Upcoming ISG Provider Lens™ report will assess providers of managed network solutions and advisory services for enterprises
Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm, has launched a research study examining providers of software-defined networking (SDN) services, including AI-driven network optimization.
The study results will be published in a series of comprehensive ISG Provider Lens™ reports, called Network – Software-Defined Solutions and Services, scheduled to be released in June 2025. The geographically focused reports will evaluate providers of managed SDN-WAN services, SD network transformation services, edge technologies and services (including private 5G), and secure access service edge (SASE) services.
Enterprise buyers will be able to use information from the reports to evaluate their current vendor relationships, potential new engagements and available offerings, while ISG advisors use the information to recommend providers to the firm’s buy-side clients.
The study explores transformational consulting and advisory services as well as implementation and support services offered by SD-WAN providers. It also examines edge technologies and services such as IoT, universal/virtual customer premises equipment (u/vCPE) and software-defined local area network (SD-LAN), which connects branch locations and private mobile networks by means of 5G communications.
“Enterprises are discovering the advantages of centralizing the management of widely distributed network assets,” said Heiko Henkes, director and principal analyst, ISG Research. “By moving the control layer to the cloud, enterprises are streamlining their network management for greater flexibility and agility, while at the same time reducing recurring costs, enhancing visibility and enabling AI-driven network optimization.”
ISG has distributed surveys to more than 160 providers serving the global SDN solutions and services market. Working in collaboration with ISG’s global advisors, the research team will produce four quadrants representing the SDN services the typical enterprise buys based on ISG’s experience working with its clients. The four quadrants are:
- Managed SD-WAN Services, evaluating providers of enterprise SD-WAN managed services, either managed entirely by the service provider or co-managed with the provider (“as-a-service”). More providers in this space are offering hybrid MPLS IP and MPLS-SDN options within the context of their broader strategic frameworks.
- SDN Transformation Services (Consulting and Implementation),assessing providers of services associated with delivering SDN and SD-WAN solutions to enterprises. These services typically begin with an initial transformational roadmap and continue through consulting and planning to discovery, rollout and testing.
- Edge Technologies and Services (including Private 5G), covering vendors of technologies including hardware and software, management and reporting tools and applications and services associated with edge network technology for enterprises. Edge computing technologies and services with enhanced speed and flexibility are frequently enabled in IoT and industrial IoT networks by means of private 5G networks.
- SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) Solutions and Services, evaluating providers of SASE solutions offered to enterprises as overarching integrated networks and security solutions from the enterprise core to the edge. Similar services added to existing networks are referred to as Secure Service Edge (SSE) and are often combined with identity-based authentication and enhanced security.
Geographically focused reports from the study will cover the global SDN market and examine products and services available in the Asia Pacific region, Germany, the U.S. and the U.K. ISG analysts Kenn Walters (Germany and U.S.) and Yash Jethani (U.K. and Asia Pacific) will serve as lead authors of the reports.
A list of identified providers and vendors and further details on the study are available in this digital brochure. Companies not listed as SDN services and solutions providers can contact ISG and ask to be included in the study.
All 2025 ISG Provider Lens™ evaluations feature expanded customer experience (CX) data that measures actual enterprise experience with specific provider services and solutions, based on ISG’s continuous CX research. Enterprise customers wishing to share their experience about a specific provider or vendor are invited to complete this online survey. Participants will receive a copy of this report in return for their feedback.
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