As AI-driven applications reshape network demands, getting the design and deployment right from day one is critical. Phil Corey outlines the 4 key questions you should ask to determine whether to build in-house or bring in expert help.
As artificial intelligence (AI) applications continue to advance at a rapid pace, your network must be ready to support the demands of these complex workloads. Whether you are building a new network or scaling your existing infrastructure, getting everything right from the start is critical. It ensures optimal performance, seamless scalability, and a strong return on investment. But the question remains: should your team tackle the design and deployment internally, or is outsourcing the smarter move?
To make the right decision, ask yourself these key questions and evaluate the factors determining your deployment success.
- How well do your staff understand the essential design considerations to ensure a successful network deployment? Success starts with clear objectives and detailed design documentation. A well-designed network optimizes bandwidth, scalability, and cost-efficiency while integrating seamlessly into your existing systems. But designing a network isn’t just about connecting equipment; it’s about creating a blueprint that ensures alignment and accuracy at every stage.
- Optical network design requires specialized knowledge to establish best practices for bandwidth optimization, synchronization, and network management. It requires in-depth knowledge of network principles to define the design, including naming, synchronization, data communication network (DCN), and network management to create the detailed network design (DND) package. Your team must create documentation that includes technical instructions for the deployment team to follow along with commissioning and system line-up and testing (SLAT) to ensure optimal fiber performance.
- Routing and switching network design begins with a high-level design (HLD), which outlines architecture and design principles. After creating the HLD, your team must develop a low-level design (LLD) to translate the HLD into actionable steps and configuration templates. These documents form the foundation for an acceptance test plan (ATP), which ensures every test case procedure aligns with the expected results and identifies any necessary testing tools.
- How prepared is your team to effectively handle the physical installation and configuration of the equipment? Deployment requires more than technical knowledge. It also demands logistical efficiency and physical labor. Your team must have staff at, or travel to, multiple sites to unpack, inspect, and install equipment. This includes mounting shelves, racking, powering, and ensuring proper power and grounding connections. Beyond installation, a structured deployment workflow is essential to minimize risks and eliminate human error. Using quality control applications and continual testing processes ensures that equipment is installed correctly and performs as expected.
- What automation software and processes do you have in place? Automated processes are essential for accelerating tasks, ensuring accuracy, and minimizing human error in network deployment. With the right automation tools, your team can:
- Seamlessly download configuration files to equipment.
- Execute predefined work packages and test sequences using automated scripts.
- Streamline key activities such as configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Automation software also plays a critical role in turn-up and testing. Automated processes enable commissioning, verify basic functionality, and conduct performance monitoring to ensure network elements align with design specifications.
- What is your process to ensure your network deployment is delivered on time, within budget, and done right the first time? The success of any network deployment relies heavily on project management, which serves as the backbone of the project. Skilled project managers meticulously track deliverables, schedules, and dependencies, and assess the expertise required to complete critical tasks and ensure resources are allocated effectively. They actively coordinate with all parties, including field teams, and provide regular updates to keep you informed of all relevant items. Their ability to identify priorities, coordinate efforts, and mitigate risks is essential to driving the project toward successful completion.
After asking yourself these questions, you may realize that outsourcing certain aspects, or even the entire deployment, could deliver better results. The right partner offers flexible options such as remote support to deliver specialized expertise when required or comprehensive deployment capabilities that allow your staff to concentrate on other strategic priorities while ensuring your project stays on schedule and aligned with your objectives.
Who is better positioned to design and deploy your network than the experts who designed and manufactured the equipment? At Ciena, we design and deploy networks worldwide every day, combining proprietary tools, our advanced automation suite, and unmatched expertise to deliver results right the first time. With flexible deployment options, ranging from targeted remote expertise to support your technically proficient team to comprehensive full-service solutions, our team ensures accurate, low-risk implementations.
Ready to get started? Let’s build the future of your network together.