F5’s Secure Multi-Cloud Networking Solutions Simplify Operations for Distributed Application Deployments
F5 Distributed Cloud Services securely connect apps and APIs across cloud, hybrid, and edge environments
BENGALURU, MARCH 23, 2023 – F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) today announced multi-cloud networking (MCN) capabilities to easily extend application and security services across one or more public clouds, hybrid deployments, native Kubernetes environments, and edge sites. F5 Distributed Cloud Services are differentiated in providing connectivity and security at both the network and application layers. As an overlay across separate cloud provider offerings (including native-cloud services), Distributed Cloud Services let F5 customers easily integrate network operations, application performance optimization and troubleshooting, and visibility through a single management console.
According to F5’s just released 2023 State of Application Strategy (SOAS) report, 85% of organizations operate distributed application deployments, spanning traditional and modern architectures and multiple hosting environments. However, these distributed deployments add operational complexity and cost, obscure visibility, and increase the surface area for potential cyberattacks. F5 delivers a platform-based approach that is cloud-agnostic and purpose-built to meet the needs of traditional and modern apps—all without increasing complexity or losing granular control and necessary visibility. Specifically, today’s introduction of Distributed Cloud App Connect and Distributed Cloud Network Connect unlocks enhanced MCN use cases.
New
Distributed Cloud Services Simplify App and Network Connectivity
Traditional
network design and infrastructure models are unable to accommodate the demands
of modern apps and the digital experiences they provide, largely because newer
microservices-based apps rely on distributed Kubernetes cluster services and
APIs, and are not constrained to a single cloud location or even a single cloud
provider. Per the 2023 SOAS report, the top-rated multi-cloud challenges are
managing the complexity of associated tools and APIs, applying consistent
security across apps, and optimizing app performance. To properly address these
challenges, a more comprehensive approach to secure MCN is required—one that
provides:
· An
integrated service stack that addresses both layer 3 transit and layer 7
app-to-app service networking between clouds and distributed applications to
minimize complexity and increase agility.
· End-to-end
security for both networking between clouds/locations and for the protection of
the workloads being connected, with unified policy controls for faster response
to evolving threats.
· Cloud-agnostic
orchestration for application discovery, networking, and security, as well as
for end-to-end private connectivity.
· Granular
control of app-to-app communications for modern apps with embedded app
security.
"The
rapid adoption of cloud-based technologies and the increasing sophistication of
cyber threats have made it increasingly difficult for businesses in India to
secure their applications and data", said Dhananjay Ganjoo,
Managing Director, India and SAARC, F5. "At F5, we understand the
challenges faced by Indian organizations. Our market-leading products,
including our multi-cloud application services and security solutions, are
designed to help these businesses enhance performance and security of their
applications, irrespective of where they're deployed. With our new Distributed Cloud App Connect andNetwork connect capabilities,
customers will gain deeper visibility and control over their application
infrastructure, reduce risks, and able to rapidly respond to emerging
threats."
F5 is uniquely positioned to deliver necessary enabling technologies for MCN by connecting and securing any app and any API anywhere, ensuring fast network-to-network and workload-to-workload connectivity across different cloud locations, data centers, hybrid environments, and enterprise edge sites. In the year since the introduction of Distributed Cloud Services, F5 has continued to expand the capabilities delivered as SaaS and managed services, including the recent addition of Distributed Cloud Application Infrastructure Protection. Today’s announcement furthers the reach of Distributed Cloud Services through the following new SaaS offerings:
· Distributed
Cloud App Connect provides an integrated stack approach through a
single consoleto
combine comprehensive app networking with full app security, faster
provisioning, and ease of use.
o Advanced
app networking services including load balancing, API gateway, ingress/egress
control, and end-to-end visibility.
o Automated
or one-click provisioning of additional web application and API protection
(WAAP) services such as web application firewall, DDoS, bot mitigation, and API
security.
o Native
Kubernetes integration with fine-grained control on app-to-app and even
specific API-to-API communications without exposing the underlying network,
greatly reducing security risks and increasing speed of app delivery.
· Distributed
Cloud Network Connect makes it highly secure and simple to deploy
connectivity across cloud locations and cloud providers.
o Automated
provisioning and orchestration of cloud provider connectivity services to reduce
management complexity and increase visibility.
o Secure
connectivity and extensibility with intent-based micro-segmentation and service
insertion of third-party network functions virtualization (NFV).
o Optional fully private F5 Global Network to optimize app performance and provide high-speed private connectivity to public cloud providers.
“Enterprises’ cloud strategies are evolving from multiple apps spread across
multiple clouds to true multi-cloud architectures with distributed
workloads. That will require cloud and network architects to design their
multi-cloud networks to provide both network- and application-layer
connectivity,” said Zeus Kerravala, founder and principal analyst, ZK
Research. “F5 has long been a leader in application networking, and their
Distributed Cloud Services provide a fully integrated set of layer 3–7 services
for securely connecting across clouds and workloads, even those deployed at the
edge or branch office.”
“Our
clients have begun embracing the concept of distributing workloads and entire
applications across different cloud providers, as well as
hybrid architectures that include data centers or edge locations,” said
Colin Williams, Business CTO, Networking & Security, Computacenter
UK. “With that strategy comes the challenge of reducing infrastructure
complexity across multiple and varied environments, especially when connecting
both networks and applications while maintaining consistent security and
visibility. F5 Distributed Cloud Services provide easy-to-use SaaS-based
multi-cloud networking to help our clients quickly and securely connect their
distributed cloud instances and workloads.”
Industry Insights for Hybrid and Multi-Cloud in F5’s State of Application Strategy Report
Based on the surveyed responses of more than 1,000 IT decision-makers from around the globe, F5 is also introducing its 2023 State of Application Strategy (SOAS) report. Hailing from a broad mix of industries, IT leaders share their priorities and concerns with F5 in this ninth annual report focused on digital transformation. Data was provided by individuals in a wide range of IT and managerial roles, from the C-suite to the trenches of app development. Among the findings is that long-term business growth for all types of organizations will rely on identifying ways to ease management across increasingly complex and distributed systems. With a collection of statistics available noting the continued prominence of hybrid and multi-cloud app deployments, the complete report is available at: www.f5.com/state-of-application-strategy-report
Additional Resources
· Multi-Cloud
Networking: Challenges and Opportunities – F5 Blog
· Secure
Multi-Cloud Networking: The Key to Hybrid, Multi-Cloud, and Edge Success – F5
Blog
About F5
F5 is a multi-cloud application services and security company committed to bringing a better digital world to life.??????? F5 partners with the world’s largest, most advanced organizations to secure and optimize every app and API anywhere—on premises, in the cloud, or at the edge. F5 enables organizations to provide exceptional, secure digital experiences for their customers and continuously stay ahead of threats. For more information, go to f5.com. (NASDAQ: FFIV)
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