GigaOm Radar for NetDevOpsv3.0

1. Executive Summary

Despite the advances in network observability and manageability with AI/ML, many network management tasks still require manual intervention by highly trained personnel. In addition, the ongoing trend to split network access between full-scale, on-premises environments and full-scale, remote access for home-based employees demands that NetOps teams work smarter by utilizing fully automated solutions based on proven DevOps principles.

NetDevOps is experiencing rapid evolution in the context of the hybrid and multicloud architectures that provide a platform for IT, network, and cybersecurity personnel to manage applications and assets across various environments, including on-premises, in the cloud, or across multiple clouds​​. The growing complexity and pace at which modern applications are being developed have necessitated a closer integration of networking best practices with key DevOps tools and methods in order to manage the increasing volumes of network configuration changes and management operations.

It should be noted, however, that pure NetDevOps solutions are not commonly branded or marketed as such because NetDevOps is often viewed as more of a methodology or practice rather than a specific product or service. Therefore, the automation and orchestration tools and platforms included in this report support the principles of NetDevOps, which include automation, infrastructure as code (IaC), continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD), and collaborative workflows.

Providing a more efficient and streamlined approach to network management, NetDevOps encompasses the abstraction, codification, and implementation of network IaC utilizing programmed, automated workflows to eliminate configuration drift, thereby embedding quality and resiliency within the network. A continuous integration, delivery, and deployment pipeline ships code through the different development environments into production, triggering comprehensive validation and compliance tests along the way. NetDevOps also includes continuous monitoring, measurement, and response, with the automated triggering of remediation alerts or tasks when configuration drift from the desired state is detected.

Applying DevOps behaviors, culture, and principles to network operations, NetDevOps alleviates challenges and increases agility by minimizing manual administrative tasks (such as configuration changes, service provisioning, and security tasks) and reducing human error as one of the root causes of network downtime. Furthermore, by automating the planning, configuration, testing, and deployment of network infrastructure, implementing a NetDevOps pipeline reduces the lead time between development and implementation. It also allows small incremental changes to be injected into the network with minimal effort and zero end-user impact, resulting in increased agility, quality, and speed of operations.

Within the broader scope of hybrid cloud automation, NetDevOps is recognized as a critical component in enabling hybrid network automation as organizations seek to balance and optimize their infrastructure across private, public, and hybrid cloud environments​. This involves implementing new tools and methodologies for managing and automating these hybrid environments, especially as AI and data analytics become more integral to managing data across diverse platforms and sources.

This is our third year evaluating the NetDevOps space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. This report builds on our previous analysis and considers how the market has evolved over the last year.

This GigaOm Radar report evaluates 17 of the top NetDevOps solutions and compares offerings against the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) outlined in the companion Key Criteria report. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading NetDevOps offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.