Systems and methods for validation of virtualized network functions

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, storing a plurality of processor-executable instructions to:

• receive a package comprising a software-defined network function (“xNF”) that virtualizes a particular network function of a network;
• classify the xNF based on one or more of the particular network function, an xNF identifier, or metadata of the xNF;
• select validation criteria for the xNF from a plurality of validation criteria and a set of performance characteristics of one or more prior xNFs virtualizing the same particular network function in response to classifying the xNF, wherein the validation criteria for the xNF comprises feature-compliant attributes of xNFs providing the particular network function;
• determine a first amount of risk based on one or more differences between the xNF and the validation criteria;
• determine a second amount of risk by comparing a set of performance characteristics of the xNF to the set of performance characteristics of the one or more prior xNFs virtualizing the same particular network function;
• provide the package to the network for deployment in response to the first amount of risk and the second amount of risk being within an acceptable amount of risk;
• and prevent deployment of the package into the network in response the first amount of risk and the second amount of risk exceeding the acceptable amount of risk.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a package comprising a software-defined network function (“xNF”) that virtualizes a particular network function of a network;
• classifying the xNF based on one or more of the particular network function, an xNF identifier, or metadata of the xNF;
• selecting validation criteria for the xNF from a plurality of validation criteria and a set of performance characteristics of one or more prior xNFs virtualizing the same particular network function in response to classifying the xNF, wherein the validation criteria for the xNF comprises feature-compliant attributes of xNFs providing the particular network function;
• determining a first amount of risk based on one or more differences between the xNF and the validation criteria;
• determining a second amount of risk by comparing a set of performance characteristics of the xNF to the set of performance characteristics of the one or more prior xNFs virtualizing the same particular network function;
• providing the package to the network for deployment in response to the first amount of risk and the second amount of risk being within an acceptable amount of risk;
• and preventing deployment of the package into the network in response the first amount of risk and the second amount of risk exceeding the acceptable amount of risk.