A comprehensive guide for network orchestration software

What is Network orchestration?

Network orchestration is the automated coordination, management, and provisioning of network infrastructure to achieve streamlined operations and optimized performance. Unlike simple task automation, orchestration integrates multiple processes, ensuring that network elements work together efficiently without manual intervention.

Network orchestration abstracts complex network operations, allowing IT teams to define policies and workflows that dynamically adjust based on network conditions, security policies, and application requirements. This is crucial in modern networks that span on-premise, cloud, and hybrid environments.

What is the difference between automation and orchestration?

Network automation and orchestration are closely related, often overlapping in functionality, but they serve distinct purposes.

Overlap: Both aim to reduce manual intervention, improve efficiency, and ensure consistency in network management. They use scripts, policies, and predefined workflows to streamline network operations.

Key differences:

• Network automation focuses on executing individual tasks automatically. This includes configuring routers, applying patches, or deploying firewall rules. It typically operates at a lower level, affecting discrete elements of the network.
• Network orchestration works at a broader level, coordinating multiple automated tasks to achieve a larger operational goal. It involves policy-driven workflows that align with business objectives, ensuring that different parts of the network function harmoniously.

For example, automation can update firmware on network switches, but orchestration ensures that this update aligns with security policies, bandwidth management, and application performance requirements.

Components of network orchestration

A true network orchestration system comprises several critical components, each playing a vital role in ensuring a fully automated and efficient network management process.

1. Intent-based networking (IBN)

Intent-Based Networking (IBN) is an advanced approach that allows administrators to define network behavior based on business objectives rather than manually configuring individual devices. It ensures that networks dynamically adjust to meet defined performance and security goals, reducing manual intervention and human error. By automating policy enforcement, IBN enables a proactive approach to network management, improving operational efficiency and reliability.

2. APIs and integration layers

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and integration layers act as the backbone of network orchestration by enabling seamless communication between different network elements, cloud platforms, and third-party tools. These interfaces allow orchestration systems to manage multi-vendor environments, ensuring that devices from different manufacturers can work together harmoniously. A robust API framework enhances extensibility, making it easier to integrate new technologies and support emerging network architectures.

3. Configuration management

Configuration management is responsible for standardizing and automating network configurations across all devices to ensure consistency and security. It helps administrators maintain a single source of truth for configurations, track changes over time, and roll back to previous versions if necessary. By eliminating manual errors and enforcing compliance with industry standards, configuration management enhances network stability and security.

4. Policy-based control

Policy-based control allows organizations to enforce network policies consistently across all devices and services. These policies govern security, quality of service (QoS), and bandwidth allocation, ensuring that network operations align with business priorities. By automating policy enforcement, organizations can prevent misconfigurations, reduce downtime, and maintain regulatory compliance with minimal manual effort.

5. Service provisioning & lifecycle management

Service provisioning and lifecycle management streamline the deployment, scaling, and decommissioning of network services. This component automates the process of setting up new network resources, reducing the time required to bring new services online. It also ensures that resources are allocated efficiently based on demand, optimizing network performance and cost-effectiveness.

6. Security & compliance enforcement

Security and compliance enforcement are crucial aspects of network orchestration, ensuring that all network changes adhere to security policies and regulatory requirements. By integrating with security tools such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and network access control (NAC), orchestration platforms can detect and mitigate threats in real-time. Automated compliance checks further prevent unauthorized configurations and reduce the risk of security breaches.

7. Monitoring and analytics

Monitoring and analytics provide real-time insights into network performance, capacity utilization, and security posture. Advanced analytics, often powered by AI and machine learning, help detect anomalies, predict potential failures, and optimize resource allocation. By continuously analyzing network behavior, organizations can proactively address issues before they impact business operations, ensuring a more resilient and adaptive network. By combining these components, network orchestration software ensures that networks operate efficiently, securely, and in alignment with business goals.

Must-haves to achieve true network orchestration

For a network orchestration solution to be truly effective, it must include the following capabilities:

1. End-to-end automation & visibility

A single platform must manage the entire network lifecycle, from provisioning to monitoring and troubleshooting. It should provide a holistic view of network health, performance, and security.

