How to Use This Assessment

Score your network infrastructure on a 1–5 scale for each dimension. A score of 1 indicates critical gaps; 5 indicates best-in-class infrastructure. Sum scores for a total out of 30.

Dimension 1: Architecture

Scoring Rubric

• 1 — Legacy: Three-tier architecture with spanning tree. Significant east-west traffic bottlenecks. No ECMP.
• 2 — Transitioning: Partial spine-leaf deployment. Some ECMP. Spanning tree still present in parts of the network.
• 3 — Modern: Full spine-leaf architecture. ECMP throughout. BGP routing. No spanning tree in the data center fabric.
• 4 — Advanced: Spine-leaf with VXLAN/EVPN overlay. SDN controller. Automated topology management.
• 5 — Best-in-class: Multi-tier spine-leaf for large scale. Full SDN. Intent-based networking. Continuous optimization.

Key Questions

• Is your data center network spine-leaf or three-tier?
• Is ECMP enabled throughout the fabric?
• Is spanning tree eliminated from the data center fabric?
• Is VXLAN/EVPN deployed for overlay networking?

Dimension 2: Bandwidth Capacity

Scoring Rubric

• 1 — Constrained: Critical links consistently above 80% utilization. Frequent congestion. No headroom for growth.
• 2 — Marginal: Some links above 70% utilization. Limited headroom. Upgrade planning not initiated.
• 3 — Adequate: Critical links below 70% utilization. 18-month capacity plan in place. Upgrade triggers defined.
• 4 — Comfortable: Critical links below 60% utilization. Proactive capacity management. Automated alerting.
• 5 — Optimized: Continuous capacity optimization. Predictive capacity planning. No unplanned capacity events.

Key Questions

• What is the 95th percentile utilization on your critical links?
• Do you have a capacity plan for the next 18–24 months?
• Are alerts configured for utilization thresholds?
• What is your current oversubscription ratio?

Dimension 3: AI Readiness

Scoring Rubric

• 1 — Not ready: No high-speed interconnect. Maximum port speed below 25GbE. No RDMA support.
• 2 — Limited: Some 100GbE ports available. No dedicated AI fabric. No RDMA support.
• 3 — Capable: 100GbE or 400GbE available. RoCEv2 or InfiniBand capable. Non-blocking fabric for AI zones.
• 4 — Advanced: Dedicated AI fabric (InfiniBand or 400GbE RoCEv2). Non-blocking design. RDMA configured and tested.
• 5 — Optimized: InfiniBand NDR or 400GbE with SHARP. Non-blocking fat-tree. Optimized for maximum GPU utilization.

Key Questions

• What is the maximum port speed available for AI servers?
• Is a non-blocking fabric available for AI workloads?
• Is RDMA (InfiniBand or RoCEv2) configured and tested?
• What is the GPU utilization during distributed training?

Dimension 4: Network Security

Scoring Rubric

• 1 — Minimal: Flat network. No segmentation. No network monitoring. Perimeter-only security.
• 2 — Basic: Some VLAN segmentation. Basic firewall rules. Limited network monitoring.
• 3 — Standard: Network segmentation between security zones. NGFW at perimeter. Network monitoring with alerting.
• 4 — Advanced: Microsegmentation for critical workloads. NDR deployed. Zero trust network access for remote users.
• 5 — Best-in-class: Full microsegmentation. Comprehensive NDR. Zero trust throughout. Automated threat response.

Dimension 5: Management & Automation

Scoring Rubric

• 1 — Manual: All changes made manually via CLI. No automation. No version control for configurations.
• 2 — Basic: Some scripting for repetitive tasks. Basic configuration backup. Limited monitoring.
• 3 — Managed: Infrastructure as code for network changes. Configuration version control. Comprehensive monitoring with streaming telemetry.
• 4 — Advanced: Full IaC with GitOps workflow. Zero-touch provisioning. Automated compliance checking.
• 5 — Optimized: Intent-based networking. Automated remediation. Continuous compliance. Predictive analytics.

Dimension 6: Documentation

Scoring Rubric

• 1 — Undocumented: No current network diagrams. No cable documentation. No IP address management.
• 2 — Partial: Some documentation exists but is incomplete or outdated. Key systems undocumented.
• 3 — Adequate: Current network diagrams. Cable documentation. IPAM system. Change log maintained.
• 4 — Comprehensive: All systems documented and current. Automated documentation from network discovery. CMDB integration.
• 5 — Excellent: Real-time documentation via network management platform. Complete as-built documentation. Regular documentation audits.

Scoring & Next Steps

Any dimension scoring 1 is a critical gap requiring immediate attention. Architecture at score 1 (legacy three-tier with spanning tree) creates significant performance and reliability risk for modern workloads.

DCS Global's Network Assessment provides a detailed technical evaluation of your network infrastructure with specific upgrade recommendations, architecture designs, and phased implementation plans. Contact our network engineers to schedule an assessment.