A method performed at an assurance data versioning system , comprising: receiving network assurance data including network events generated by a first instance (504-1) of a network tool having a first specific version state; appending a version identifier uniquely corresponding to the first specific version state of the network tool to the network assurance data generated by the first instance of the network tool; receiving a query for the network assurance data generated by the first instance of the network tool from a second instance (504-2) of the network tool having a second specific version state; and providing the second instance of the network tool access to the network assurance data generated by the first instance of the network tool according to a version constraint for data generated by the network tool using the version identifier uniquely corresponding to the first specific version state of the network tool and appended to the network assurance data generated by the first instance of the network tool, wherein the version constraint is a constraint that dictates whether a network tool instance can access assurance data based on network tool instance version states, the providing step comprising: determining whether the second specific version state of the second instance is greater than or equal to the first specific version state of the first instance of the network tool that generated the network assurance data; and allowing or preventing access to the network assurance data by the second instance of the network tool in dependence on the determination. receiving network assurance data including network events generated by a first instance (504-1) of a network tool having a first specific version state; appending a version identifier uniquely corresponding to the first specific version state of the network tool to the network assurance data generated by the first instance of the network tool; receiving a query for the network assurance data generated by the first instance of the network tool from a second instance (504-2) of the network tool having a second specific version state; and providing the second instance of the network tool access to the network assurance data generated by the first instance of the network tool according to a version constraint for data generated by the network tool using the version identifier uniquely corresponding to the first specific version state of the network tool and appended to the network assurance data generated by the first instance of the network tool, wherein the version constraint is a constraint that dictates whether a network tool instance can access assurance data based on network tool instance version states, the providing step comprising: determining whether the second specific version state of the second instance is greater than or equal to the first specific version state of the first instance of the network tool that generated the network assurance data; and allowing or preventing access to the network assurance data by the second instance of the network tool in dependence on the determination. determining whether the second specific version state of the second instance is greater than or equal to the first specific version state of the first instance of the network tool that generated the network assurance data; and allowing or preventing access to the network assurance data by the second instance of the network tool in dependence on the determination. <EOS>