Best-practices enterprise network testing includes discovering performance limitations and validating vendor claims during acquisition, performing the due diligence of proof-of-concept for network designs or upgrades, and planning for headroom and growth as requirements change.

However, inadequate testing is worse than no testing at all, as it creates a blind spot, a false sense of security. There are three elements of effective testing, the kind of testing that protects an organization from unpleasant and costly surprises: Proper tools, methodologies, and expertise. These three elements create test realism, which is essential for meaningful test results.