The design process is well covered in the VMware vSphere Design Workshop course. But the VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) certification also provides some useful information; the entire path of VCDX-DCV certification provides a complete VCDX methodology. This methodology is focused on how to find business needs and how to map them to design and implement decisions.
Also, if you are not VCDX certified, you can learn about this type of approach from the VCDX Boot Camp, the VCDX Blueprint, or the books and posts written by other VCDX users.
Following the VCDX methodology, or a similar one, you can have a deep look at how a large number of variables can affect the design of a virtual infrastructure. Some effects may define some creativities or risks, but also, any assumptions that are unknown or that you are unsure of should be considered risks as, depending on their probability and how critical it is, it could cause your project to fail.
The VCDX methodology is mainly based on the following phases and the relative deliverables:
- Discover the inputs (conceptual model)
- Develop the solution (logical design)
- Design the architecture (physical design)
- Determine success (validation of design)
Also, if risk management is normally under the purview of security or compliance departments, it’s really important to include them in your design, considering all the what/if scenarios before implementing the project. Of course, some constraints may already have already been generated by some initial risk management activities.