HN823: Defining A Modern Network Service

In this episode of Heavy Networking, host Ethan Banks sits down with Mark Prosser, founder of Tornog, a Toronto-based network operators group, to explore the evolving definition of a 'network service' in the modern era. The conversation centers on how the complexity of today’s networks—driven by overlays, cloud integration, automation, and outsourced infrastructure—has made traditional service provisioning inadequate. Prosser argues that a true network service must be defined not just by technical configuration, but by end-to-end validation, business outcomes, and cross-organizational collaboration. He emphasizes that services are no longer just about connectivity, but about the full lifecycle of delivery, including ongoing testing, observability, and human coordination across silos. The discussion highlights the shift from 'boiling the ocean' (viewing the entire network as one entity) to thinking in terms of systems and services, with a focus on documentation, testing frameworks like NUTS and PyATS, and the role of AI in bridging knowledge gaps. The episode concludes with a call to action: organizations must start small, build iterative validation, and foster collaboration to deliver resilient, measurable services in an increasingly complex world.