Review Notes: Cisco Lifecycle Services ARSFE (Optimize Phase)

» Optimize Phase Overview

• Ensure customer’s network is operating at peak performance.
• Ensure customer’s network is resolving problems quickly.
• Ensure customer’s network is adapting the architecture, operation, and performance to chnaging business goals.

» Business Case Alignment

• Assess the ROI
• Assess other business benefits of the solution.

» Technology Assessment

• Assess the routing and switching system.
• Drive continuous improvements by recommending remediation measures including:
  • Device configuration optimization.
  • Capacity planning.
  • Traffic analysis.
  • Security assessment.
  • Quality issue resolution.

• Technology Assessment Activity:
  • System performance analysis
  • Measure the solution performance, availability, capacity, security, and software functionality
  • Security review of infrastructure
  • Develop and deliver technology assessment report

» Operations Assessment

• Assess the current state of customer operations and network management.
• Identify issues and opportunities for improving the management of their routing and switching system.
• Operation Assessment Activities:
  • Prepare for operations assessment
  • Conduct operations assessment
  • Conduct gap analysis

» Security Assessment

• Obtain, review, determine, and document security procedures.
• Upgrade requirements.
• Evaluate the efficiencies of the security infrastructure.
• Security Assessment Activities:
  • Prepare for security assessment
  • Perform security assessment

» Recommended Skills

• Typical job roles include AM’s, SE’s, FE’s, and network consulting engineers (NCE’s).
• The recommended skills needed to fulfill the defined activities are:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the existing routing and switching network.
  • The ability to assess the customer’s evolving business requirements and identify trends in operational processes.
  • An understanding of account management, market conditions, sales methodologies, industry routing and switching operations, and security leading practices.
  • The capability to recognize opportunities to position and sell additional routing and switching technologies.

REFERENCE: Cisco PEC (Requires valid user login)

“The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how we use them.” – Author unknown

Filed under: » CQS-ARSFE, » Lifecycle, » Review Notes

Review Notes: Cisco Lifecycle Services ARSFE (Operate Phase)

» Operate Phase Overview

• Ensure the solution is operating efficiently.
• Ensure the solution is highly available.

» Operations Setup

• System administration and backup.
• Assessment management.
• Scheduled maintenance.

» Systems Monitoring

• Monitor, manage, and report on service level metrics and abnormal events or trends that may effect the enterprise routing and switching system.

» Incident Management

• Classifying and prioritizing the incident.
• Isolating and resolving the incident.
• Scheduled maintenance.
• Recovering from the incident outage.
• Validating the resolution.
• Tracking and monitoring progress.
• Closing the incident.

» Problem Management

• Identify, as well as resolve, recurring incidents.
• Analyze incident trends.
• Activities:
  • Identify problem
  • Manage problem

» Change Management

• Originate and evaluate changes.
• Accept and schedule changes.
• Execute changes.
• Communicate changes.
• Conduct post-change evaluation.
• Accept and close changes.

» Configuration Management

• Check that changes in the system infrastructure have been recorded correctly.
• Monitor the status of components.
• Activities:
  • System configuration management database
  • Verify configuration management database

» Supplier Management

• Check that changes in the infrastructure have been recorded correctly.
• Manage requisitions with suppliers.
• Manage settlements and billing activities.
• Manage contracts between the enterprise and suppliers.

» Security Management

• Define processes and principles to address security-related issues.
• Provide ongoing management to protect confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
• Security Management Activities:
  • Security incident management
  • Identify management
  • Security configuration management
  • Security content delivery management
  • Security policy administration

» Service Review

• Assist customer in identifying best practices to monitor system performance and respond to trouble reports.

» Recommended Skills

• Typical job roles include AM’s, SE’s, and FE’s.

• The recommended skills needed to fulfill the defined activities are:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the proposed routing and switching solution.
  • The ability to support a routing and switching solution and troubleshoot network problems.
  • The capability to provide configuration, change management, incident, and problem management activities.

REFERENCE: Cisco PEC (Requires valid user login)

Filed under: » CQS-ARSFE, » Lifecycle, » Review Notes

Review Notes: Cisco Lifecycle Services ARSFE (Implement Phase)

» Implement Phase Overview

• The new technology solution is installed with minimal disruption to the existing network.
• Vulnerabilities are assessed and minimized.

» Project Planning

• Develop project management, escalation, and communication plans.
• Conduct an internal kickoff meeting.

» Project Kickoff

• Conduct the project kickoff meeting.

» Staging Core Network Services: Routed and Switched Environments

• Provide a plan detailing the installation requirement tasks.
• Stage tasks in a controlled implementation environment.
• Activities:
  • Install system components per staging plan
  • Staging plan (configure and document solution)
  • Execute test cases per the staging plan

» Phased Implementation

• Configure and integrate enterprise routing and switching system components for pilot sites.

