The Case for a Private APN for Out of Band Management (OOBM)

The Case for a Private APN for Out of Band Management (OOBM)

The purpose of this article is to discuss cellular wireless Out of Band Management and demonstrate which cellular wireless service is best suited for a secure, turnkey OOBM offering.

An Access Point Name (APN) is the address of the gateway between the internet and a Mobile Network Operator. APN protects your network by forcing data through a single point of entry, this being the access point.

Out of Band Management is a service that will allow a network operator physical layer access to core network elements to make quick network fixes and adjustments. Out-of-Band-Management, by definition, uses a physical network outside the boundary of the primary network; to expand upon this, a functioning always on network is required to repair broken networks. OOBM is the secure access to remote site devices (router, firewall, switch) that require repair. The alternative to OOBM is a truck-roll.

When deploying an Out of Band Management network, it’s important to protect yourself by using private IP addresses and keeping SIMs away from the public Internet. Failure to do so can lead to DDoS attacks, as well as staggering LTE data costs from unassuming users.

Given the fact that OOBM, will only perform as needed when intentionally designed to ride a secondary network, cellular wireless has become the preferred coms method for Out of Band.

Questions for a Cellular Out of Band Management network:

• What form-factor of cellular SIM is needed?
• Which Mobile Network Operator (Carrier) works best?
• What is the best data plan to purchase?
• Where (globally) will you be deploying OOBM equipment?
• Will domestic carriers meet your global deployment needs?

When selecting an OOBM equipment/service provider, seek out a partner that will provide equipment ready to deploy with pre-provisioned SIM cards activated and ready to work. If you are planning on deploying globally, use an equipment vendor that will operate internationally while offering consistent client experience, and costs.

CDI’s approach to Out of Band Management is a secure, turnkey offering. All CDI appliances are available pre-activated on Private (APN) networks with global Carrier partners. CDI solutions integrate seamlessly into existing management tools and will provide a highly secure, turnkey Out of Band Management offering.

For more information or to request a demo, please contact sales@commdevices.com