A system and method for determining a state of a network service. Frames per second at an interface are measured to determine congestion. An effective throughput at the interface is measured to determine the congestion. An average packet size for a number of frames communicated through the interface is determined. The state for the network service is determined in response to the congestion and the average packet size. The state indicates whether the SLA is violated. A throughput rate communicated through the interface is adjusted in response to the state.