About Me
Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr)
1 **Foundation**
1-1 **Networking Fundamentals**
1-1 1 OSI and TCPIP Models
1-1 2 Network Devices and Their Functions
1-1 3 IP Addressing and Subnetting
1-1 4 Routing and Switching Basics
1-1 5 Network Security Fundamentals
1-2 **Enterprise Architecture**
1-2 1 Enterprise Network Design Principles
1-2 2 Network Segmentation and Zoning
1-2 3 Network Services and Protocols
1-2 4 Network Management and Monitoring
1-2 5 Network Automation and Programmability
2 **Design**
2-1 **Network Design Methodologies**
2-1 1 Design Life Cycle
2-1 2 Requirements Gathering and Analysis
2-1 3 Design Documentation and Validation
2-1 4 Design Implementation and Testing
2-1 5 Design Maintenance and Optimization
2-2 **Enterprise Network Design**
2-2 1 Campus Network Design
2-2 2 Data Center Network Design
2-2 3 WAN Design
2-2 4 Wireless Network Design
2-2 5 Security Architecture Design
3 **Implementation**
3-1 **Network Implementation Planning**
3-1 1 Implementation Strategies
3-1 2 Resource Allocation and Scheduling
3-1 3 Risk Management and Mitigation
3-1 4 Change Management
3-1 5 Post-Implementation Review
3-2 **Network Services Implementation**
3-2 1 IP Address Management (IPAM)
3-2 2 DNS and DHCP Implementation
3-2 3 Network Access Control (NAC)
3-2 4 VPN and Remote Access Implementation
3-2 5 Network Security Services Implementation
4 **Operation**
4-1 **Network Operations Management**
4-1 1 Network Monitoring and Performance Management
4-1 2 Fault Management and Troubleshooting
4-1 3 Capacity Planning and Management
4-1 4 Network Change and Configuration Management
4-1 5 Network Compliance and Auditing
4-2 **Network Security Operations**
4-2 1 Incident Response and Management
4-2 2 Threat Detection and Mitigation
4-2 3 Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
4-2 4 Vulnerability Management
4-2 5 Security Policy Enforcement and Monitoring
5 **Optimization**
5-1 **Network Optimization Techniques**
5-1 1 Traffic Engineering and Load Balancing
5-1 2 Quality of Service (QoS) Implementation
5-1 3 Network Performance Tuning
5-1 4 Energy Efficiency and Green Networking
5-1 5 Network Optimization Tools and Technologies
5-2 **Network Automation and Orchestration**
5-2 1 Network Programmability and Automation
5-2 2 Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
5-2 3 Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
5-2 4 Automation Tools and Frameworks
5-2 5 Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CICD) for Networks
6 **Leadership**
6-1 **Leadership and Management Skills**
6-1 1 Strategic Planning and Vision
6-1 2 Team Leadership and Development
6-1 3 Communication and Stakeholder Management
6-1 4 Financial Management and Budgeting
6-1 5 Project Management and Execution
6-2 **Professional Ethics and Standards**
6-2 1 Ethical Decision-Making
6-2 2 Industry Standards and Compliance
6-2 3 Intellectual Property and Licensing
6-2 4 Professional Development and Continuous Learning
6-2 5 Global and Cultural Awareness
3.1.4 Change Management Explained

3.1.4 Change Management Explained

Key Concepts

Change Management in network architecture involves systematically planning, implementing, and controlling changes to minimize disruption and risk. Key concepts include:

Change Control

Change Control is the process of managing and approving changes to the network. It involves creating a formal process for submitting, evaluating, and approving changes. This ensures that only necessary and well-planned changes are implemented. Tools like ServiceNow and Jira are commonly used for change control.

An analogy for Change Control is a project management office. Just as a PMO ensures that projects follow a structured process, Change Control ensures that network changes are managed systematically.

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment involves evaluating the potential risks associated with a change. This includes identifying potential impacts on network performance, security, and business operations. Risk assessment helps prioritize changes and determine the appropriate level of testing and approval required.

Think of Risk Assessment as a safety check before a flight. Just as pilots assess risks to ensure a safe flight, network architects assess risks to ensure a smooth implementation.

Impact Analysis

Impact Analysis involves evaluating the potential effects of a change on the network and business operations. This includes assessing the impact on users, applications, and services. Impact analysis helps identify dependencies and potential bottlenecks, ensuring that changes are implemented with minimal disruption.

An analogy for Impact Analysis is a traffic study before road construction. Just as traffic studies assess the impact on traffic flow, Impact Analysis assesses the impact on network performance.

Change Documentation

Change Documentation involves creating detailed records of all changes, including the reason for the change, the proposed solution, and the implementation plan. This ensures that all stakeholders are informed and that there is a clear audit trail. Documentation is essential for troubleshooting and future reference.

Think of Change Documentation as a flight logbook. Just as pilots document every flight, network architects document every change, ensuring accountability and traceability.

Post-Change Review

Post-Change Review involves evaluating the outcome of the change to determine its success and identify any lessons learned. This includes assessing the impact on network performance, user satisfaction, and business operations. Post-change reviews help improve future change management processes.

An analogy for Post-Change Review is a post-flight debriefing. Just as pilots review a flight to improve future operations, network architects review changes to improve future implementations.

Understanding and effectively implementing Change Management is crucial for ensuring that network changes are implemented smoothly and with minimal disruption. By mastering these concepts, network architects can create reliable and efficient network environments.

© 2024 Ahmed Baheeg Khorshid. All rights reserved.