System and method to trigger cross-layer optimizations in a network

The system comprising an application Cross Stratum Optimization, CSO, gateway, ACG, coupled to an application layer that configures and monitors a plurality of Data Center Elements storing computing resources; a network CSO gateway coupled to a network layer that configures and monitors a plurality of Network Elements and to receive requests from said ACG to configure connections, wherein the system further includes a Client entity coupled in an already deployed Network Element or in a Data Center Element configured to monitor a segment of the network where said Client entity is found; an IT-Aware Network Controller coupled to said network layer configured to run operations in and from the network regarding information of said monitored network information and of said Data Center Elements; and interfaces coupling the different elements of the system allowing the interconnection and communication between them. The method of the invention is intended to be implemented by the system of the invention.