• Activities:
  • Site preparation for system implementation
  • Install, configure, integrate, and test infrastructure
  • Document implemented components, devices, and applications
  • Host hand-off and support introduction meeting

» Full System Migration

• Migrate all sites, end-users and network services.

» Acceptance Testing

• Verify that the system meets the customer’s solution requirements
• Verify that the system is ready for production.
• Activities:
  • Prepare for acceptance test plan execution
  • Execute systems acceptance test plan
  • Present and review test results

» Staff Training

• Develop the class scheduling, enrollment, communication plan, course outlines, training schedule and locations, coordination of training vendors, and training budgets.

» Post Implementation Support Hand-off Meeting (Operations Implementation)

• Coordinate a meeting to provide details on and discuss the ongoing support and services to be provided.
• Activities:
  • Review customer operations plan
  • Prepare for hand-off meeting
  • Host a hand-off meeting
  • Execute customer operations plan
  • SMARTnet only hand-off meeting
  • Operations services hand-off meeting
  • Partner value added support hand-off meeting
  • Verify customer understanding
    

» Project Closeout

• Recap the solution implementation to gather customer feedback, gauge profitability, identify lessons learned, and incorporate into leading practices.

» Recommended Skills

• Typical job roles include SE’s, FE’s, and PM’s.

• The recommended skills needed to fulfill the defined activities are:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the proposed routing and switching solution.
  • The ability to provide staff training.
  • Excellent documentation and writing skills.
  • Demonstrate understanding of technical support options.
  • Technical deployment and project management skills.

REFERENCE: Cisco PEC (Requires valid user login)

Filed under: » CQS-ARSFE, » Lifecycle, » Review Notes

Review Notes: Cisco Lifecycle Services ARSFE (Design Phase)

» Design Phase Overview

• Design solution is developed to meet business requirements, and foresee and prevent potential network bottlenecks

» Design Project Kickoff

• Host a design workshop to:
  • Confirm dates, roles, and responsibilities.
  • Confirm that all planning information is complete.
  • Discuss and document the progress for the remediation plan.

» Detailed Design Development: Design Workshop

• Provide a comprehensive detailed design for the customer routing and switching system.
• Detailed Design Development: Design Workshop Activity:
  • Design routing and switching infrastructure
  • Design recommendations for a switched environment
  • Design recommendations for a routed environment
  • Design MPLS WAN
  • DMVPN design development (Here is a tutorial of DMVPN by Petr Lapukhov of Internetwork Expert)
    
  • Design routing and switching security architecture
  • Present low-level design to customer

» Detailed Design Validation

• Validate the design of the:
  • Routing and switching WAN infrastructure.
  • Routing environment.
  • Security architecture design.
  • Interfaces to third-party systems.

• Present the low-level design validation to the customer.

• Detailed Design Validation Activities:
  • Validate design core network services WAN infrastructure
  • Validate design routing environment (internal/ external)
  • Validate security architecture design
  • Validate design interfaces to 3rd-party systems and databases
  • Present low-level design validation to customer

» Detailed Design Customer Sign-off

• Review the low-level design with the customer.
• Obtain a signed Letter of Understanding.

» Implementation Plan Development

• Provide a site-specific implementation plan that defines:
  • Activities.
  • Configurations.
  • Commissioning test plans.

• Implementation Plan Development Activities:
  • Site-specific implementation requirements
  • Create a site-specific network implementation plan
  • Gather and verify full system migration requirements
  • Develop full system migration strategy
  • Define migration team roles and responsibilities
  • Develop implementation schedule
  • Present final network implementation plan
    

» Operations Plan Development

• Operational processes for the routing and switching system.
• A plan to implement the new processes.
• A process readiness test plan.
• Operations Plan Development Activities:
  • Review existing process and flows
  • Develop methods and procedures
  • Develop plan to implement operations
  • Develop test plan for operational processes
  • Present operations plan

» Staging Plan Development

• Provide a plan detailing the installation requirement tasks.
• Stage the tasks in a controlled implementation environment.
• Staging Plan Development Activities:
  • Collect and verify staging requirements
  • Staging plan development
  • Present staging plan
    

» Systems Acceptance Test Plan Development

• Verify that the deployed system meets the customer’s needs.
• Verify tat the system is ready for the production environment.
• Systems Acceptance Test Plan Development Activities:
  • Collect and verify solution accepted requirements
  • Acceptance test plan development
  • Present acceptance test plan

» Staff Plan Development

• Assess the skills and knowledge required to support the customer’s proposed system.
• Analyze and define the training and development requirements for each support role.

» Recommended Skills

• Typical job roles include AM’s, SE’s, FE’s and PM’s.
• The recommended skills needed to fulfill the defined activities are:
  • The ability to manage complex projects and demonstrate an understanding of the solution.
  • The ability to design a solution that meets the customer requirements.
  • The ability to validate the routing and switching design.
  • An understanding of the routing and switching implementation and operational requirements.

