IEC 61907:2009

Overview

IEC 61907:2009, titled Communication Network Dependability Engineering, is a pivotal international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It provides comprehensive guidance on dependability engineering specifically tailored for communication networks. As communication networks evolve to meet complex market demands, ensuring high dependability is crucial for seamless and secure data, voice, and video transmission. This standard establishes a generic framework for dependability performance and outlines processes for implementation, evaluation, and improvement of network dependability.

The standard is designed for a broad audience including network equipment developers, suppliers, network integrators, and service function providers. Its scope covers telecommunications networks, the Internet, and intranets, addressing methodologies for technology design, performance evaluation, security components, and quality of service (QoS) measurement aimed at achieving robust network dependability objectives.

Key Topics

• Network Dependability Framework: IEC 61907 defines a structured model addressing the interaction of network elements and interoperability among service functions that collectively achieve communication reliability and availability.

• Dependability Attributes: The standard focuses on critical attributes like network availability, fault tolerance, reliability, maintainability, and security to ensure continuous and trustworthy communication services.

• Implementation Process: Detailed methodologies for dependability engineering are presented, including risk-based approaches to network design, integration, and deployment processes that align with business needs.

• Performance Evaluation: IEC 61907 outlines systematic assessment techniques including dependability analysis, fault insertion testing, and measurement of dependability attributes to quantify and enhance network performance.

• Security Considerations: The standard emphasizes the importance of securing network data integrity and resilience against vulnerabilities, establishing criteria for implementing security services within dependability frameworks.

• Quality of Service (QoS): QoS measurement is covered extensively, highlighting user-oriented parameters and requirements, ensuring that network service functions meet user expectations in performance and reliability.

• Life Cycle Approach: Recognizes the evolutionary nature of networks, promoting continuous dependability management throughout the network life cycle, including technology convergence and renewal processes.

Applications

IEC 61907:2009 is instrumental for professionals engaging in:

• Network Equipment Development: Providing design criteria to enhance reliability and maintainability of network hardware and software components.

• Service Providers and Integrators: Guiding the planning, implementation, and operation of dependable communication infrastructures that can withstand failures and security threats.

• Quality Assurance Teams: Enabling structured performance evaluation and QoS measurement to maintain service standards aligned with user demands.

• Risk Management: Facilitating risk-based dependability analysis to identify vulnerabilities and implement mitigation strategies to prevent service disruption.

• Telecommunications and IT Infrastructure: Supporting the deployment of resilient networks for mobile communications, internet services, intranet and enterprise networks that require high availability and data integrity.

By adhering to IEC 61907, stakeholders can improve network service continuity, enhance security, and optimize overall network performance-delivering reliable communications essential for business operations and public communication services.

Related Standards

IEC 61907 builds upon and complements several other standards and recommendations, providing a cohesive framework for dependability management:

• IEC 60300 Series: Extends the general system dependability principles from IEC 60300-1 and IEC 60300-2 to the specialized domain of communication networks.

• IEC 60300-3-15: Incorporates system dependability concepts specific to network applications, ensuring standardized reliability engineering processes.

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) Recommendations: References ITU-T standards relevant to network performance and communication services to promote compatibility and interoperability.

• Electropedia and IEC Online Resources: Leverages widely accepted terminologies and definitions facilitating a common understanding across global stakeholders.

Keywords

Communication network dependability, network dependability engineering, IEC 61907, network reliability, quality of service (QoS), network security, dependability performance, network life cycle, telecommunications standards, fault tolerance, network assessment, service function providers, network equipment standards, dependability framework, network evolution.