SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Detailed Review
Networking Tools
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Product Overview
Introduction to SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is a comprehensive tool designed to streamline and automate network configuration and change management. This solution is part of the SolarWinds Orion Platform, which provides a unified and intuitive view into enterprise-wide network health.
Primary Function
The primary function of NCM is to manage network device configurations, ensuring they are secure, compliant, and performing optimally. It automates tasks such as configuration backups, changes, and compliance audits, reducing the time network engineers spend on mundane tasks and allowing them to focus on critical network projects.
Target Audience
NCM is targeted at network administrators, engineers, and IT professionals responsible for managing large, multi-vendor network environments. This includes teams in various industries that require strict compliance with regulatory standards and high network reliability.
Key Features
Automated Configuration Management
NCM allows for the automated bulk deployment of standardized device configurations and scheduled backups of device configurations. It also enables the rollback to the last known good configuration if necessary.
Compliance Audits
The tool audits device configurations for compliance with various regulations such as NIST FISMA, DISA STIG, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. It provides out-of-the-box compliance assessments and pre-configured reports to notify users of policy violations.
Real-Time Change Detection
NCM continuously monitors device configurations and provides immediate notifications of configuration changes, helping to resolve problems before they impact users.
Vulnerability Management
It automatically identifies IOS devices with potential vulnerabilities using the NIST CVE repository service and provides tools for managing the investigation, remediation, or waiver of each vulnerability.
Firmware Upgrades
NCM supports firmware upgrades for multiple devices, including Cisco, Lenovo, and Juniper, to keep devices current and secure.
Multi-Vendor Support
NCM supports a wide range of network device vendors, including Cisco, Juniper, HP, Dell, and many others, making it suitable for heterogeneous network environments.
Integration with Other Tools
NCM integrates seamlessly with other SolarWinds tools such as Network Performance Monitor (NPM) and NetFlow Traffic Analyzer, providing a comprehensive view of network health and performance.
Deployment Flexibility
Users can choose to deploy NCM either on-premises or in the cloud, using AWS or Azure cloud native SQL database services.
By leveraging these features, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager helps save time, improve network reliability and security, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - User Interface and Experience
User Interface of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)
The user interface of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is crafted to be highly intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible for network administrators of various skill levels.
Intuitive Web Interface
SolarWinds NCM features a web-based interface that offers point-and-click simplicity, providing easy access to configuration data. This interface is part of the SolarWinds Orion Platform, which centralizes visibility and control, allowing users to manage their network through a single pane of glass.
Ease of Use
The platform is known for its ease of use, with a focus on streamlining network configuration and change management. It allows administrators to manage multi-vendor network environments with ease, reducing the time and effort required for manual updates. The interface supports bulk configuration changes, standardized configurations, and built-in workflows to review, approve, and schedule updates across numerous devices.
Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts
NCM continuously monitors device configurations and provides immediate notifications of any changes. This real-time monitoring helps administrators identify and resolve issues quickly, preventing potential network problems before they impact users. The system also tracks changes, showing who made them and what specific modifications were made, which is crucial for maintaining network integrity and compliance.
Customizable and Integrated Features
The tool integrates with other SolarWinds products, such as Network Performance Monitor (NPM), to provide a unified view of network health. Features like NetPath and Network Insight for devices from vendors like Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, and others, offer detailed insights into network performance and configuration health. This integration enables administrators to accelerate troubleshooting and ensure a stable, high-performing network.
Role-Based Access and Compliance
NCM allows for role-based access, ensuring that only authorized personnel can make changes to the network configurations. It also includes features for compliance auditing, detecting non-compliant configurations, and generating reports to help maintain regulatory standards. This ensures that network devices are configured in line with security policies and standards, reducing the risk of regulatory fines and incidents.
Overall User Experience
The overall user experience is enhanced by the platform’s ability to automate many tasks, such as configuration backups, firmware upgrades, and compliance checks. This automation saves time and reduces errors associated with manual updates. The centralized and user-friendly interface makes it easier for administrators to oversee multiple devices, identify issues, and maintain a healthy network environment.
