Verizon Communications Inc.
Systems and methods for validation of virtualized network functions

Abstract:

Provided are systems and methods for automating the deployment of software-defined and/or virtualized network functions ("xNFs") within a network via a holistic validation of each xNF against validation criteria and/or performance of prior xNFs. The holistic validation may include receiving an xNF, determining a first amount of risk associated with that xNF based on one or more differences between the xNF and the validation criteria, determining a second amount of risk by comparing performance characteristics of the xNF to performance characteristics of earlier version of the same or similar xNFs, providing the xNF to the network for deployment in response to the total risk being within an acceptable amount of risk, and preventing xNF deployment while providing a notification with a set of recommendations to reduce the xNF risk in response to the total risk exceeding the acceptable amount of risk.