Netify SD-WAN Capability Taxonomy (2026.1)

A controlled vocabulary used to standardise vendor and managed service provider capability statements across the comparison page, RFP question bank and JSON endpoints. Each category lists the canonical capabilities buyers can ask about and providers can answer against.

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)