Network Lifecycle Management Guide

The network lifecycle management process can help network professionals plan for changes, deploy these changes, and guide ongoing operations. So, what are the steps involved in this process, and how does the network team apply it?

Without a certain framework, it is difficult for the network team to predict how changes will affect the user experience and the system itself. Teams can learn network behavior, reconfigure their network to adapt to changes, and improve their overall business strategy by tracking the various stages of the network life cycle.

Network Life Cycle Stage

In its simplest form, network lifecycle management includes three stages: planning, construction, and management. It is also called design, implementation, and operation (DIO). When new requirements are determined during the planning phase, this cycle repeats. Life cycle processes can also be applied to subtasks.

(1) ITIL framework

The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is another management framework that describes similar processes. It focuses on service strategy, service design, service transformation and service operations. The fifth phase (continuous service improvement) should be integrated with the first four phases at the same time so that the team can improve operations as needed.

(2) PPDIOO framework

Enterprises can expand the basic three-phase network life cycle into sub-phases. For example, Cisco has developed a six-phase network management life cycle: preparation, planning, design, implementation, operation and optimization (PPDIOO).

The extended PPDIOO model decomposes the three-phase life cycle into the following sub-phases:

·         The planning phase is expanded into preparation, planning, and design phases.

·         The construction phase develops into the implementation phase (sometimes it may include the procurement phase, which Cisco omitted).

·         The management phase includes operations and optimization phases.

Check PPDIOO Network Life Cycle

The following are the steps included in each of the six phases of the PPDIOO life cycle defined by Cisco.

(1) Preparation

As with any business process, the most critical step is to determine the requirements and outline the business goals. At this stage, the team spends most of their time determining the location of their business at the end of the cycle so that they can evaluate how the network can best support these goals. At this point, network professionals should conduct financial analysis and calculate the return on investment for potential changes.

The team should also learn how to predict future demand. For example, they should consider tracking industry trends and understanding their importance to the business. Other sources of information include industry analysts and conferences.

(2) Plan

The planning phase closely follows the preparation phase. This is when the team begins to create a project plan to help their organization manage the rest of the life cycle. The team should consider issues related to supplier selection and management, such as:

How will the necessary equipment and supplies be funded?

Which suppliers should be considered?

Are popular startups using the latest technology worth the risk?

(3) Design

The design phase begins to get into the details, subject to the constraints established in the previous phase, such as budget. The design team should use the selected supplier to create a detailed design that meets the requirements.

At this time, it may be necessary to build a prototype and conduct a proof of concept to minimize the risk of using any new technology. This is also the stage where a new process may need to be defined, such as when to adopt automation.

(4) Implementation

At this stage, the implementation team transitioned from the previous cycle to the new deployment. Companies have begun to adopt the idea that the design team is responsible for implementation and only transfers it to the operations team after the design has been fully verified, automated, and managed.

(5) Operation

When a new network (or a new part of the network) is operational and the operational process has been defined, the operations team will take over. The design and implementation phase should identify common operational problems and create mechanisms for monitoring and diagnosing these problems. This stage is the stage of thorough testing of the network management design.

(6) Optimization

The final stage of the life cycle continues to improve the design and operation of new network functions. At this stage, network professionals create processes to identify unforeseen operational problems, and determine ways to improve the network and the process of operating the network.

However, the network team should be aware that over-optimization of the network can cause other operational problems. For example, just to save some capital equipment funds, modify the branch design, resulting in multiple samples, which may lead to higher operating expenses.

What about testing?

Testing is not clearly listed as a step because it should be included in each stage. Testing will be a key element in the design, implementation, operation and optimization phases. There are also tests in the preparation phase, where network professionals can test the risks of business leaders using new technologies.

Integrate Network Life Cycle and Business Process

The best performing companies will use some form of network lifecycle management process as part of their overall IT management process. Many Internet professionals may have been using similar temporary processes without knowing the formal definition.

Top companies incorporate the network life cycle into their annual IT planning and budgeting process. Some companies follow a three-year network life cycle. In this timetable, about one-third of the network infrastructure is upgraded every year to ensure that the company uses modern technology. They can track industry trends and technological innovations, while forecasting annual budgets and personnel requirements.

Other companies may need to increase or decrease their cycle duration to meet their needs. No matter how long the cycle lasts, it makes sense for companies to formally adopt the network life cycle process and incorporate it into the annual business planning process.