An approach for a software defined networking manager to perform a predictive analysis of proposed modifications to a software defined network (SDN) is presented. A method comprises receiving entity logical associations that are captured in a set of rules implemented in a SDN. Once a proposed modification to the entity logical associations is received, without implementing the proposed modification and without modifying the set of rules, impacted entity associations, from the entity logical associations, are identified. Upon receiving input indicating that the proposed modification is to be accepted, an updated set of rules for the SDN is generated by updating the set of rules based on the proposed modification, and the updated set of rules is implemented in the SDN.