Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) is transforming how modern networks are built, managed, and scaled. By decoupling network functions from proprietary hardware and running them on virtualised environments, NFV enables flexibility, efficiency, and innovation across telecom and IT ecosystems.

In this course, you’ll explore the NFV functional architecture and the NFV Infrastructure (NFVI) that underpins it. Starting with the NFV framework and its core principles, you’ll learn how virtualised network functions (VNFs) are composed, scaled, and interconnected. The course introduces key concepts such as VNF descriptors, forwarding graphs, and reference points, giving you a clear view of how NFV systems communicate and operate.

You’ll also dive into the NFVI layer, examining its components - compute, storage, and networking, and how technologies like hypervisors, cloud computing, and virtualisation enable NFV deployments. Topics include performance optimisation, security aspects, and advanced techniques such as CPU pinning, micro-segmentation, and VXLAN overlays. By the end, you’ll understand how NFV and MANO (Management and Orchestration) work together to deliver agile, scalable network services.

Designed for professionals in telecoms, IT, and network engineering, this course provides a practical, jargon-free introduction to NFV architecture and infrastructure - ideal for anyone looking to understand the foundations of virtualised networking without diving into vendor-specific details.

Course Contents

NFV Functional Architecture

• NFV Framework and VNFs
• Virtual Links and Forwarding Graphs
• Reference Points and Infrastructure Options

NFV Infrastructure (NFVI)

• NFVI Architecture
• NFVI and Virtualization
• Hypervisor Domain
• Containerisation
• Compute and Infrastructure Network Domains
• NFVI Implementation