2. Cross-vendor compatibility

Network environments are rarely homogeneous. A robust orchestration tool should support multi-vendor infrastructure, including Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Fortinet, and cloud vendors like AWS and Azure.

3. Closed-loop automation

The system should be capable of self-correcting actions based on predefined policies, reducing the need for manual intervention.

4. Intent-based networking capabilities

Network orchestration should align with business intent, ensuring policy-driven decision-making rather than manual configurations. 5. Security-Driven Orchestration Integration with Zero Trust security models and automated policy enforcement should be a standard feature. It should continuously assess network configurations for compliance.

6. Scalability & extensibility

As networks evolve, orchestration platforms should scale to accommodate new services, technologies, and devices without extensive reconfiguration.

7. API-driven architecture

A well-documented API is essential to integrate orchestration software with other IT and DevOps tools.

What are the challenges and considerations in network orchestration implementation

While the benefits of network orchestration are compelling, successful implementation is not without its challenges. Organizations need to carefully consider these aspects before embarking on their orchestration journey:

Complexity of integration with existing infrastructure:

• Heterogeneous environments: Modern networks are rarely built from a single vendor. Integrating orchestration systems with diverse, multi-vendor infrastructure (Cisco, Juniper, older legacy systems, cloud platforms) can be complex and require significant effort. APIs may be inconsistent, and data models can differ, necessitating custom integration and potentially specialized middleware.
• Legacy systems: Many organizations have existing legacy network devices and management systems that were not designed for orchestration. Integrating these systems might involve "wrapping" them with API adapters or finding ways to expose their functionalities. This can be time-consuming and require deep understanding of both the legacy systems and the orchestration platform.
• Data migration and consistency: Migrating configuration data and operational data from existing systems to the orchestration platform while ensuring consistency and data integrity is a critical challenge. Poor data migration can lead to misconfigurations and operational disruptions.

What are the security considerations during and after orchestration implementation?

Secure orchestration platform: The orchestration platform itself becomes a critical piece of infrastructure and must be secured rigorously. Vulnerabilities in the orchestration platform could have widespread impact across the entire network. 

Secure API access: Securing API access points is paramount. Proper authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms must be implemented to protect sensitive network data and prevent unauthorized access.  

Automated security policy enforcement: While orchestration automates security policy enforcement, careful design and testing are essential. Misconfigured policies or vulnerabilities in automated workflows could inadvertently weaken security.  

Auditing and compliance: Maintaining audit trails of automated changes and ensuring continuous compliance with security and regulatory policies becomes more complex in an orchestrated environment and requires robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

What is the initial investment and how to measure the return on investment (ROI)

Upfront costs: Implementing orchestration involves upfront costs, including software licenses, hardware (if needed), integration services, training, and potentially organizational restructuring.

Measuring ROI: Quantifying the ROI of network orchestration can be challenging but critical for justifying the investment. Key metrics to track and demonstrate ROI include:

• Reduced provisioning time: Measure the reduction in time to deploy new services or network resources.
• Reduced manual errors and downtime: Track the decrease in misconfigurations and network outages.
• Improved operational efficiency: Measure the reduction in manual effort for routine tasks, freeing up engineers for strategic initiatives.
• Faster incident response: Track the speed of issue resolution and service restoration through automated workflows.
• Enhanced security and compliance posture: Demonstrate improved security metrics and reduced compliance risks.
• Phased approach: To mitigate risk and demonstrate value early on, organizations often adopt a phased approach to orchestration, starting with pilot projects and gradually expanding scope based on success and ROI demonstrated in initial phases.

Future trends and evolution of network orchestration 

Network orchestration is a rapidly evolving field, driven by trends in networking, cloud computing, and AI. Here are some key future trends shaping its direction:

The increasing role of AI and machine learning (AI/ML) in orchestration: Predictive Analytics and Anomaly Detection: AI/ML is being integrated into orchestration platforms to analyze vast amounts of network data in real-time. This enables predictive analytics to anticipate potential network issues (capacity bottlenecks, security threats) before they impact services. Anomaly detection algorithms can identify unusual network behavior that might indicate security breaches or performance degradation.