REFERENCE: Cisco PEC (Requires valid user login)

Filed under: » CQS-ARSFE, » Lifecycle, » Review Notes

Review Notes: Cisco Lifecycle Services ARSFE (Plan Phase)

» Plan Phase Overview

• The physical and network infrastructure are analyzed.
• Routing and switching solution recommendations are introduced.

» Planning Project Kickoff (Deployment Project Management)

• Provide resources to manage the planning, design, and implementation phases.
• Develop and execute a project management program.

» Systems Requirements Validation

• Perform an analysis of the customer’s technical and business requirements.
• Provide a remediation plan.

» Network Readiness Assessment Including Physical Network Assessment

• Assess the customer’s existing network infrastructure.
• Analyze the physical and logical configuration of the network.
• Analyze network design and integration issues.
• Network Readiness Assessment Including Physical Network Assessment Activities:
  • Prepare for site readiness assessment
  • Gather and verify customer network information
  • Conduct facility sites survey:
  • Perform site assessment gap analysis
  • Assess existing infrastructure
  • Assess existing WAN
  • Assess existing IP address assignment or breakdown
  • Assess existing routing protocols
  • Consolidation assessment
  • Backup and recovery assessment
  • Perform gap analysis
  • Present network readiness assessment report and network remediation plan

» Operations Readiness Assessment Including People, Process, and Tools

• Assess the customer’s current operations and network management infrastructure.
• Identify issues pertaining to the proposed system service-level requirements.
• Identify the customer’s support model.
• Operations Readiness Assessment Activities:
  • Prepare for operational assessment
  • Conduct operational assessment
  • Perform operational assessment gap analysis
  • Produce operations readiness assessment report

» Security Architecture Assessment

• Integrate the new routing and switching system.
• Protect networks and information against intruders.
• Security Architecture Assessment Activities:
  • Prepare for security analysis
  • Conduct security analysis
  • Perform security gap analysis
    

» Service Assurance

• Assess network and operational readiness.
• Complete the service assurance process by identifying potential points of vulnerability.

» Recommended Skills

• Typical job roles include AM’s, SE’s, FE’s and PM’s.
• The recommended skills needed to fulfill the defined activities are:
  • The ability to manage complex projects and demonstrate an understanding of the solution.
  • The ability to assess customer’s existing core infrastructure.
  • The ability to conduct interviews.
  • Knowledge of industry routing and switching network, system, operations, security, and leading practices.

REFERENCE: Cisco PEC (Requires valid user login)

Filed under: » CQS-ARSFE, » Lifecycle, » Review Notes

Review Notes: Cisco Lifecycle Services ARSFE (Prepare Phase)

» Prepare Phase Overview

• Analyze and evaluate business and technical requirements.
• Identify the appropriate products or solutions.

» Account Qualification

• Conduct customer interviews
• Conduct interviews with executive sponsors.

» Account Planning

• Conduct sales strategy planning sessions.

» Business Requirements Development

• Identify and assess customer business requirements.
• Produce and present business requirements.

• Business Requirements Development Activities:
  • Prepare for business requirements workshops
  • Conduct business requirements workshops
    

» Technology Strategy Development

• Analyze customer business requirements.
• Identify and assess technologies and services.
• Produce and present a technology requirements document.
• Technology Strategy Development Activities:
  • Preliminary technical discovery
  • Technology strategy meeting
  • Develop technology strategy
  • Present solution requirements

» Customer Education (Product and Technology Demo)

• Prepare and conduct customer demonstrations.
• Provide examples of technology features and functionality.
• Provide examples of the achievable performance of the most recent product.

» High-Level Design Development

• Analyze technology and operational requirements.
• Identify hardware and software.
• Produce a high-level design solution and review with customer.
• High-Level Design Development Activities:
  • Identify products that meet customer’s requirements
  • Produce high-level design
  • Present high-level design
    

» Business Case Development

• Review the business and technology requirements document.
• Review high-level design and operations technology strategy.
• Develop a financial analysis.
• Produce a business case.
• Business Case Development Activities:
  • Review business and technical requirements
  • Determine solutions for the customer’s business and technical requirements
  • Business initiatives ROI
  • Produce a business case
  • Present business case

» Proposal Development

• Develop a written proposal or request for proposal (RFP).
• Generate planning and design a statement of work (SOW).
• Develop an executive presentation.

» Deliver Proposal

• Deliver the executive presentation.

» Recommended Skills

• Typical job roles include AM’s, and SE’s.
• The SE’s provide sales support and technical expertise.
• The recommended skills needed to fulfill the defined activities are:
  • A background in account management.
  • The ability to recognize and qualify opportunities.
  • Knowledge of market conditions, sales methodologies, and technology solutions.
  • Sales expertise and technical knowledge.

REFERENCE: Cisco PEC (Requires valid user login)

Filed under: » CQS-ARSFE, » Lifecycle, » Review Notes