Designing Network Automation: NDLC and Process Engineering

Successful network automation requires more than just writing scripts; it demands a structured methodology to ensure reliability, safety, and scalability. Many automation initiatives struggle because they lack a defined process for gathering requirements, testing changes, and managing lifecycle stages. This written course guides you through the Network Development Lifecycle (NDLC) and the organizational processes necessary to build robust network automation workflows. You will transition from ad-hoc scripting to designing structured, repeatable automation pipelines that align with modern NetDevOps principles. What you'll learn: Understand the core phases of the Network Development Lifecycle (NDLC) from planning to maintenance; Analyze existing manual network processes and translate them into automated workflows; Gather and structure network data using standardized formats like JSON and YAML; Apply modern NetDevOps concepts, including version control and continuous integration, to network changes; Design testing strategies to validate network configurations before deployment; Manage organizational change and establish clear documentation for automated network environments. You will start with foundational definitions of network automation processes and the NDLC framework. From there, you will read through step-by-step methodologies for mapping workflows, managing configuration state, and implementing automated testing practices. This course is designed for network engineers, systems administrators, and IT managers who are new to automation planning and want to establish structured processes. No prior programming or software development experience is required. Start reading today to build a reliable, process-driven foundation for your network automation journey.