* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics")
* [Automation and management](/en/topics/automation "Automation and management")
* What is NetOps?
What is NetOps?
===============
Published  August 28, 2023•*5*-minute read
Copy URL
Jump to section
---------------
OverviewWhat does NetOps involve?Why is NetOps important?Why is automation necessary?Why Red Hat?Interactive labs
Overview
--------
NetOps is an approach to network operations that focuses on rapid deployments and agility. It is also referred to as NetOps 2.0 or NetDevOps, and has become the standard operating procedure for digital enterprises working to keep pace with customer expectations.
NetOps includes elements of automation, orchestration, and continuous validation to enable agile development and application delivery in modern IT organizations with complex network infrastructure.
What does NetOps involve?
-------------------------
Originally, NetOps was simply a shortened form of “network operations.” However, the term NetOps 2.0 was coined to describe relatively new methodologies designed to optimize network operations for agile development. NetOps 2.0 got shortened to just “NetOps,” and now when the term is used, it generally refers to the agile methodology.
### The pillars of NetOps methodology
**Orchestration and automation:** Network engineers can use a variety of [automation techniques](/en/topics/automation/what-is-network-automation) to perform management, operational, and maintenance tasks, as well as respond automatically when conditions change within various network types—such as on-premise data centers, campus networks, hybrid clouds, and Wide Area Networks (WAN) at edge locations.
**Single Source of Truth (SOT):** This is the practice of aggregating data for configurations, inventories, and other management assets in a single location. Having a centralized SOT can increase transparency, productivity, governance, and overall ease of data management. It also enables the documentation of network infrastructure as code, as part of ongoing network operations.
**Analytics and data:** Data is acquired and analyzed in a structured way to anticipate problems, detect anomalies, improve network performance, and manage the overall footprint and health of the network.
**Security:** Multiple layers of security controls and protocols are combined across the network to protect against attacks and unauthorized access. These security layers are integrated with analytics, orchestration, intrusion detection and prevention systems, firewalls, and automation to remediate issues more rapidly.
**Network agility:** Networks using a NetOps methodology are no longer static structures—they are dynamic systems that can bridge various physical locations and clouds, all the way to the edge of the network. This increased agility also adds network complexity, which in turn intensifies the need for automation.
Recommended for you
NetOps with NetBox and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
----------------------------------------------------------
[Watch the webinar](https://www.redhat.com/en/events/virtual/netops-with-netbox-and-redhat-ansible-automation-platform?percmp=RHCTG0250000455235)
Why is NetOps important?
------------------------
A NetOps approach allows modern IT organizations to compete in dynamic marketplaces through effective network management. This is due to 5 key outcomes that result from a well-implemented NetOps methodology.
* **Resilience:** Organizations that have IT environments with more agile tools can more reliably achieve business objectives and more quickly respond to unanticipated variables and adverse conditions— increasing network uptime and reducing Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR).
* **Efficiency:** With a NetOps-as-code approach, teams or automation jobs have a single location to look for the information needed to perform an action, while keeping governance controls in place. This helps to reduce complexity and the time-consuming coordination needed without such a “source of truth” repository.
* **Agility:** Since NetOps prioritizes faster deployments, updates, and fixes, it enables businesses to more rapidly respond to changing conditions and objectives, reducing the time to market of new services for internal and external customers.
* **Transparency:** As a NetOps approach monitors network data, there is more information to make strategic decisions and to spot potential problems before they impact normal operations.
* **Optimization:** Gaining a broader view of network resources allows teams to use them more efficiently. This also helps IT teams spend less time on routine, high-volume tasks, and instead focus on engineering challenges that can directly enhance business outcomes and customer satisfaction.
Why is automation a necessary part of NetOps?
---------------------------------------------
Organizations often adopt a NetOps methodology to better accommodate remote workers, new technology, hybrid cloud applications, multivendor solutions, and edge devices. On their own, any of these elements increases network complexity—combined, they make it necessary to use an integrated automated solution to manage network operations.
### Automated NetOps
Automation streamlines the coordination, governance, and execution of operations across complex networks, reducing manual tasks so IT teams can focus in other strategic areas.
With automated NetOps, network engineers can use a variety of techniques to efficiently execute tasks and respond automatically to network conditions as they evolve. Here are some examples of how automation supports NetOps:
* **Automated administration:** From a network administrator perspective, the complexity of modern networks means that time-consuming tasks need to be automated to improve network efficiency, agility, and resilience.
* **Agile innovation:** NetOps is sometimes referred to as NetDevOps because of how closely integrated network operations are with development. For example, if a new cloud application needs a series of [provisioning](/en/topics/automation/what-is-provisioning) steps to operate, the faster those steps can be completed, the less friction there is between the development team and the network team. Automation allows those provisioning steps to happen more rapidly.
