Embracing a Data-Driven Approach to Network Automation - Jason Edelman, Network to Code#

Jason Edelman, Founder and CTO, Network to Code

• Why: Every network automation program lives or dies on the state model underneath it — this is a practitioner-focused treatment of source-of-truth design (what data you need, where it lives today, how to define golden state), which transfers across any environment.
• What: The argument that clean network data — a defined desired/"golden" state compared continuously against actual network state — is the foundation of durable automation, plus guidance on how organizations should start and what to think about when choosing a source of truth. (from abstract only)
• How: Treats the network as a stateful entity: consolidate the data currently scattered across spreadsheets and local databases into a documented model, then reconcile observed state against the golden truth as the automation primitive.
• Where applicable: Broadly applicable to any network team beginning or restarting automation; methodology, not tied to specific tooling, scale, or topology. Consultancy-presented but pattern-level rather than pitch-level.