Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Managing IP addresses across a growing network means tracking a lot of moving parts at once, including: sites, clusters, subnets, VLANs, leases, and DNS records. Add in subnets imported from other tools, addresses that were assigned manually years ago, and the occasional reservation nobody remembers creating, and it's easy for even a well-run network to lose a clear picture of what's actually happening across its address space.

Top tips is a weekly column where we highlight what's trending in the tech world and share practical ways to navigate these shifts. This week, we're discussing why it's time to think twice before scanning your next QR code.

There is a moment, somewhere between the third ring of a phone call connecting and the first frame of a video buffering, where an entire telco data center has already done its job. A device asked a question, Where do I belong, and what is my name here? And somewhere in a rack of servers, in less time than it takes to blink, the system gave the answer.

AI tools have become a workplace staple, but their unsanctioned use has given rise to shadow AI. It refers to the untracked usage of any AI tools or applications without approval or overview of the information technology (IT) or security team. This is substantiated by the Verizon 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) which shows how rapidly the shadow AI trend is growing.

DDI Central 6.2 introduced GSS-TSIG authentication for secure dynamic DNS updates, JIT user provisioning via LDAP and LDAPS, and native scavenging support for Windows AD-integrated and DDNS domains, giving network admins greater control over DNS updates, domain hygiene, and user access across their infrastructure. These new additions have addressed major pain points on how admins manage DNS security, authentication, and resources.

Introducing rogue DHCP discovery in ManageEngine OpUtils. With this new feature, OpUtils lets administrators discover, classify, and continuously monitor DHCP servers across the network directly from the IP Address Manager console.

Top tips is a weekly column where we highlight what's trending in the tech world and list practical ways to explore these trends. This week, we are tackling something almost everyone does without thinking twice: connecting to public Wi-Fi (and what it could be costing you without you ever knowing). You are at an airport, a coffee shop, or a hotel lobby. You notice your data plan is running low and scroll through the available networks. And there it is: Free Wi-Fi—no password required.

Network outages are still painfully expensive, and configuration mistakes are one of the biggest culprits. A 2023 analysis of Uptime Institute data shows that configuration and change management failures are the top cause of major network outages, responsible for around 45% of network incidents. Even a small configuration slip on a core switch can cascade into large-scale downtime. That’s why consistent, well-governed network device management is key to keeping business services uninterrupted.

Every Windows device your organization deployed before 2025 carries a set of certificates in its Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware. They've been there since 2011, quietly doing the work of validating boot signatures so nothing untrusted runs before the operating system loads. Most IT teams have never had a reason to think about them. That's about to change.

Network vulnerability management is no longer a periodic security task. As networks expand across locations, vendors, and OSs, vulnerabilities can emerge quietly through configuration changes, outdated firmware, or delayed patching. Without consistent visibility and automation, teams often discover risks only after they affect availability, security, or compliance. Effective vulnerability management requires continuous awareness, structured assessment, and controlled remediation.