A device may create a virtualization layer on top of a physical layer of the device; create a virtual machine layer on top of the virtualization layer; create a virtual network function (VNF) layer based on the virtual machine layer and the virtualization layer; create a connection layer on top of the VNF layer; and create a first virtual maintenance endpoint (MEP) that includes a first virtual media access control (MAC) address. The first virtual MEP may be configured to: send a first continuity fault management (CFM) message to a physical MEP having a physical MAC address or a second virtual MEP having a second virtual MAC address; and receive a second CFM message from the physical MEP or the second virtual MEP.