IF-MAP: A New Standard for Orchestration

IF-MAP is a new standard that makes it easy for different types of systems from different vendors to share data. It defines a protocol and an associated database service that provides real-time aggregation, correlation and distribution of metadata among infrastructure systems, management systems, and applications. IF-MAP technology can ultimately replace ad-hoc integration using SNMP, syslog, proprietary APIs and custom scripts and thereby reduce integration costs and make new applications possible.

IF-MAP was developed by leading networking, security and database experts from member companies in the Trusted Computing Group (TCG), as part of the Trusted Network Connect (TNC) suite of standards. Member companies and contributors to the standards include Arcsight, HP, IBM, Infoblox, IBM, Juniper, McAfee, Microsoft, and Symantec. Several of the TNC protocols are now IETF RFCs as part of a cooperative effort between the TCG and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to agree on a universal set of standards for network security.

IF-MAP has applications in many domains in addition to network security, including network configuration and change management, cloud computing, compliance management and reporting, building and factory automation, smart grid, supply chain management, and many more. The Infoblox Orchestration Appliance, which includes a powerful, robust, easy to manage MAP server, provides a solid foundation for any IF-MAP application.