Summary
In summary, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies network configuration management, provides real-time monitoring and alerts, and integrates seamlessly with other network management tools, making it an efficient and effective solution for network administrators.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Key Features and Functionality
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is a comprehensive tool designed to manage, automate, and secure network configurations across a wide range of devices. Here are the main features and how they work:
Automated Network Configuration
NCM allows you to configure devices to policy standards, ensuring consistency across your network. You can design change templates and create standardized configurations, which can then be applied in bulk to hundreds or thousands of devices. This automation reduces the time and errors associated with manual updates.
Change Management and Alerting
The tool actively monitors device configurations and alerts you to any changes, helping you identify and roll back unauthorized changes quickly. This real-time change alerting ensures that any unexpected modifications are addressed promptly, maintaining network stability and security.
Compliance Auditing
NCM audits device configurations for compliance with various security standards such as NIST FISMA, DISA STIG, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. It integrates with the National Vulnerability Database to alert users about known vulnerabilities, enabling proactive compliance and security measures.
Configuration Backups and Restoration
NCM automates the backup of device configurations, allowing you to restore devices to their last known good configurations if issues arise. This feature is crucial for quickly recovering from configuration changes or errors.
Firmware and Patch Management
The tool manages and distributes firmware updates and patches for network devices, including support for Cisco Catalyst Switch Stacks, Lenovo, and Juniper devices. This ensures your devices remain current and secure.
Network Inventory
NCM includes network inventory software that automatically creates and maintains an up-to-date inventory of your network devices. This feature provides detailed information about device locations, status, and other relevant data, helping you make informed decisions.
Multi-Vendor Support
NCM supports a wide range of network devices from various vendors, including Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Juniper, HP, Huawei, F5, Avaya, and more. This ensures seamless integration and interoperability across different device types.
Integration with Other SolarWinds Tools
Built on the SolarWinds Orion Platform, NCM integrates easily with other SolarWinds tools such as Network Performance Monitor and NetFlow Traffic Analyzer. This integration provides a comprehensive view of your network, enhancing monitoring and management capabilities.
User Access Control and Lifecycle Notifications
NCM allows you to control user access through a straightforward dashboard and provides device lifecycle notifications. This helps in managing user permissions and staying informed about device status and changes.
AI and Automation
While the primary features of NCM are based on automation and monitoring, the tool does not explicitly integrate AI in the traditional sense. However, its automated workflows, real-time monitoring, and compliance auditing can be seen as precursors to more advanced AI-driven network management systems. These features automate many tasks that would otherwise require manual intervention, thereby improving efficiency and reducing human error.
Conclusion
In summary, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is a powerful tool that automates and streamlines network configuration management, change management, and compliance auditing, ensuring network reliability, security, and efficiency.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Performance and Accuracy
Performance of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is designed to enhance the efficiency and reliability of network management through automation and comprehensive monitoring. Here are some key aspects of its performance and accuracy:Automation and Efficiency
NCM automates various network configuration and change management tasks, which significantly saves time and reduces the likelihood of human errors. It can manage configurations for tens, hundreds, or even thousands of routers, switches, and firewalls from multiple vendors, including Cisco, Lenovo, and Juniper.Configuration Management
NCM allows users to configure devices to policy, detect and prevent out-of-process changes, and audit configuration compliance. It also provides the ability to remediate faults and compliance violations, ensuring that network configurations adhere to established standards.Backup and Recovery
The tool offers automated network backup, allowing users to backup, monitor, find, and restore router and switch configurations. This feature enables quick recovery from configuration changes by comparing them to established backups and restoring the last-known good configuration.Real-Time Notifications and Reporting
NCM provides real-time change notifications and allows users to create regularly scheduled reports to keep stakeholders informed about the network’s state. This includes out-of-the-box compliance assessments and pre-configured reports that notify users of policy violations and implement remediation scripts to correct any violations.Multi-Vendor Support