Intelligent automation and optimization: AI/ML can enhance automation by making orchestration systems more intelligent and adaptive. For example, AI/ML can be used to dynamically optimize resource allocation (bandwidth, compute) based on real-time network conditions and application demands, improving network efficiency and performance. AI-driven closed-loop automation can enable self-healing networks that automatically respond to and resolve issues with minimal human intervention.

Intent-based networking with AI: AI/ML is crucial for advancing Intent-Based Networking. AI/ML algorithms can translate high-level business intents into concrete network policies and configurations more effectively. AI can also learn from network behavior and user feedback to refine intents and continuously optimize network performance to better align with business objectives.

What are the orchestration tools in the market?

There are several tools in the market with orchestration capabilities, with varying integrations and features. The ideal orchestration tool will be the one that fits your organization's use case.

• Cisco DNA Center:A comprehensive network automation and orchestration solution designed for Cisco environments. It offers intent-based networking, AI-driven insights, and zero-touch provisioning. Ideal for enterprises managing large-scale Cisco networks, it enhances security, simplifies operations, and ensures policy compliance.
• Juniper Apstra: A multi-vendor intent-based networking platform that automates the entire network lifecycle. It provides closed-loop telemetry, real-time analytics, and self-healing capabilities. Suitable for data centers and organizations seeking automated infrastructure management with deep insights and predictive analysis.
• VMware NSX: A software-defined networking (SDN) and security solution for modern data centers and cloud environments. It provides micro-segmentation, automated network provisioning, and advanced security controls, making it ideal for enterprises implementing network virtualization and security-driven orchestration.
• Ansible for network automation: An open-source automation tool designed for configuration management, software provisioning, and task automation. Supports multi-vendor devices and enables repeatable, scalable automation. Best suited for network engineers looking to automate tasks across diverse network infrastructures.
• Red Hat Ansible automation platform: An enterprise-grade extension of Ansible that offers centralized automation management, compliance enforcement, and workflow orchestration. It enables large-scale multi-vendor network automation and is ideal for organizations needing governance and secure automation workflows.
• ManageEngine OpManager Plus with Ansible integration: A unified network monitoring and orchestration solution with Ansible-powered automation. It combines fault management, configuration automation, and compliance enforcement, making it suitable for enterprises needing real-time monitoring alongside automated network provisioning.

OpManager Plus and orchestration (using Ansible integration)

ManageEngine OpManager Plus provides a comprehensive IT infrastructure monitoring solution that includes network performance monitoring, fault management, and configuration management. With its Ansible integration, OpManager Plus extends its capabilities into the domain of network orchestration.

How OpManager Plus leverages Ansible for network orchestration

Automated configuration management

OpManager Plus, with the Ansible integration, will leverage Ansible playbooks to deploy, update, and maintain network configurations across multi-vendor environments. The in-built NCM capabilities combined with the integration enables strong compliance enforcement and rollback mechanisms.

Event-triggered orchestration

OpManager Plus boasts of comprehensive alarms and notifications, along with contextual alarm correlation. With the addition of Ansible integration, you can respond to network events such as performance degradation or security incidents by executing predefined Ansible playbooks. Incident/event management capabilities can be further strengthened with the ServiceDesk Plus integration.

End-to-end visibility & control

Provides real-time insights into network performance and configuration changes. Ensures changes made via orchestration align with overall network health.

Multi-device support

Manages routers, switches, firewalls, and other devices from various vendors using Ansible modules. Supports cloud and hybrid environments.

Scalability and extensibility

Integrates with other IT management tools through APIs. Can be customized to support unique workflows and policies.

Why choose OpManager Plus for network orchestration?

Unified platform – Combines network performance monitoring, automation, and orchestration.

Ansible-powered automation – Simplifies network configuration and policy enforcement.

Scalable & vendor-agnostic – Works across hybrid infrastructures with multi-vendor support.

Compliance & security integration – Automates compliance audits and security policy implementation.

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