A BlueCat perspective
EMA’s DDI Directions 2026 research reinforces a fundamental shift: As enterprises prepare core network services for an agentic, multicloud world, the role of DDI has expanded.
DNS, DHCP, and IP address management remain the core components of network inrfastructure. But in hybrid and multicloud environments, DDI now influences automation maturity, security posture, and operational resilience at scale.
When DDI data is unified and integrated, performance becomes predictable. When APIs are automation-ready, workflows accelerate. When DNS governance is centralized and observable, security posture strengthens. The distinction is not whether DDI solutions are deployed—it is whether they are architected as a modern control plane.
Organizations achieving measurable operational results treat DDI as strategic infrastructure. They unify authoritative data across environments. They embed DDI into DevOps and automation workflows. They extend governance consistently into cloud-native architectures. They ensure DNS is observable, enforceable, and aligned with security policy.
Nearly all enterprises (98%) report that DDI plays a role in their network source of truth strategy, underscoring its importance as core infrastructure. As automation, AI-driven insights, and multicloud governance mature, the accuracy and integration of DDI data become even more critical.
BlueCat supports this evolution through a unified DDI solution that integrates authoritative management, multi-vendor visibility, and hybrid cloud governance—enabling enterprises to transform DDI into a measurable driver of operational performance.
About the research
DDI Directions 2026: Preparing Core Network Services for an Agentic, Multi-Cloud World is based on a survey of 300 IT professionals conducted by EMA between December 2025 and January 2026. Respondents were directly engaged in DDI operations and represent a cross-section of industries across North America and Europe.
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