A method and apparatus for adapting a network topology including at least one hybrid digital cross-connect system (DCS)/SONET ring structure such that DCS network elements are managed by a DCS element management system, while SONET network elements such as ring structures are managed by a SONET element management system. A digital link is created to separate pure DCS equipment from SONET equipment within the hybrid DCS. Based on this separation, the hybrid DCS is logically decomposed into separate DCS and SONET equipment such that a SONET ring structure including an add-drop multiplexer (ADM) included within the DCS may be managed as a homogeneous SONET ring by a SONET network element manager, while the DCS equipment is managed by a DCS element manager.