Network Security
F5 Networks – Application-Centric Network Security Built for Modern Threats
F5 Networks Application-Centric Network Security Built for Modern Threats
F5 delivers powerful, application-first network security solutions designed to protect today’s dynamic, multi-cloud, and hybrid environments. From next-gen firewalls to application-layer protection and DDoS mitigation, F5 provides visibility, control, and threat prevention at every level of the network stack.
BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Next-Generation Network Firewall Optimized for Application Traffic
BIG-IP AFM is a high-performance, stateful, full-proxy network security solution that provides deep protection against a wide range of threats. It is designed to secure data centers, carriers, and enterprises from network-level attacks.
Core Features:
● Full L3–L4 stateful firewall
● Advanced DDoS protection (volumetric and protocol-based)
● IP intelligence and geolocation-based policies
● Packet filtering and DoS event logging
● High-speed throughput: 5 Gbps to 640 Gbps+
● Hardware and virtual editions available
User Environment Sizing:
● Typically deployed per site or data center rather than per user count
● Supports thousands to millions of concurrent sessions
Recommended Use Cases:
● Large Enterprises
● Telcos / Service Providers
● Financial Data Centers
BIG-IP Application Security Manager (ASM)
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
BIG-IP ASM provides layer 7 security by inspecting HTTP/S traffic to block common and
advanced web application attacks. It offers built-in OWASP Top 10 protection, bot defense,
and compliance reporting.
Core Features:
● Comprehensive WAF with customizable policies
● Protection against XSS, SQL injection, CSRF, and more
● Behavioral analytics & machine learning for anomaly detection
● Integration with threat feeds and IP reputation services
● API security & JSON inspection
Best For:
● Web applications, customer portals, SaaS platforms
● Organizations needing PCI-DSS compliance
● Cloud and hybrid architectures
F5 Distributed Cloud WAAP (Web App & API Protection)
Cloud-native Security-as-a-Service Platform
F5’s Distributed Cloud WAAP delivers application security from the cloud, protecting web apps and APIs across multi-cloud and edge environments. Combines WAF, bot defense, API security, and DDoS mitigation into a unified service.
Core Features:
● Delivered as-a-Service
● Secure any environment: public cloud, edge, data center
● Includes real-time visibility, AI-based threat detection
● Adaptive security based on behavior
Best For:
● Businesses with multi-cloud or edge presence
● API-driven apps
● Companies needing zero infrastructure footprint
Silverline Managed Security Services
Cloud-Based Security Delivered by F5 Experts
F5 Silverline is a suite of managed security services including WAF, DDoS protection, and threat intelligence. It’s ideal for organizations that need 24/7 protection without deploying or managing the hardware themselves.
Includes:
● Silverline Web Application Firewall
● Silverline DDoS Protection
● 24/7 SOC (Security Operations Center)
● Hybrid deployments: integrate with on-prem BIG-IP
Best For:
● Enterprises without internal security teams
● Hybrid and legacy applications
● Organizations looking for expert-managed protection
SSL Orchestrator
Visibility and Control over Encrypted Traffic
F5’s SSL Orchestrator decrypts, inspects, and re-encrypts SSL/TLS traffic, allowing security tools (IPS, DLP, sandbox) to inspect traffic that is typically opaque.
Why It Matters:
● Over 90% of internet traffic is encrypted
● Hackers hide malware in encrypted traffic
● Most firewalls and IPS tools cannot decrypt efficiently
Use Case:
● Integrate with third-party security tools
● Deploy in line with existing firewalls
● Perfect for regulated industries and enterprises
BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) – Security Add-ons
While BIG-IP LTM is not a dedicated security product, it plays a key role in:
F5’s SSL Orchestrator decrypts, inspects, and re-encrypts SSL/TLS traffic, allowing security tools (IPS, DLP, sandbox) to inspect traffic that is typically opaque.
● Preventing layer 4 attacks
● Enabling SSL offloading
● Routing traffic intelligently to avoid overloading backends
Recommended Network Security Architecture by Environment Size
| Environment | Suggested Products | Typical Users or Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business / Web Apps | Distributed Cloud WAAP | Cloud-native apps, API security, under 100 users |
| Mid-size Enterprise | BIG-IP ASM + AFM |
Web portal + perimeter firewall for 200–1,000 users |
| Large Enterprise / Data Center | BIG-IP AFM + ASM + SSL Orchestrator | Thousands of users, encrypted inspection, app firewall |
| Multi-Cloud / Global | Distributed WAAP + Silverline |
API protection, managed security at scale |
Why Choose F5?
🔹 Comprehensive Security: Protects networks, apps, and APIs from advanced threats like DDoS, bots, and malware.
🔹 High Performance: Delivers strong security without compromising speed or user experience.
🔹 Zero Trust Ready: Easily integrates with Zero Trust models to ensure secure, verified access.
🔹 Multi-Cloud Protection: Secures on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments with consistent policies.
🔹 Deep Visibility & Automation: Provides powerful analytics and automates threat detection and response.
