Abstract: A method for application orchestration and management in a hybrid applications environment that comprises both VNF applications and CNF applications can include receiving an application descriptor that describes features of a new application to be deployed. A determination can be made, based at least in part on the application descriptor, whether the new application should be deployed as a VNF application or as a CNF application. The new application can be deployed as a VNF application when the application descriptor indicates that the new application should be deployed as a VNF application and when the available VNF infrastructure is sufficient to deploy the new VNF application. Conversely, the new application can be deployed as a CNF application when the application descriptor indicates that the new application should be deployed as a CNF application and when the available CNF infrastructure is sufficient to deploy the new CNF application.