Infrastructure & Security at Algolia

Handles customer-facing records and upstream selection logic with good efficiency

We leverage two things from Managed DNS that we couldn't do with any other solution. One is their filter chain technology, which allows us to shift some of the intelligence we need for the traffic steering to the DNS. The second one is data sources, which enables us to manipulate multiple records simultaneously using NS1's internal message DOS. In our case, we are trying to direct the traffic in over 150,000 different NS1 records to an arbitrary set of repeating responses. If we have about 1,000 endpoints, that translates to around 150,000 records. Assuming there's an even distribution, so every time a server fails or an endpoint goes on a level, we would have 150 updates. With NS1, we have one, so this had an even more significant effect. There are situations where we have thousands of specific records sharing the same responses. In that case, there is one update instead of thousands and thousands. When we chose Managed DNS in 2014, it was the only solution that could do what we wanted, but I'm not sure about the current state of the market. The NS1 API is an API on top of a managed DNS. It's not an afterthought. It's not like the solution existed. Someone was sending updates by email. Then a product manager came along and said, "Hey, there is this cool thing. It's called an API. Maybe we should do it?" And they are like, "Okay. Let's do it." In the case of NS1, they thought about how to use an API to manipulate and retrieve the stuff. It's supposed to be API-driven. Also, NS1 doesn't have hidden features that would not be available over the API. Even their dashboard is built on top of the API. You can leverage all the functionality programmatically. That's what we do. We don't use their native integrations because we have been customers before these integrations and real-time telemetry existed. Our solution isn't leveraging either of those. Instead, we leveraged their API integration, which was the first thing that existed. Indeed, the API is at the core of how we use Managed DNS. No one goes to the dashboard or manually clicks anything. Everything goes via the API, and we perform hundreds of changes every minute. The API automatically drives everything, so that's the integration we leverage. We don't use the Pulsar Active Steering feature because we don't have a website. Our solution is being used as an API for other solutions. You can put the Pulsar agent on the website and feed NS1 the information. In our case, we are integrating into third-party sites. We cannot put our JavaScript on their websites for NS1 to provide the data, so we don't.

Read full review

Raj Metkar

Director, Head of Networks at MUFG, EMEA

Acts as a first line of defense, allows for full utilization of IP addresses in a network and the ability to block unwanted traffic using DNS is powerful

At this stage, we are struggling to use some of the DNS features of the platform, which are more about protecting your domain from hijacking and similar threats. However, I don't think it is a problem with the platform itself. It seems to be more of an integration issue with the secondary DNS provider we are trying to use on the Internet, called Cloudflare. So, it is more of an integration problem between Cloudflare DNS and any public DNS. I would like to improve the integration aspect of these two products. The platform should be able to work seamlessly with any other secondary DNS provider on the Internet. If Infoblox can make their licensing cheaper, then this platform could be widely used because it does cost a fortune to have it. That's why we do not have it in every entity that we manage.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"It massively speeds things up. Today, we allow developers to deploy services and have externally facing DNS scrapers that are created automatically without the addition of human intervention."

"Everything we download into our observability platform so that we can also track any changes in traffic behavior or things like that is also something that we use quite a lot. I'd say traffic management, the speed of updates, and observability are the top three things that we use."

"Monitoring is really important for us. We really care about reliability, and we want to make sure that we can remove some points of presence in our sector and in our edge network really fast when we experience any problems. So, monitoring that NS1 provides for DNS is really important for us."

"The fact that it's an API-first platform for DNS and application traffic management is one of the reasons we looked into NS1. We use it for a lot of automation and metrics gathering and it's been great."

"For starters, it integrates with Terraform and a lot of our infrastructure is effectively built out using Terraform. That makes all this stuff extremely easy... when we deploy, all the entries are created and configuration is done."

"The Filter Chain is one of the most valuable features, for geo-load balancing and geo-fencing. The Filter Chain is the most useful because it allows us to do several things. With geo-fencing we can redirect a particular user to a particular answer. That's very valuable for us. Filter Chains with monitoring is our strategy to provide redundancy."