NCM supports a wide range of network devices from various vendors, making it a versatile tool for heterogeneous network environments. It includes features like firmware upgrade support for Cisco Catalyst Switch Stacks, as well as Lenovo and Juniper devices.Scalability
The system is scalable, with the main server and each additional polling engine capable of managing up to 10,000 nodes, supporting a total of up to 30,000 nodes in a deployment.Accuracy
NCM enhances accuracy by:Configuration Comparison
It allows users to compare configurations for routers and switches, identifying changes and what was changed. This feature helps in maintaining accurate and up-to-date configurations.Compliance Audits
NCM performs automated network audits to demonstrate compliance and manage configuration changes accurately. It uses multi-device baselines to identify out-of-compliance configurations.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Database Size and Performance
For deployments using SQL Server Express, there are limitations such as a maximum database size of 10 GB. This can be a constraint for large-scale deployments, as the performance of the SQL Server Express database decreases with each additional SolarWinds Platform product deployed.Security Considerations
SolarWinds strongly recommends that the SolarWinds Platform be installed on a server that is neither public nor internet-facing to ensure security. Following best practices for secure configuration is crucial.Customization and Community Support
While NCM offers a range of features, its effectiveness can be further enhanced by leveraging the SolarWinds THWACK community, where users can share custom templates and get answers to questions. However, the need to rely on community resources might be seen as a limitation for some users. In summary, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is a powerful tool that enhances network performance and reliability through automation, real-time monitoring, and comprehensive configuration management. However, users should be aware of the potential limitations related to database size, security considerations, and the need for community support for customization. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Pricing and Plans
The Pricing Structure of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)
The pricing structure of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is based on the number of nodes (network devices) it manages, and it offers both subscription and perpetual licensing models.
Licensing Models
- Subscription Licensing: This model allows you to use the software during the subscription period, with included maintenance and 24/7 support. The subscription needs to be renewed to continue using the software.
- Perpetual Licensing: This model allows you to use the software in perpetuity, with maintenance and 24/7 support included for the first year. You have the option to renew support services after the first year.
Licensing Tiers
The NCM licensing is categorized based on the number of nodes managed:
- DL50: Up to 50 devices
- DL100: Up to 100 devices (e.g., the DL100 license is priced at $3,043.00 for a 1-year subscription)
- DL200: Up to 200 devices
- DL500: Up to 500 devices
- DL1000: Up to 1000 devices
- DL3000: Up to 3000 devices
- DLX: Unlimited devices
Features Available in Each Plan
While the features do not vary significantly across the different tiers, the key capabilities of SolarWinds NCM include:
- Automated Network Backup: Backup, monitor, find, and restore router and switch configurations.
- Automated Switch Configuration Management: Manage switch configuration tasks efficiently.
- Compare Configurations: Identify changes in router and switch configurations.
- Multi-Vendor Network Inventory: Maintain an up-to-date inventory of network devices.
- Network Assessment and Audits: Automate device inventory and network auditing, and demonstrate compliance.
- Network Automation Tools: Manage configuration changes and compliance.
- Network Configuration Change Management: Reduce time and errors in network change management.
Free Options
SolarWinds offers a free trial for the Network Configuration Manager, which is fully functional for 30 days. This allows you to test the software before purchasing a license.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Integration and Compatibility
Integration with Other SolarWinds Tools
NCM is part of the SolarWinds Orion Platform, which allows it to integrate smoothly with other SolarWinds products. For instance, it can be integrated with SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) to provide a unified view of network health, combining configuration health indicators with performance statistics. This integration helps in accelerating troubleshooting and ensures a stable, high-performing network.
Additionally, NCM works well with NetFlow Traffic Analyzer, enabling you to view traffic conversations by policy. The integration with NetPath™ in NPM helps in identifying when a configuration in the network service path has changed. The Network Insight™ feature for devices like Cisco Nexus, Cisco ASA, and Palo Alto Networks also enhances visibility and troubleshooting capabilities.
Compatibility Across Different Devices
NCM supports a wide range of network devices from various vendors, including Cisco, Juniper, Lenovo, and Palo Alto Networks. It allows you to configure devices to policy, detect and prevent out-of-process changes, and audit configuration compliance across these multi-vendor environments. This makes it highly versatile for managing heterogeneous network infrastructures.
