A network source of truth (NSoT) is a record of the desired state of critical parts of the network that network engineers can compare with the operational state of the network. It is critical to not use the network itself to determine whether it is configured and operating as desired. For example, half of a redundant subsystem could fail and go unnoticed because the network and applications continue to function.
Organizations that have integrated their NSoT with network automation are more likely to have successful network automation experiences than those who haven’t (see this Cisco-sponsored Enterprise Management Associates).