"We leverage two things from Managed DNS that we couldn't do with any other solution. One is their filter chain technology, which allows us to shift some of the intelligence we need for the traffic steering to the DNS. The second one is data sources, which enables us to manipulate multiple records simultaneously using NS1's internal message DOS. In our case, we are trying to direct the traffic in over 150,000 different NS1 records to an arbitrary set of repeating responses."

"Their Pulsar filters allow us to collect RUM metrics from our users so that we can determine the best paths for our users to take. That has been very useful in providing the best user experience, and for responding to and recovering from downtime of our multiple CDNs."

More IBM NS1 Connect pros

"It actually prevents a lot of false alarms because if a link is blocked by antivirus, it creates an alert for the IT risk team to investigate. By not resolving the IP for a malicious link, it stops many issues before they escalate. This has improved our security posture significantly."

"The overall product rating is ten out of ten."

"A valuable feature is blocking domain generation, which automatically generates domains to protect the internal network."

"The most valuable features of Infoblox BloxOne DDI are its ability to manage all DDI services effectively and monitor them in real-time."

Cons

"There could maybe be additional ways to manage traffic. There are no major improvements we're looking for. It's a very complete solution."

"We care about monitoring and telemetry work, and NS1 provides a pretty good system for monitoring. We can monitor our endpoints and points of presence around the world. If there are any issues, we can easily remove them from our network, but this area needs some improvement because it is not always reliable in NS1. In the past, we had a number of false-positive cases when the monitoring system told us about some problems in our infrastructure that were not true. NS1 is improving the system, and we are constantly talking about this with them. I know that they are releasing a new version of their monitoring system, which is really important for us, but this is a different area where we would expect them to improve."

"When we first deployed, we flipped the switch, and it didn't work as well as we expected. It wasn't a complete outage, but we had issues in some places with some customers. The NS1 team went out of their way to resolve it on Thanksgiving. We have a post about it on our blog. We called it "Black Thursday.""

"I would love to see improvement in the testing capabilities they provide. They have a simulate-filter feature so that you can simulate how your traffic would flow, based on their Filter Chains. I believe that was shut off for quite some time. Having that as a way to test our load-balanced CDN structure would be fantastic."

"We use the geo load balancing functionality and there are a couple of things that are helpful there. But the language itself is something we had to get used to a little bit. Some of my folks made a few mistakes in rolling out the Filter Chain...The Filter Chain setup is a bit hard to grasp at first. It would also be nice to have a way to simulate changes in addition to staging."

"I would like to see the UI updated to allow me to do finer searches. I would also like to have the ability to get reports that can sort based on various metrics. For example, I would like to be able to say, "Show me the top 10 records by total queries" in an easy-to-digest format."

"We use our client in our infrastructure to communicate with NS1. This client is a bit complex in the way that it is set up. NS1 has their own client solution that you can deploy into your platform to do this, but even that is a bit complex. So, I would like a very simple, thin, light API agent that we can deploy into our platform to communicate with NS1. That would be welcome."

"The reporting metrics are great from an API standpoint, but it would be a little bit nicer if there was some type of dashboard around that. There should also be some type of reporting that's more executive-level focused."

More IBM NS1 Connect cons

"There is a need for a comprehensive database on DNS."

"Infoblox is fairly expensive for my customers. I am unsure if this is a general comment or specific to my situation."

"At this stage, we are struggling to use some of the DNS features of the platform, which are more about protecting your domain from hijacking and similar threats."

"Infoblox BloxOne DDI is good to use, but there could be improvements in its visualization and dashboarding UI."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Everything can always be cheaper, but as it is today the pricing is fair."

"The cost of this product is one of the reasons that we chose it."

"NS1's pricing is much more aggressive than its competitors in the market and you get more value out of what you pay for it."

"From a cost standpoint, it's certainly not the most expensive out there, and it's also not the cheapest, but it does well to balance the cost and the functionality/reliability."

