What Is a Network Source of Truth (NSoT)?

An NSoT is a centralized, authoritative repository of network data that serves as the single reference point for:

  • Device configurations

  • Network topology

  • IP addressing and routing tables

  • Security policies and compliance rules

  • Performance and telemetry data

Without an NSoT, automation risks inconsistency, errors, and unintended outages.

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Why NSoT Is the Foundation of Network Automation

Ensures Accuracy and Consistency

Automation scripts and tools must act on reliable data. An NSoT:

  • Eliminates manual data entry errors
  • Prevents configuration drift
  • Synchronizes data across multivendor environments

Enables Closed-Loop Automation

An NSoT allows networks to:

  • Self-heal by comparing real-time state against the desired state
  • Validate changes before deployment (via digital twin simulations)
  • Trigger automated remediation when deviations occur

Supports Multi-Domain Automation

Modern networks span on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments. An NSoT:

  • Integrates data from SD-WAN, cloud providers, and legacy systems
  • Provides a unified view for cross-domain automation
  • Ensures policies are enforced consistently everywhere

Reduces Risk in Network Changes

Automated changes can cause outages if based on stale data. An NSoT:

  • Provides real-time validation before changes are executed
  • Logs all changes for audit and compliance
  • Enables rollback if automation detects anomalies

How to Build an Effective NSoT

  1. Aggregate Data from Multiple Sources (CMDB, NetFlow, APIs, etc.)

  2. Normalize and Validate Data (Remove duplicates, correct errors)

  3. Keep It Dynamic (Automatically update as the network evolves)

  4. Integrate with Automation Tools (Ansible, Terraform, NetBrain)

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NSoT in Action: Real-World Use Cases

✅ Zero-Touch Provisioning – Deploy new devices with pre-validated configs.
✅ Security Policy Automation – Enforce consistent firewall rules across hybrid networks.
✅ Capacity Planning – Predict bottlenecks using historical and real-time data.

A Network Source of Truth is not just helpful—it’s mandatory for scalable, reliable network automation. By serving as the single source of accurate, real-time data, an NSoT ensures automation works as intended—reducing errors, improving efficiency, and enabling self-operating networks.

Why NetBrain is the Ultimate Network Source of Truth (NSoT)

In today’s complex, multi-vendor networks, automation is critical—but it requires a single, authoritative source of network truth to be effective. NetBrain serves as the foundation for network automation by acting as a dynamic, always-accurate NSoT, integrating real-time network data with intelligent automation capabilities.

How NetBrain Delivers a True Network Source of Truth

Real-Time, Unified Network Visibility

NetBrain continuously collects and normalizes data from:
✔ Network devices (routers, switches, firewalls)
✔ Cloud & SD-WAN environments (AWS, Azure, Cisco Viptela)
✔ Monitoring tools (SolarWinds, Splunk, ServiceNow)
✔ CMDB & IPAM systems (Infoblox, ServiceNow)

This eliminates manual data silos and ensures automation acts on accurate, up-to-date network state.

Closed-Loop Automation with a Digital Twin

NetBrain’s Digital Twin dynamically updates its NSoT by pulling live device data, topology, and traffic flows, making it the operational bedrock for automation.

NetBrain’s Digital Twin mirrors your live network, enabling:
✅ Pre-Change Validation – Simulate automation scripts before execution.
✅ Drift Detection – Flag deviations between intended vs. actual state.
✅ Self-Healing – Trigger auto-remediation workflows when anomalies occur.

No-Code Automation with Built-In NSoT Integration

Unlike traditional automation tools that rely on static scripts, NetBrain:
🔹 Dynamically adapts to network changes (no brittle playbooks)
🔹 Leverages live NSoT data for context-aware automation
🔹 Provides out-of-the-box workflows for common tasks (troubleshooting, provisioning)

Key Use Cases: Automation Powered by NetBrain’s NSoT

Challenge NetBrain NSoT Solution
Inconsistent configs Enforce standardized templates with real-time checks
Slow troubleshooting Auto-map root cause using live topology & logs
Unplanned outages Validate changes in Digital Twin before deployment
Security policy drift Continuously audit firewall rules against compliance baselines
Cloud-to-on-prem gaps Unified NSoT for hybrid network automation

NetBrain vs. Traditional NSoT Approaches

Static NSoT (Spreadsheets, CMDB) NetBrain Dynamic NSoT
Data Freshness Manual updates → Stale data Real-time sync
Automation Readiness Limited API integration Native automation engine
Change Safety No pre-validation Digital Twin simulation
Multi-Domain Support Siloed data Cross-cloud/on-prem unity

NetBrain Turns NSoT into an Automation Powerhouse

A Network Source of Truth isn’t just a database—it’s the beating heart of automation. NetBrain goes beyond traditional NSoT solutions by:

  • Continuously synchronizing with the live network

  • Enabling no-code, context-aware automation

  • Preventing outages with change simulation

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