* **Standardized skills:** Technical workers often develop specialized skills when working on network projects that might not spread across the entire workforce or be taught to newer employees. An automation solution that codifies these skills into workflows allows this operational knowledge to be used by the entire team.
* **Hybrid cloud access:** Complex modern networks often include systems that are on-premise, connected to multiple hyperscaler platforms, and even across remote edge locations. An enterprise automation solution that works the same way across each of these environments helps organizations adopt a unified NetOps approach.
* **Security management:** Automation can enhance network security by continuously monitoring for unusual activity, identifying potential threats, and quickly responding to issues—either automatically or by instigating human remediation. [Security automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-security-automation) can also ensure that policies are consistently applied across the network, and can help with tasks such as patch management, incident response, and vulnerability scanning.
Organizations don’t need to implement automated NetOps all at once. An incremental approach—starting with simple high volume tasks, then growing the level of sophistication of these tasks over time— can be just as effective. Automated NetOps can also be implemented by different teams over time, as well as across complex processes that touch multiple groups.
### Infrastructure as Code
The concept of [Infrastructure as Code (IaC)](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac) is central to an automated NetOps approach. IaC is the process of managing and provisioning through definition files rather than physically configuring hardware and software.
The goal of IaC is to unify teams and optimize their collective efforts. It fosters a collaborative environment where developers take a more active role in defining configurations, and IT operations teams engage earlier in the development process. Tools using IaC enhance visibility into network device states and configurations, providing insights to users across the enterprise.
Using an automation tool to implement IaC—through [GitOps](/en/topics/devops/what-is-gitops) or other solutions—can help to build more efficient, productive workflows and streamline the adoption of a NetOps methodology.
This video can't play due to privacy settings
To change your settings, select the "Cookie Preferences" link in the footer and opt in to "Advertising Cookies or try disabling adblockers."
Why choose Red Hat for automated NetOps?
----------------------------------------
[Red Hat® Ansible® Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible) includes the tools you need to implement enterprise-wide automation with a NetOps methodology, including playbooks, a visual dashboard, an [event-driven automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-event-driven-automation) solution, and analytics. It also uses [webhooks](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-webhook) to automate IaC workflows and enable GitOps practices.
Ansible Automation Platform’s modular nature allows your organization to automate NetOps at your own pace, using a standardized toolset that works across various environments. It allows you to use the same automation language across multiple network types and manage network infrastructure—including switches, routers, load balancers, and firewalls—through a single, integrated platform.
With a [Red Hat subscription](/en/about/value-of-Red-Hat), you get certified content from our robust partner ecosystem, access to hosted management services, and life cycle technical support to scale automation across your organization. And you’ll get expert knowledge gained from our success with thousands of customers.
[Learn more about network automation with Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/network-automation "Use case | Network automation with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform")
Want some hands-on experience?
------------------------------
Red Hat offers interactive labs in a preconfigured Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform environment. You can use these labs to experiment, practice, and learn how to create, manage, and scale network and IT practices efficiently—from rapid development and deployment, to simplified operations and analytics, to consistent end-to-end user experiences.
Recommended for you
E-book
O’Reilly: Kubernetes Operators: Automating the Container Orchestration Platform
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This O’Reilly e-book explains how to build Kubernetes Operators using SDK and the Operator Framework. Learn how Operators are used to automate the app life-cycle.
[Read the e-book](https://www.redhat.com/en/engage/oreilly-kubernetes-operators-automation-ebook?percmp=RHCTG0250000455234)
All Red Hat product trials
--------------------------
Our no-cost product trials help you gain hands-on experience, prepare for a certification, or assess if a product is right for your organization.
[Keep reading](/en/products/trials "All Red Hat product trials")
Keep reading
------------
### What is IT service management (ITSM)?
IT service management (ITSM) refers to the activities IT teams perform to ensure that IT services meet customer needs and contribute to business goals.
[Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm "article | what is IT service management (ITSM)?")
### What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the managing and provisioning of infrastructure through code instead of through manual processes.
[Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac "article | What is Infrastructure as Code?")
### What is a configuration management database (CMDB)?
A configuration management database (CMDB) is used to manage information about IT components, including their attributes and relationships between them.
[Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb "article | what is a configuration management database (CMDB)?")