"We pay about $30,000 a month. We used to pay about $20,000 with Dyn every month, for lower volume than we're doing right now, but it had none of the features that we have available with NS1, so it was worth it for us. It seems competitive for us, given that we're doing 4.5 billion requests."

"I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten, with ten being very expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

University

Financial Services Firm

20%

Manufacturing Company

20%

Computer Software Company

11%

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Infoblox BloxOne DDI?

Infoblox is fairly expensive for my customers. I am unsure if this is a general comment or specific to my situation. Customers wonder if discounts or promotions are available.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Infoblox BloxOne DDI?

There is a need for a comprehensive database on DNS. When a new attack occurs, the database requires timely updates. The existing database is updated frequently, but continuous improvements would b...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Infoblox BloxOne DDI?

For customers in Indonesia, I have implemented it in BCA, Bank Central Asia, BGP, and Bank Server Banton, mostly in the banking sector. Primarily, I use it for DNS security, particularly to block d...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cloudflare vs IBM NS1 Connect

Compared 41% of the time

Amazon Route 53 vs IBM NS1 Connect

Compared 23% of the time

Akamai Edge DNS vs IBM NS1 Connect

Compared 22% of the time

Infoblox DDI vs IBM NS1 Connect

Compared 5% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs IBM NS1 Connect

Compared 5% of the time

More IBM NS1 Connect Competitors

Cloudflare vs Infoblox BloxOne DDI

Compared 100% of the time

More Infoblox BloxOne DDI Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM NS1 Connect

April 2025

Download IBM NS1 Connect product report

Buyer's Guide

IP Address Management (IPAM) Tools

March 2025

Download Infoblox BloxOne DDI product report

Also Known As

NS1 Managed DNS, NS1

No data available

Overview

Why

In a 24/7 world, customers demand applications, websites, and content that load instantly and are always on. When those connections are unreliable or slow, businesses don’t meet customer expectations, causing customers to leave. When that occurs, revenue may suffer.

What

IBM NS1 Connect delivers the high-performance, reliable, secure network connectivity that businesses need to meet increasingly sophisticated customer expectations. Leveraging a global network with a 100% uptime SLA, IBM has the capacity and scale to meet the needs of any business. IBM NS1 Connect takes performance to the next level, powering the sophisticated needs of enterprises with complex network infrastructures.

How

IBM NS1 Connect provides network connectivity solutions that give networking teams the visibility, control and automation needed to help ensure your business stays online by steering traffic to the ideal network connections for any given moment. IBM NS1 Connect also enables IT teams to identify network performance anomalies through deep insights into DNS data flows, allowing them to identify configuration problems or network issues that affect performance so they can quickly resolve them.

Details

IBM NS1 Connect is a managed service that provides authoritative, premium DNS and advanced, customizable traffic steering that improves application performance and network resilience. Revenue-generating applications require authoritative DNS resolution to keep critical applications and websites online. Unless your DNS infrastructure is always-on and resilient, network reliability and user experience will suffer, your network reliability may suffer, resulting in poor user experiences if revenue-generating critical applications and websites are not online. IBM NS1 Connect’s always-on, API-first architecture provides fast, secure connections to users anywhere in the world with premium DNS and advanced, customizable traffic steering. It also enables your IT teams to efficiently monitor networks, deploy changes and conduct routine maintenance.

IBM NS1 Connect uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure that websites and applications are:

Online, all the time: Global network with 100% uptime SLA and DDoS protection
Fast: Top tier response and propagation times, custom traffic steering to optimize connections
Cheaper to run: Far less expensive than self-hosting
Automation friendly: API-first platform with Ansible/Terraform integrations and support for Pliant rapid network automation
Easier to troubleshoot: Unique DNS data insights offering

Designed for enterprises looking to optimize their DNS performance, IBM NS1 Connect is a managed service delivering authoritative DNS and advanced traffic steering that improves application performance and network resilience and provides fast, secure connections to users anywhere in the world. NS1 Connect streamlines DNS management by automating both simple and complex DNS configuration tasks via API and preconfigured integrations, so you can spend more time on higher-value work.