Platform Compatibility
NCM can be deployed on different platforms, offering flexibility in terms of installation. It supports deployment on-premises, as well as in cloud environments such as AWS or Azure, using cloud-native SQL database services. This flexibility ensures that NCM can adapt to various IT infrastructure setups.
System Requirements
For optimal performance, SolarWinds recommends installing the SolarWinds Platform on a server that is neither public nor internet-facing. The system requirements vary based on the number of nodes, the frequency of configuration downloads, and the length of time configurations are maintained in the database. Specific hardware requirements include a 3 GHz dual-core processor, 6 GB of RAM, and 30 GB of hard drive space.
Security and Compliance
NCM includes features to ensure security and compliance. It provides out-of-the-box compliance assessments and pre-configured reports to notify you of policy violations. You can implement remediation scripts to correct any violations, and it supports real-time change notifications to respond to unwanted changes promptly.
Conclusion
In summary, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is highly integrable with other SolarWinds tools, compatible with a wide range of network devices, and flexible in terms of deployment options, making it a comprehensive solution for network configuration and change management.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support
SolarWinds offers 24/7 support to address any technical issues you might encounter. Here are the ways you can get help:Phone Support
You can contact SolarWinds via phone for the fastest response. Regional phone numbers are available for your convenience.Online Support Ticket
Submit an online support case through the SolarWinds Customer Success Center.Email Support
You can also reach out via email at technicalsupport@solarwinds.com.Additional Resources
Documentation and Guides
SolarWinds provides extensive documentation, including the NCM Administrator Guide, which helps you set up and use NCM to automate network configuration management tasks. This guide covers topics such as adding devices, managing users, and customizing your deployment.Training and Onboarding
The SolarWinds Customer Success Center offers various onboarding programs, both self-led and assisted, to help you install, upgrade, and get immediate value from your product. The SolarWinds Academy provides virtual classrooms, eLearning videos, and professional certification to enhance your knowledge of the product.Community Support
You can engage with the THWACK community, a vibrant and engaged IT community of over 200,000 members. This forum allows you to solve problems, get help, and interact with other users and experts.Customer Portal
The Customer Portal is a central hub where you can manage your licenses, download software, create and track support tickets, and attend live and on-demand training sessions.Premium and Federal Support
SolarWinds also offers Premium Support and Federal Premium Support plans, which provide additional assistance from experts to drive business and technical outcomes critical to your organization’s success.Deployment Services
For more extensive support, SolarWinds offers Deployment Services where implementation experts will work with you to install and configure your SolarWinds Observability solutions to meet your business needs. These resources are designed to ensure you have all the support and tools necessary to effectively manage your network configurations with SolarWinds NCM. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Pros and Cons
Advantages of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Automation and Time Savings
NCM automates network configuration and change management, saving time by scheduling regular backups, executing scripts, and maintaining organized configuration archives. This automation helps in reducing manual errors and streamlines processes.
Improved Network Reliability and Security
By managing configurations, changes, and compliance for various network devices from multiple vendors, NCM enhances network reliability and security. It detects and prevents out-of-process changes and helps in quickly recovering from downtime by restoring the last-known good configuration.
Compliance Management
NCM simplifies and improves network compliance by auditing configuration compliance and remediating faults and compliance violations. This ensures that the network adheres to both internal and external regulations.
Device Lifecycle Management
The tool manages the entire lifecycle of network devices, including firmware upgrades for devices from vendors like Cisco, Juniper, and Lenovo. This keeps devices current and secure.
Visibility and Reporting
NCM provides detailed auditing and reporting capabilities, allowing administrators to compare configurations before and after changes. It also offers Network Insight for devices like Palo Alto Networks, increasing visibility into network devices.
Integration
NCM integrates with other SolarWinds tools, such as the Network Performance Monitor, to provide a comprehensive network management solution.
Disadvantages of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
Cost
One of the primary complaints about NCM is its high cost. Users find it expensive, which can be a significant barrier for smaller organizations or those with limited budgets.
