Embodiments relate to virtualization and have particular application to lifecycle management of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs). Preferred embodiments provide a method for managing VNFs in a communications network that comprises management and orchestration (MANO) entities and a deployment management entity which is functionally separate from the MANO entities. The method comprises, at the deployment management entity: receiving a lifecycle management message relating to a deployment of VNFs; associating the received lifecycle management message with a specific deployment of VNF instances, the specific deployment comprising a set of more than one VNF instances orchestrated by a network function virtualization (NFV) orchestrator and managed by a VNF management entity, both of which are said MANO entities; updating a first VNF instance in the deployment on the basis of the received lifecycle management message; and updating a second VNF instance in the deployment on the basis of the received lifecycle management message.