Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for determining readiness for switchover operations for network devices. A policy definition specifying a set of criteria and a set of instructions is received. Based on the set of instructions, a first supervisor module is determined whether it is ready for a switchover operation based on the set of criteria. The switchover operation includes a second supervisor module configured as a backup to the first supervisor module taking over for the first supervisor module. A set of conditions are determined whether they are satisfied. When the set of conditions are determined to be satisfied and the first supervisor module is determined to be ready for the switchover operation, the switchover operation is triggered to cause the second supervisor module to take over for the first supervisor module.