Crew Resource Management for Network Design

Using Crew Resource Management (CRM) as a Model for Network Design

While serving in the US Air Force as a C-5 flight engineer, some of the most valuable training I received was Crew Resource Management or CRM. CRM, which focuses on collaboration, risk management, and safety in aviation, provides a practical model for network design. Modern networks require more than just technical expertise—they need a solid framework to ensure reliability, efficiency, and resilience.

Here’s how the principles of CRM translate to building robust, high-performing networks.

1. Collaborative Design and Operations

In aviation, effective communication and teamwork are non-negotiable. Every crew member has a clear role but contributes to the shared goal of a safe and successful flight. Networks, too, require seamless collaboration among different components and teams.

For example, routers, switches, and firewalls need defined roles, just like the network engineers, cloud architects, and operations staff managing them. Consistent communication and information sharing among teams and systems helps maintain alignment and focus on common goals. Establishing standardized processes and adopting modular design principles enhances the compatibility and reliability of individual components.

2. Planning for Risk and Redundancy

Airplanes are built to handle failures, with backups for every critical system. Networks should work the same way. Downtime isn’t just inconvenient—it’s expensive and damaging to the business.

To mitigate risks, network designs should include multiple layers of redundancy. This might mean dual internet paths, redundant routers, or active-active data center configurations. Failover mechanisms should be baked into the architecture, and teams must regularly test them. This approach ensures that when a component fails, the rest of the network keeps running without missing a beat.

Predefined failure modes—like redirecting traffic during a link outage—are as essential as having a checklist for managing an engine failure. Similarly, designing systems to prioritize critical services during disruptions ensures they can maintain functionality and recover smoothly.

3. Maintaining Situational Awareness

Situational awareness in aviation means knowing where you are, what’s happening around you, and what might happen next. It also means you have a keen understanding of ‘what is’ happening vs. ‘what should’ be happening and you can discern the divergence quickly. In networking, this translates to having a clear, real-time view of the system’s health and performance.

This is where observability tools shine. Tools that provide data from multiple sources—like network telemetry, traffic logs, and application performance metrics—help teams see the full picture. Predictive analytics can take this further, spotting potential bottlenecks or failures before they occur. For example, a spike in latency could signal an impending issue that proactive routing adjustments might solve.

4. Structured Decision-Making

When things go wrong mid-flight, pilots follow structured protocols. The same applies to network design and incident management. Structured decision-making reduces panic and errors, especially during high-pressure situations.

Automation can handle routine decisions, such as rerouting traffic during a link failure, leaving humans to focus on more complex issues. Teams should have clear escalation paths so that the right expertise is available for critical incidents. Incident response runbooks and playbooks—detailed guides for handling specific scenarios—are essential for ensuring consistency and minimizing downtime.

5. Standardization and Reusability

Aircrews operate using strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure every flight is predictable and safe. Networks benefit from the same level of consistency.

Using standardized configurations for network components like routers, switches, and firewalls reduces errors and ensures faster deployment. Reusable design patterns for common setups, such as VPNs, cloud onramps, or SD-WAN configurations, save time and simplify troubleshooting. Architectural governance can enforce these standards across teams and projects. Another benefit of rigid standardization is any deviation becomes immediately obvious that requires attention.

6. Continuous Improvement and Learning

Pilots don’t just fly—they train, debrief, and analyze their performance to improve. Network teams should adopt the same mindset.

After any network incident, hold a post-mortem to identify root causes and adjust processes. Simulated failover tests, or “fire drills,” can prepare teams for real-world scenarios. Sharing knowledge through documentation and regular training ensures the entire team stays sharp and aligned with the latest technologies and practices.

7. Designing for Resilience

Just as planes are designed to keep flying even when something goes wrong, networks should be built to handle disruptions without significant impact.

This starts with layered resilience. For example, use SD-WAN for flexible routing at the transport layer, geo-redundant data centers for critical applications, and content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure smooth delivery to users. Implement a zero-trust security model to protect every layer of the network and reduce risks from breaches.

Bringing It All Together

CRM principles aren’t just for aviation—they’re a practical guide for building better networks. By focusing on collaboration, planning for risks, maintaining visibility, and continually improving, you can create a network that’s reliable, adaptive, and ready for anything. Whether it’s a routine traffic spike or a major outage, a CRM-inspired approach ensures your network and team are always prepared to deliver.

Please note: This post was initially drafted using ChatGPT, which provided a solid starting point but was somewhat wordy, repetitive, and overly formal. The author refined the content, added real-world experience, and enhanced clarity to ensure accuracy, readability, and practical relevance.

FTC Disclosure Statement:?https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/ftc-disclosure-statement-brad-gregory-pgjxc

LinkedIn: Brad Gregory,?https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/brad-gregory/

Company Website:?www.mcnstrategies.com

Brad is the Principal & Founder of MCN Strategies, helping businesses simplify hybrid multicloud networking. With hands-on experience in cloud connectivity and network architecture across Equinix, AWS, Azure, GCP, and Oracle, he’s worked on both the technical and strategic sides of cloud networking. Before starting MCN Strategies, he was a solution architect and product manager focusing on virtual network solutions for hybrid multicloud connectivity. Prior to that, he worked at various large enterprises as a network engineer and architect.