Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... i
Foreword......................................................................................................................................... ii
Chapter 1: Introduction to Network Configuration and Change Management................................1
What is Change Management? ........................................................................................................1
A Process .............................................................................................................................2
A Tool ..................................................................................................................................3
Why Bother with Change Management?.........................................................................................4
Excuses for a Lack of Change Management........................................................................4
The Operational Risks..........................................................................................................5
The Financial Risks..............................................................................................................6
Building a Process..........................................................................................................................10
Where Do You Start?.........................................................................................................10
The Players.........................................................................................................................11
Tools and Technologies .....................................................................................................13
Industry Best Practices...................................................................................................................13
What Else Do You Need to Know? ...............................................................................................16
Network Change Management and Stability .....................................................................16
Network Change Management and Security .....................................................................16
The Scope of Change Management ...................................................................................17
Network Change-Management Technologies....................................................................17
Network Change-Management Tools ................................................................................18
Network Change-Management Best Practices...................................................................18
Sample Change-Management Processes............................................................................19
Summary ........................................................................................................................................20
Chapter 2: Network Configuration and Change Management and Stability .................................21
The Impact of Change on Business Performance ..........................................................................21
Case Study .........................................................................................................................21
Dramatic Impact.................................................................................................................26
Creating a Formal Process for Change ..........................................................................................27
Where Are You Today? .....................................................................................................27
Reviewing and Approving Proposed Changes ..................................................................30
Prioritizing Change ............................................................................................................32
Assigning and Compensating for Risk ..............................................................................35
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