Server Maintenance
Users have noted that maintaining the server for NCM requires more effort compared to other products. This can be time-consuming and may require additional resources.
GUI and User Experience
Some users find the graphical user interface (GUI) of NCM to be traditional and less modern compared to other tools. This can affect user experience and ease of use.
Occasional Issues
Despite improvements, users sometimes encounter simple problems, such as occasional issues with the login page, which can be frustrating.
Overall, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is a valuable tool for automating and managing network configurations, but it comes with some costs and maintenance requirements that need to be considered.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) with Other Products
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
- Automated Configuration Management: SolarWinds NCM automates the management and monitoring of network device configurations, ensuring compliance and simplifying audits. It can configure devices to policy, detect and prevent out-of-process changes, and audit config compliance.
- Integration and Visibility: NCM integrates with other SolarWinds tools like Network Performance Monitor (NPM) to provide a unified view of network health. It offers features like NetPath™ and Network Insight™ for detailed visibility into network devices.
- Backup and Restore: It allows for easy backup and restore of configurations, ensuring network continuity and quick recovery from configuration changes.
- Compliance and Security: NCM automates network audits to ensure compliance with industry standards and identifies vulnerabilities before they impact the network.
NetOp.Cloud AI Network Monitoring
- AI-Driven Insights: NetOp.Cloud uses machine learning and AI to learn the network’s normal behavior, detect anomalies, and provide real-time insights. It anticipates risk-based issues and alerts users to potential critical impacts before they disrupt services.
- Automated Analysis and Remediation: NetOp.Cloud reduces the need for manual intervention by automatically analyzing issues and recommending corrective actions. It also maintains a history of fixes for future reference.
- Unified Dashboard: It collects metrics from all cloud-managed network devices and unifies them into a single dashboard, providing immediate visibility and easy-to-understand health scores.
Key Differences
- AI Capabilities: While SolarWinds NCM focuses on automated configuration management and compliance, NetOp.Cloud leverages AI for proactive issue detection and automated remediation. SolarWinds NCM does not have built-in AI capabilities for anomaly detection and automated troubleshooting.
- Integration: SolarWinds NCM integrates well with other SolarWinds products, providing a comprehensive view of network health. NetOp.Cloud, on the other hand, focuses on a unified dashboard for all network devices but does not specify extensive integration with other monitoring tools.
Potential Alternatives
- Microsoft Configuration Manager: Although primarily focused on software deployment and OS management, Microsoft Configuration Manager can be considered for network device management, especially within Microsoft-centric environments. However, it lacks the specific network configuration management features that SolarWinds NCM and NetOp.Cloud offer.
Choosing the Right Tool
- If your primary need is automated network configuration management, compliance auditing, and integration with other network monitoring tools, SolarWinds NCM might be the better choice.
- If you are looking for an AI-driven solution that can proactively detect anomalies and automate troubleshooting, NetOp.Cloud could be more suitable.
- For environments heavily reliant on Microsoft products, Microsoft Configuration Manager might offer some benefits, but it would not replace the specialized features of SolarWinds NCM or NetOp.Cloud for network configuration management.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Frequently Asked Questions
What is SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is a software tool that automates and manages network device configurations. It helps in ensuring compliance, simplifying audits, and reducing misconfigurations across a variety of network devices, including routers, switches, and firewalls from multiple vendors.
How is SolarWinds NCM licensed?
The licensing for SolarWinds NCM is based on the number of nodes (devices) it manages. There are seven types of licenses available, ranging from up to 50 devices (DL50) to an unlimited number of devices (DLX). Other license options include DL100, DL200, DL500, DL1000, and DL3000.
What are the key features of SolarWinds NCM?
Key features include automated audits to ensure network compliance, automated network tasks to improve efficiency, and the ability to detect and mitigate network vulnerabilities. It also allows for automatic backups and restoration of device configurations, bulk deployment of standardized device configs, and compliance audits for standards like NIST FISMA, DISA STIG, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
Can SolarWinds NCM integrate with other SolarWinds products?
