About This Template

Zero-touch network operations with AI-powered automation

Transforming to a Cloud Native Operations Management Model

Jim Carey Offering Management and Strategy IBM Telco Products careyji@us.ibm.com Telecommunications network transformation imperatives

• Deliver new innovative 5G and edge services faster • Integrate AI and Automation to reduce operational costs • Improve customer experiences

Telco cloud revolution is underway

Traditional proprietary, Virtual networks integrated with Telco networks become

vertically integrated a general-purpose cloud cloud platforms & & Network Orchestration

RAN Base DSL/Fiber IP Router VNF VNF App Station access node Multicloud

Broadband Session Evolved Network GW Border Packet Core Control VM Containers

Hybrid multicloud

Proprietary, bundled network Open, unbundled, cloud-based platforms Ecosystem of partners who can elements and services help co-create new 5G-powered Edge solutions

3 “Ultimately 5G is about the move to software at the center of the network”

Where are you in your transformation journey?

1. Still running on mostly hardware 2. Started virtualizing, but haven’t changed my processes 3. Adopting DevOps, but no closed loop operations 4. Already adopting AI based closed loop automation

Zero touch + + = operations

Normalized Lifecycle Intent driven Closed-Loop Model Orchestration Operations

Standardized lifecycle Model the desired Apply ML and AIOps to operations for all xNFs to service operational state proactively respond in enable model-driven rather than pre- dynamic environments automation with CI/CD programming workflows toolchains

1 Network 2 Network Service Engineer Engineer Needs to quickly Desires to design with onboard all Normalized intent and have 1-click PNF/VNF/CNFs lifecycle model deployment

Closed-loop operations

Service Design and Testing

3 Site Reliability Engineer

Wants to automate fixes Dynamic service Intent driven and changes with clarity assurance orchestration

Fully automated delivery model Key operating model changes Highly scalable & repeatable for functions Fully software-defined system requires new tooling, processes & skills and services

Deployment Architecture Standard, open V/CNF & virtualization & software service components definitions Ops tooling Intent-based (vs. workflow- … Fully software based) defined architecture ∞ Process SRE (Site Reliability Cloud Engineering), DevOps deployment templates Skills Software eng + admin Maintenance Closed-loop automation Vendor A PoDs Vendor B PoDs Adopting DevSecOps from Software best practices prepares the network operations and delivery teams to move quickly

(Auto) Trigger snapshot build and behaviour test runs VNF/NS Project Network Function and Service Behaviour Testing Lifecycle Playbooks Fix Load behaviour tests Dev Environment Master Infrastructure Descriptor NFVO New Feature TNC Behaviour VNFM Pipeline Environment Tests Automation Orchestration Successful test runs result in release candidate Create/clean with build version environment and VIM load VNF under test and test packages SDN Controller

Network Engineering collect Image Package Package all package artefacts and Snapshot-1 RC-12448 create initial package snapshot Focus on Automated and Repeatable builds of network functions and services enables rapid response in unexpected situations

DevSecOps: • Build to re-Build • Automate to re-build solution with integrated testing so that solution is always in a known state • Enable quickest reaction to any problem that emerges The difference between Network Operations and Network Site Reliability Engineering Network Ops Optimize for Quick Incident Response Improve/Optimize the Process

Call Specific Firehouse Network SREs Assign to SME Optimize for Incident Prevention

Call 911 Call 911 sprinklers Alert NOC Alert NOC Dispatch Truck Code to respond Execute Runbook Rapidly to fires smoke detectors

Fix wiring Douse Fire Restore Service Code to prevent fires

• Traditional Network Operations focuses on fighting the fires • SRE fights the fires, but invests in ensuring that there won’t be another fire with the same cause • In ITIL terms, SRE do Problem Remediation. Operations does Incident Remediation Getting to a Zero Touch Operation using Closed Loop Automation requires new tools and new approaches

Transform Process: • Embrace Change • Adopt Cloud Operations (DevSecOps) Model to increase agility • Adopt Site Reliability Engineering practices to deliver Closed Loop solutions that fix problems

Adopt new Tools: • Flexible Automation Fit for Purpose • Robust, Intent-based Automation (avoid explicit workflows) • Embrace Change with AI/ML capabilities to integrated context • Intentional Integration with Modular Flexibility

1 2 POLL QUESTION 2:

What are the biggest challenges to updating your operations model?

1. No significant challenges

2. Organizational resistance to change

3. Lack of adequate tools or cost prohibitive

4. Lack of transformational resources / skills

Normalized Intent-driven Service design & Dynamic service Closed-loop lifecycle modeling orchestration testing assurance operations

Standardized Models the desired Automation for the Real-time view of Automated feedback operations for all service operational service itself and network and cloud loop between xNFs to enable state rather than pre- underlying resources infrastructures using assurance and model-driven programming for test, pre- AI to drive decision orchestration to automation with workflows production, and making and process enable zero touch CI/CD toolchains production automation operations environments

Network site deployment 4G/5G NFV lifecycle telco cloud platform management

5G Network Slicing vRAN / Open RAN Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC)

IBM Cloud Pak for IBM Cloud Pak for Network Automation Watson AIOps

⎻ Normalized lifecycle ⎻ Dynamic service ⎻ Incident resolution ⎻ Governance and compliance management assurance ⎻ Hybrid application ⎻ Cost management ⎻ Intent-driven orchestration ⎻ C losed-loop operations management ⎻ WebSphere operations ⎻ Service design and testing ⎻ Observability

Automation foundation

⎻ Robotic ⎻ Natural ⎻ Process and ⎻ Event ⎻ Machine ⎻ 3rd Party ⎻ Operational Process language task mining detection learning integrations models Automation interactions

IBM C loud AWS Microsoft Google VMware Private IBM Z End points Azure C loud IBM LinuxOne IBM Power Systems

Challenge Opportunity

Lack of end-to-end Comprehensive full stack automation with orchestration capabilities DevOps and SRE

Managing environments with both physical & virtual Hybrid solution spanning all resources resources

Lack of DevOps capabilities and skills Adoption of a cloud operating model enabling a needed to innovate zero-touch solution

Explore and schedule a free virtual consultation with an expert

With IBM Cloud Pak for Network Automation, you can evolve to zero- touch network operations with AI-powered automation

Lower Costs Deploy Faster Run Anywhere

Improves business process and Accelerates the delivery of Runs on any cloud, anywhere, service assurance while lowering networks and services through AI- and manages any network vendor Jim Carey operations costs powered automation infrastructure Offering Management Strategy IBM Telco Products [email protected]

Jim Carey Offering Management Strategy IBM Telco Products — [email protected]

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