F5 launches advanced WAF for multi-cloud app security
F5 Networks has announced the release of its Advanced Web Application Firewall solution for comprehensive application protection. The new web application firewall (WAF) offering delivers superior protection for all apps, with flexible consumption models to fit various deployment and management scenarios. These models include on a per-app basis, perpetual, subscription, and utility billing options, thereby offering flexibility in both the cloud and the data centre.
Already a leader in the WAF space, this new solution also enhances the company’s self-service WAF Express and managed Silverline WAF offerings. F5’s Advanced WAF gives customers:
• Superior protections against credential theft and abuse;
• The only WAF with comprehensive mitigation of web and mobile bot threats; and
• Layer 7 DDoS detection using machine learning and behavioural analytics for high accuracy.
Simon McCullough, major channel account manager at F5, says, “Attacks at the application layer are generally regarded as being harder to detect than at the network layer, and also more difficult to contain. However, despite this, we frequently see that more attention and funds are given to traditional firewalls than WAFs. And yet, mobile and business applications in the cloud are constantly increasing, and this consequently affects application security risks – apps are increasingly becoming the first targets in cybersecurity breaches. When any app can be turned into an attack vector, the need to increase the power of the WAF is clear, and this what F5’s new solution is all about.”
Ram Krishnan, SVP and general manager of the security business unit at F5, notes, “Cybercriminals are using sophisticated application-layer exploits, as well as an emerging wave of automated, bot, and IoT-based threats that are quite capable of evading simple signature or reputation-based detection. F5 offers the most complete application protection, with Advanced WAF as a foundational technology that can be deployed, managed, and consumed in the manner that best suits our customers.”
F5’s Advanced WAF dynamically protects apps with anti-bot capabilities, stops credential theft using keystroke encryptions to guard against keyloggers, and extends app-layer DDoS detection and remediation for all apps through a combination of machine learning and behavioural analysis. For dedicated DDoS protection, F5 also offers an updated version of DDoS Hybrid Defender, with new capabilities that significantly optimise ‘time to identify’ and ‘time to mitigate’ response metrics.
Anton Jacobsz, managing director at Networks Unlimited, a value-added distributor of F5 in Africa, concludes, “F5 was named as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant report for 2017 for WAF.
This latest addition to the F5 suite of products just shows how the organisation continues to evolve its growing portfolio of integrated and standalone solutions specifically designed for app security. F5’s holistic approach to app security reduces management complexity, decreases OpEx, and efficiently delivers services to neutralise attacks.”
To find out more, please contact Esti Bosch, F5 product manager at Networks Unlimited: esti.bosch@nu.co.za.
About F5
F5 makes apps operate faster, smarter, and safer for the world’s largest businesses, service providers, governments, and consumer brands. F5 delivers cloud and security solutions that enable organisations to embrace the application infrastructure they choose without sacrificing speed and control. For more information, go to f5.com.
About Networks Unlimited
Networks Unlimited is a value-added distributor, offering the best and latest solutions within the converged technology, data centre, networking, and security landscapes. The company distributes best-of-breed products, including Arbor Networks, Attivo Networks, Cofense, Carbon Black, Fortinet, F5, Hypergrid, Mellanox Technologies, NETSCOUT, ProLabs, RSA, Rubrik, SevOne, Silver Peak, Thales, Tintri and Uplogix. The product portfolio provides solutions from the edge to the data centre, and addresses key areas such as cloud networking and integration, WAN optimisation, application performance management, application delivery networking, Wi-Fi-, mobile- and networking security, load balancing, data centre in-a-box, and storage for virtual machines.
Since its formation in 1994, Networks Unlimited has continually adapted to today’s progressively competitive and evolving marketplace, and has reaped the benefits by being a leading value-added distributor (VAD) within the Sub-Saharan Africa market.
