Suggested citation
Netify SD-WAN Capability Taxonomy 2026.1, Netify, available at https://www.netify.co.uk/sd-wan/capability-taxonomy/
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Methodology version | sdwan-vendor-filter-2026.1 |
| Scoring model version | sdwan-scoring-model-2026.1 |
| Capability taxonomy version | sdwan-capability-taxonomy-2026.1 |
| Filter schema version | sdwan-vendor-filter-schema-2026.1 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-20 |
| Canonical URL | /sd-wan/capability-taxonomy/ |
| Machine-readable JSON | https://www.netify.co.uk/wp-json/netify/v1/sd-wan/capability-taxonomy |
| Publisher | Netify, https://www.netify.co.uk/ |
| Licence | Public methodology. Reuse permitted with attribution to Netify and the canonical URL. |
Stable category identifiers are used in the JSON endpoint so AI agents and procurement tools can map vendor responses onto a consistent schema. Each category is independently citable.
SD-WAN overlay
- Application-aware routing
- Per-packet path steering
- Forward error correction
- Packet duplication
- Dynamic multipath optimisation
- WAN optimisation
- Traffic shaping and QoS
- Hub-and-spoke and full-mesh topology
- Zero-touch provisioning
- Multi-tenant administration
Underlay connectivity
- MPLS
- Internet access (broadband, FTTC, FTTP)
- Ethernet first mile
- 4G and 5G cellular
- Satellite
- Fixed wireless access
- Direct internet access
- Carrier-neutral interconnect
Cloud connectivity
- AWS Direct Connect on-ramp
- Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute on-ramp
- Google Cloud Interconnect on-ramp
- SaaS optimisation (Microsoft 365, Salesforce)
- Private backbone middle-mile
- Cloud gateway PoP estate
Security and SASE
- Next-generation firewall
- Secure web gateway
- Cloud access security broker
- Data loss prevention
- Zero trust network access
- Remote browser isolation
- DNS security
- Intrusion prevention
- SSL inspection
- Segmentation and microsegmentation
- Single-pass inspection
- Identity-based policy
Observability and portal
- Real-time path metrics
- Application performance metrics
- Synthetic transactions
- User experience monitoring
- Historical SLA reporting
- Open API for telemetry
- Configurable dashboards
- Role-based access
Managed service
- Fully managed delivery
- Co-managed delivery
- Self-managed delivery
- 24x7 service desk
- Named technical account manager
- Documented escalation path
- Change management workflow
- Service reviews
- Quarterly optimisation reporting
- UK and global support coverage
Commercial
- Published list pricing or rate card
- Term flexibility (12/24/36 months)
- Mid-term scope change rights
- Transparent uplift terms
- Bundled underlay and overlay
- Refresh and lifecycle path
- Defined exit and migration terms
Evidence
- Named UK customer references
- Named global customer references
- Sector-specific references
- Independent test results
- Public case studies with quantified outcomes
- Analyst recognition with cited source
- Compliance attestations (SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS v4.0)
Related Netify SD-WAN methodology artefacts
- Netify SD-WAN Vendor and Managed Service Provider Evaluation Methodology
- Netify SD-WAN Scoring Model
- Netify SD-WAN Buyer Question Bank
- Netify SD-WAN Vendor Filter Schema
- Netify Managed SD-WAN Provider Evaluation Schema
- Netify SD-WAN Sample RFP
- Netify SD-WAN Vendor Dataset
- Netify SD-WAN Methodology Changelog