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Network Automation & NetDevOps

Build a Network Source of Truth and Automate Change with NetDevOps

Use NetBox, Ansible, Git-based workflows, and cloud-aligned automation patterns to manage network state across Cisco, Arista, Palo Alto Networks, and AWS-connected environments.

Engineering-led, vendor-agnostic automation designed for real-world operations.

NetDevOps architecture
Data-Driven Network Automation

Move from Manual Networking to a Scalable NetDevOps Operating Model

Most network teams still operate in a manual-first model. Data-driven network automation replaces fragmented tools and engineer memory with a structured source of truth, repeatable workflows, and a scalable operating model aligned to modern infrastructure demands.

Manual-first network operations limit scale and consistency

Network state is often spread across spreadsheets, diagrams, tickets, and tribal knowledge. That slows change execution, increases drift, and makes multi-vendor and hybrid networking harder to manage with confidence.

Network data is fragmented across tools, documents, and individuals
Configuration drift builds over time without a trusted source of truth
Multi-vendor environments are harder to standardize manually
Hybrid cloud connectivity increases operational complexity

What IVI delivers

Intelligent Visibility designs and implements a practical NetDevOps model built on NetBox, Ansible, and Git-based workflows. The focus is on creating a usable source of truth, enabling repeatable automation, and supporting long-term operational success.

Network source of truth with NetBox

Centralize network inventory, topology, addressing, and service relationships into a structured data model that becomes the foundation for automation and operations.

Ansible-driven automation workflows

Standardize and automate provisioning, updates, and validation tasks across Cisco, Arista, and Palo Alto Networks without relying on proprietary lock-in.

Git-based change control

Introduce version control, peer review, and testing into network workflows to improve consistency and reduce operational risk.

AWS-aligned network automation

Extend automation practices into AWS-connected environments, including VPC and Transit Gateway-aligned connectivity models.

How it works

We build a structured foundation first, then layer in automation workflows that align with how your environment is actually operated.

1

Establish the source of truth

Model the environment in NetBox and define ownership for key network data elements that drive consistent change.

2

Design automation workflows

Implement Ansible-based workflows for repeatable network changes, validation, and operational tasks across supported platforms.

3

Operationalize NetDevOps

Adopt Git-based workflows, review processes, and testing practices that support long-term scale and cleaner handoffs.

What you get

Each engagement delivers a production-ready foundation designed for long-term operational use, not just a lab demo.

NetBox data model and implementation

A structured source of truth aligned to your network architecture, operating model, and automation goals.

Automation workflow development

Production-ready Ansible workflows for provisioning, updates, validation, and targeted operational tasks.

Git workflow and governance model

A defined approach to version control, review, testing, and promotion of network changes.

Multi-vendor integration approach

Automation patterns designed for Cisco, Arista, and Palo Alto Networks environments with room to expand over time.

AWS connectivity alignment

Guidance for integrating on-prem networking with AWS environments in a consistent, supportable operating model.

Outcomes

This approach improves operational consistency, reduces manual effort, and creates a scalable foundation for network automation.

  • A single source of truth that reduces configuration drift
  • Faster and more consistent network change execution
  • Improved multi-vendor flexibility without unnecessary lock-in
  • A practical path to NetDevOps and Infrastructure as Code adoption

Ideal fit

This solution is designed for organizations moving from manual operations to a more scalable automation model.

  • Infrastructure and network teams managing multi-vendor environments
  • Organizations replacing spreadsheets with a structured source of truth
  • Teams adopting Git workflows and Infrastructure as Code practices
  • Enterprises with hybrid or AWS-connected network environments
Decision Framework

Choose the right starting point

Most organizations should take a phased approach to network automation. The right starting point depends on data maturity, workflow readiness, and cloud connectivity requirements.

Recommended

Start with source of truth first

Best for fragmented environments

Focus on building a reliable data model in NetBox before expanding automation so workflows run on trusted inputs.

Best Fit

Best for teams whose environment is still managed through spreadsheets, tickets, and engineer memory.

Tradeoffs

Automation value arrives more gradually because the data foundation is built first.

IVI Recommendation

Recommended when data quality and ownership are the primary constraints to scale.

Automate high-value workflows first

Best for quick operational wins

Target repeatable tasks that create visible value while improving the broader source of truth in parallel.

Best Fit

Best for teams with enough structure to support a few production-ready automation use cases.

Tradeoffs

Long-term scale still depends on continued improvement in data consistency and ownership.

IVI Recommendation

Recommended when leadership expects near-term results and the first use cases are well bounded.

Design for hybrid and AWS from the start

Best for cloud-connected environments

Build an automation model that includes both on-prem and AWS networking so hybrid dependencies are managed consistently.

Best Fit

Best for organizations with significant AWS networking requirements and cross-team cloud coordination.

Tradeoffs

This creates a stronger long-term model but requires more coordination and design discipline up front.

IVI Recommendation

Recommended when AWS connectivity is already central to the network operating model.

Proof Points

What this looks like in practice

These examples show how organizations move from manual processes to structured, scalable network automation.

Centralized network data model

Source of truth foundation

A team replaces spreadsheets and disconnected records with a structured NetBox implementation that supports cleaner operational decisions.

Situation

Network data was inconsistent, incomplete, and spread across multiple systems and people.

What changed

NetBox became the authoritative source of network state, relationships, and operational intent.

Impact

Engineers gained a cleaner model for planning, validation, and downstream automation.

IVI role

Designed a practical data model aligned to how the environment is actually operated.

Automated multi-vendor workflows

Execution at scale

Repeatable Ansible workflows replace manual CLI changes for selected tasks across multiple network domains.

Situation

Changes were performed manually across Cisco, Arista, and Palo Alto Networks devices with inconsistent methods.

What changed

Ansible workflows standardized execution and reduced dependence on device-by-device manual work.

Impact

Teams reduced manual effort, improved consistency, and created cleaner operational handoffs.

IVI role

Built automation that reflects real operational dependencies rather than abstract lab-only examples.

Hybrid network automation model

Cloud alignment

On-prem and AWS-connected networking are managed through a more consistent model for change and validation.

Situation

Hybrid networking changes required manual coordination across infrastructure and cloud teams.

What changed

The operating model was extended to include AWS-connected dependencies alongside core network automation workflows.

Impact

Teams gained a more consistent process for managing hybrid networking changes and reducing friction.

IVI role

Aligned source of truth, automation, and cloud connectivity into one practical operating model.

Let's Talk

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Related Resources

Explore Related Resources

Review related solution pages, supporting materials, and additional resources that help explain where this solution fits and how it can be applied.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about NetDevOps, network source of truth strategies, and practical automation adoption.

What is NetDevOps?

NetDevOps applies structured automation, testing, version control, and data-driven operations to network infrastructure so changes become more repeatable, scalable, and reliable.

Why is NetBox important in a network automation strategy?

NetBox provides a structured source of truth for inventory, topology, IP addressing, and service relationships. That foundation makes automation more accurate and sustainable.

Does IVI support multi-vendor automation?

Yes. IVI supports multi-vendor environments including Cisco, Arista, Palo Alto Networks, and AWS-connected network domains using practical automation approaches that avoid unnecessary lock-in.

Where should most organizations start?

Most organizations should start by improving data quality and defining a source of truth, then layering in targeted automation workflows that create measurable operational value.

Can this include AWS networking?

Yes. IVI can align automation practices across on-prem and AWS-connected environments, including networking dependencies related to VPCs and Transit Gateway architectures.

Is this only for large enterprises?

No. The model is valuable anywhere manual network operations, inconsistent data, and repeated change activities are limiting speed, control, or scale.