Yes, SolarWinds NCM can be integrated with other SolarWinds products, such as the SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM). This integration provides a unified view into network health, displaying configuration health indicators alongside performance statistics. It also integrates with features like NetPath™, Network Insight™, and PerfStack™ to enhance troubleshooting and network visibility.
How does SolarWinds NCM help with compliance and security?
SolarWinds NCM helps with compliance and security by automating network audits and providing detailed reporting to ensure adherence to industry standards. It identifies potential vulnerabilities using the NIST CVE repository service and allows for the investigation, remediation, or waiver of each vulnerability. It also audits device configurations for compliance with various standards.
Can I manage multiple vendor devices with SolarWinds NCM?
Yes, SolarWinds NCM supports managing network devices from multiple vendors, including Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Juniper, HP, Huawei, F5, Avaya, Ruckus, and more. It can handle CLI-capable devices with a command menu, making it versatile for multi-vendor network environments.
How does SolarWinds NCM facilitate troubleshooting?
SolarWinds NCM facilitates troubleshooting by allowing you to compare current configurations with previous ones to identify changes that might be causing issues. It also integrates with features like PerfStack™ to analyze performance issues following configuration changes and provides Network Insight™ for detailed visibility into specific devices like Cisco Nexus and Palo Alto Networks devices.
Is there a trial or demo available for SolarWinds NCM?
Yes, SolarWinds offers a fully functional 30-day free trial for Network Configuration Manager. This allows you to test the features and see how it can benefit your network management needs.
How does SolarWinds NCM handle device configuration backups and restoration?
SolarWinds NCM allows you to set up automatic backups of device configurations and roll back to the last known good configuration if necessary. This ensures network continuity and quick recovery from configuration errors or downtime.
Can I customize the SolarWinds Platform Web Console for NCM?
Yes, you can customize the SolarWinds Platform Web Console for NCM. You can customize dashboards, colors, logos, views, widgets, and charts. You can also create custom properties, groups, and dependencies to better organize and present monitored data.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is a comprehensive tool that significantly enhances the management and security of network devices. Here’s a detailed assessment of its benefits and who would most benefit from using it.
Key Benefits
- Automated Configuration and Change Management: NCM automates the configuration and change management processes for routers, switches, and firewalls, reducing the likelihood of configuration errors and improving network reliability.
- Compliance and Security: It audits device configurations for compliance with various regulatory standards such as NIST FISMA, DISA STIG, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Additionally, it identifies potential vulnerabilities using the NIST CVE repository and helps in their remediation.
- Visibility and Backup: NCM provides config-to-config diff views and baseline-to-config diff views, allowing quick identification of changes. It also automates backups of device configurations and enables rollback to the last known good configuration if needed.
- Multi-Vendor Support: The tool supports a wide range of network device vendors, including Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Juniper, HP, Huawei, F5, Avaya, and Ruckus, making it versatile for diverse network environments.
- Integration and Scalability: Built on the Orion Platform, NCM integrates with other network monitoring modules, providing a unified web console for managing network performance, NetFlow traffic analysis, WAN management, and more.
Who Would Benefit Most
- Network Administrators: Those responsible for managing and maintaining network devices will find NCM invaluable. It simplifies tasks such as configuration management, compliance auditing, and vulnerability assessment.
- IT Teams: Teams managing large networks with multiple devices from various vendors will benefit from the automated bulk deployment of standardized device configurations and the ability to manage changes efficiently.
- Organizations with Compliance Requirements: Companies that need to adhere to strict regulatory standards will appreciate the automated compliance assessments and reporting features of NCM.
- Enterprises with Large-Scale Networks: Organizations with tens, hundreds, or thousands of network devices will find NCM’s scalability and automation capabilities particularly useful in saving time and improving network reliability.
Overall Recommendation
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is a highly recommended tool for any organization seeking to streamline network configuration management, enhance security, and ensure compliance. Its ability to automate critical tasks, provide comprehensive visibility into network changes, and support a wide range of devices makes it an essential asset for network administrators and IT teams.
If you are looking to improve the efficiency, reliability, and security of your network, NCM is definitely worth considering. The free trial option allows you to test its features and see how it can benefit your specific network environment.