IBM NS1 Connect is delivered through our unified delivery platform. The cloud-based platform gives networking teams the visibility, control and automation needed to help ensure your business stays online by steering traffic to the ideal network connections for any given moment. IBM NS1 Connect solutions also enable IT teams to identify network performance anomalies through deep insights into DNS data flows, allowing them to identify configuration problems or network issues that affect performance so they can quickly resolve them.

For enterprises looking to further optimize DNS performance, IBM NS1 Connect offers rich DNS data analytics to streamline the identification of the root cause of anomalies within traffic.

IBM NS1 Connect Features

Global anycast DNS network: Enjoy fast connections to consumers around the globe through an anycast network with 26 points of presence (PoPs).
100% uptime SLA on DNS resolution: Maximize uptime and revenue generation with resilient, always-on, authoritative DNS.
API-first architecture: Integrate and automate workflows with NS1 Connect's well-documented API; every line of code starts as an API call, all functionality is available through the API.
Real-time user monitoring (RUM)-based traffic steering: Uses real-time intelligence on network performance and availability to direct DNS connections to the best available application resource; the widest range of filter options and data sources in the industry, not data that is extrapolated from sampling; the most flexible, granular controls for your network.
Built-in resilience: Add a single-tenant, redundant DNS layer and manage it from a single control plane as your primary DNS.
Managed DNS for China: Improve performance for the Chinese mainland by segmenting traffic with NS1 Connect’s Managed DNS for China.
DNS insights: Get a better understanding of DNS traffic patterns by mining your DNS data to identify security issues, misconfigurations and performance issues.
DDoS protection: Cap your query-based spending with protection against unexpected surges in traffic from distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Uptime monitor: Quickly identify issues and automatically adjust DNS traffic steering configurations with native health check alerts.
DevOps tool integrations: Preconfigured integrations with leading DevOps tools including Ansible and Terraform to help automate routine maintenance, manage data sources and feeds.
Propagation speed: fastest propagation in the industry, measured in seconds not minutes; worldwide propagation in under five seconds.
Independence: neutral arbiter between infrastructure services (CDNs, clouds).

IBM NS1 Connect helps enterprises modernize and optimize networking infrastructure to provide customers with faster connections to websites, applications, services and content.

IBM

Infoblox BloxOne DDI is an advanced service that integrates DNS, DHCP, and IP address management capabilities, designed to streamline network operations and scalability.

Infoblox BloxOne DDI is tailored for cloud-first architectures, offering flexible deployment options across private, public, and hybrid cloud environments. It addresses the complexities of modern networks, enabling dynamic scaling and automating core network services. The system supports best-in-class security features and provides centralized control through a single platform, ensuring high performance across distributed networks. Its adaptability is crucial for organizations seeking to enhance network management efficiency.

What are the key features of Infoblox BloxOne DDI?

Integrated DNS, DHCP, IPAM: Offers seamless integration to manage and automate network services.
Cloud-Native Architecture: Enables efficient deployment across cloud environments.
Scalability: Supports dynamic scaling to accommodate growing network demands.
Centralized Management: Provides a unified platform for streamlined operations.
Security Features: Protects against DNS-based threats with robust security protocols.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Improved Efficiency: Reduces manual tasks with automation features.
Cost Savings: Optimizes resource allocation through scalable network management.
Enhanced Security: Reduces risk with integrated protection against cyber threats.
Adaptability: Supports industry-specific configurations and compliance needs.

Implemented across sectors such as healthcare, education, and finance, Infoblox BloxOne DDI provides industry-specific customization and compliance, addressing unique challenges like regulatory requirements in healthcare, vast IP space in education, and secure transactions in finance.

Infoblox

Sample Customers

Avast Software, Bloomberg L.P., BBC, Carfax, CNBC LLC, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Disney Streaming, Dropbox, EBAY Inc, Gannett Media Corp, Salesforce, Wayfair, Workday

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

IBM NS1 Connect vs. Infoblox BloxOne DDI

April 2025

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