The Critical Role of Intent-based Networking
in Network Transformation
Configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting become more closely integrated through highly automated configuration and intelligent monitoring when networks are moving into partial automation. While an essential property of partial automation is that the human stays in the loop, this is where the benefits of intent-based networking paradigm first shine through.
Because IBN starts with what the network needs to do, and then uses those “needs” to drive configurations consistently across vendors and domains, this approach ensures that every change is driven by clearly defined outcomes. That way, network transformation can add new capabilities and also embed resilience, security, and predictable behavior into the environment.
Networks don’t stop changing once a transformation project is considered “done,” either. Devices continue to be added, policies continue to evolve, and new threats continue to appear. IBN maintains resilience and assurance after the initial transformation is complete, continually checking and correcting behavior as networks continue to evolve. Specific configuration changes can be recommended or automatically applied when deviations are detected. This ensures network resilience, even as the environment grows more complex over time.
Where are networks on the automation journey?
Network management in OT environments isn’t changing overnight: OT network management is on a continuum of evolution. While IBN isn’t fully realized today in most cases, networks are progressing step by step, as they move farther from manual processes and toward a more intelligent, adaptive approach to managing connected operations.
Here’s a look at the typical stages in the journey:
1. Manual management
Networks that depend on decades-old configuration practices involving command-line interfaces (CLIs), web-based tools, and different software platforms are relying on manual management. These approaches are slow, error-prone, require deep networking expertise, and rely heavily on humans.
Finding professionals who have the expertise (and patience) to manage complex networks using traditional methods is difficult—they’re hard to find. If you do find them, they can quickly become overwhelmed by all the work (and lack of support).
2. Assisted management
When tools begin to relieve some manual burden of network configuration, this is a form of assisted management.
For example, assisted management can help simplify network configuration by applying the same parameters across a multitude of devices so engineers don’t have to create individual device setups manually.
3. Partial automation
Configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting become more closely integrated through highly automated configuration and intelligent monitoring when networks are moving into partial automation. While an essential property of partial automation is that the human stays in the loop, this is where the benefits of intent-based networking paradigm first shine through.
One example is AI-assisted recommendations based on detected deviations from desired network behavior (i.e., the intent) that help engineers identify and apply