Automation and management resources
-----------------------------------
### Related content
* Blog post
  [Introducing the Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed intelligent assistant](/en/blog/evolution-red-hat-ansible-lightspeed)
* Blog post
  [Slash VM provisioning time on Red Hat Openshift Virtualization using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/blog/accelerate-it-service-delivery-red-hats-integrated-toolset)
* Blog post
  [Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform: Measuring Business Impact with Dashboard and Analytics](/en/blog/red-hat-ansible-automation-platform-measuring-business-impact-dashboard-and-analytics)
* Datasheet
  [Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/resources/ansible-automation-platform-datasheet)
### Related articles
* [What is DevOps automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-devops-automation)
* [What is IT service management (ITSM)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm)
* [What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac)
* [Ansible vs. Kubernetes: how they work together](/en/topics/automation/Ansible-vs-Kubernetes)
* [What is a configuration management database (CMDB)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb)
* [What is cloud migration? And how can automation help?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloud-migration)
* [What is a software-defined data center (SDDC)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-sddc)
* [What is IT automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-automation)
* [Why choose Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform as your AI foundation?](/en/topics/automation/automation-and-ai)
* [How to build an IT automation strategy](/en/topics/automation/build-an-automation-strategy)
* [What is access control?](/en/topics/security/what-is-access-control)
* [What is virtual infrastructure management? And how can automation help?](/en/topics/automation/virtual-infrastructure-management)
* [What is IT migration?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-migration)
* [How to automate migrations with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/automate-migrations-with-red-hat-ansible-automation-platform)
* [Why use Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform with Red Hat OpenShift?](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift/ansible-on-openshift)
* [What is CloudOps?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloudops)
* [Red Hat Satellite on Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/en/technologies/management/satellite/satellite-for-rhel)
* [What is role-based access control (RBAC)?](/en/topics/security/what-is-role-based-access-control)
* [Which Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform deployment option is right for you?](/en/technologies/management/ansible/ansible-deployment-options)
* [What is an Ansible module—and how does it work?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-module)
* [How to manage and automate applications at the edge](/en/topics/edge-computing/how-to-manage-automate-applications-edge)
* [How to build an automation Center of Excellence](/en/topics/automation/how-to-build-automation-center-of-excellence)
* [What is orchestration?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-orchestration)
* [How to adopt Automation as Code: Extending Infrastructure as Code into Policy as Code](/en/topics/automation/how-to-adopt-automation-as-code)
* [What is a webhook?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-webhook)
* [Learning Ansible basics](/en/topics/automation/learning-ansible-tutorial)
* [Red Hat Lightspeed data and application security](/en/topics/management/data-application-security)
* [What is an Ansible Role—and how is it used?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-role)
* [What is data management?](/en/topics/data-services/what-is-data-management)
* [Gain security with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/gain-security-with-red-hat-ansible-automation-platform)
* [What is an Ansible Rulebook?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-rulebook)
* [What is an Ansible Playbook?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-playbook)
* [What is configuration management](/en/topics/automation/what-is-configuration-management)
* [What is event-driven automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-event-driven-automation)
* [Zero-Touch Provisioning and telco automation with Red Hat](/en/topics/telecommunications/zero-touch-provisioning-and-telco-automation-at-red-hat)
* [What is infrastructure automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-automation)
* [What is YAML?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-yaml)
* [What is provisioning?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-provisioning)
* [What is compliance management?](/en/topics/management/what-is-compliance-management)
* [Understanding Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Chef, and Salt](/en/topics/automation/understanding-ansible-vs-terraform-puppet-chef-and-salt)
* [What is cloud orchestration?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloud-orchestration)
* [Ansible vs. Chef: What you need to know](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-chef)
* [What is security automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-security-automation)
* [Ansible vs. Salt: What you need to know](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-salt)
* [What is a configuration file?](/en/topics/linux/what-configuration-file)
* [Ansible vs. Puppet: What you need to know](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-puppet)
* [Ansible vs. Terraform, clarified](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-terraform)
* [Why choose Red Hat for automation?](/en/topics/automation/why-choose-red-hat-for-automation)
* [Ansible vs. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/ansible-vs-red-hat-ansible-automation-platform)
* [What is cloud automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloud-automation)
* [What is network automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-network-automation)
* [What are managed IT services?](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-are-managed-it-services)
* [What is business process management?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-business-process-management)
* [What is patch management (and automation)?](/en/topics/management/what-patch-management-and-automation)
* [What is the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform automation controller?](/en/technologies/management/ansible/automation-controller-product-feature)
* [What is SOAR?](/en/topics/security/what-is-soar)
* [What is business process automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-business-process-automation)
* [What is IT process automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-process-automation)
* [Automating Microsoft Windows with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/automate-microsoft-windows-with-ansible)
* [What is deployment automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-deployment-automation)
* [What is business optimization?](/en/topics/automation/business-optimization)
* [What is Kubernetes cluster management?](/en/topics/containers/what-is-kubernetes-cluster-management)
* [What is SRE?](/en/topics/devops/what-is-sre)
* [What is risk management?](/en/topics/management/what-is-risk-management)
* [What is an SOE?](/en/topics/management/what-is-an-soe)
* [What is IT system life-cycle management?](/en/topics/management/it-system-life-cycle-management)
* [What is robotic process automation (RPA?)](/en/topics/automation/what-is-robotic-process-automation)
* [What is network management?](/en/topics/management/what-is-network-management)
* [What is cloud management?](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-cloud-management)
* [What's business automation?](/en/topics/automation/whats-business-automation)
[More about this topic](/en/topics/automation "More about this topic")