More applications, evolving security threats, demands for faster deployment, and an explosion of new devices are all pushing traditional IT models to their limits. SDN is about making the network more flexible and responsive so that organizations are better positioned to respond to these challenges. F5 Networks™ understands applications. F5 Networks™ has been helping businesses gracefully navigate application delivery challenges since day one and remain perfectly positioned to deliver the software—defined application services required to ensure seamless user experiences. SDN begins to address IT challenges by operationalizing the network to create a more flexible, programmable data center that can rapidly respond to requirements for new services and changing network conditions. Much of the promise of SDN revolves around simplified orchestration and management. SDN vendors need to be tightly integrated and aligned around common standards. As the bridge between applications and the network routers and switches, F5 Networks™ works with network and SDN providers to ensure the seamless integration.

F5 Networks™ is a key participant in OpenStack as well as virtual desktop and other initiatives that are converging around SDN. F5 Networks™ is working closely with all of the key players to mitigate the risks and increase the value of SDN for our customers. Cisco™ and F5 Networks™ are working together to help organizations simplify and automate their networks. Benefits of this collaboration include improved time to market for both applications and services, reduced reaction time to planned and unplanned circumstances, and avoiding the risks inherent in managing numerous point solutions. Empower your workforce, respond to change, and accelerate your business. When applications slow to a crawl or stop working altogether, so does your business. Your enterprise needs seamless performance from its applications to stay productive and remain competitive. You need a network capable of handling evolving demands and opportunities. Respondents agree that attacks at the application layer are worse than those at the network layer. 63% Attacks are harder to detect, 67% of attacks are more difficult to contain.

Architecture Components

Now that you’re delivering apps across your environment—many times with traditional IT resources—ensure successful delivery of those apps with these four crucial components.  Deploy application delivery services such as DDoS protection, WAF, DNS, TCP optimization, and global server load balancing to keep applications secure, fast, and always available. Service delivery platform—leverage the right mix of hardware devices, software, lightweight proxies, or a cloud—based application service platform for your hybrid environment. Service templates—save time, ensure consistent deployments, and reduce the operational risk of manual deployments by codifying standard configuration elements for a particular service. Platform management systems—cut administration overhead by providing tools to manage, monitor, and upgrade Application Delivery Controllers (ADCs). You’ve always delivered applications. Most of them changed infrequently and deployed from your on—premises data centers. They’ve streamlined processes, provided new services and offerings, and enhanced customer experiences.

Application Delivery

If organizations fail to meet these expectations, it has never been easier for customers to find alternatives. F5 Networks’™ expertise in intelligent traffic management serves as the foundation for our application availability and delivery solutions. Load balancing has evolved into something much greater. That something is application delivery, which includes traditional load balancing for delivering any application, plus security, performance, and management services. These services help you follow through on the promise of your applications. Apps have been F5Networks™’ focus for 20 years. As leaders in the application services, F5 Networks™ expertise in helping power fast, available, and secure apps forms the foundation for our entire catalog of solutions. You don’t have to choose between security and stability, and providing the agility DevOps requires to support change. It’s possible to bridge both environments with an architecture that provides these benefits for every single one of your applications. Your application landscape, whatever it looks like and regardless of volume, requires the right services.

Network Security

Complete Protection for Users, Apps and Data. The complete portfolio of F5 Networks™ technologies and solutions is designed to help you improve security, reduce vulnerabilities, and ensure ongoing performance of your critical business applications. Protect your applications — the door to your data and your business. Applications power businesses of all sizes, from startups to the Fortune 500. Your business is driven by them, your customers connect with you through them, and your employees can’t do their jobs without them. But, as critical as they are, applications also expose your business to threats. Applications and their data are a focal point for today’s attacks. Today, there are over 1 billion web apps. In 2020, that could easily be 5 billion. All those apps could be targets for attacks and securing applications is fraught with complexity. With the pervasiveness of Internet encryption (SSL/TLS ), mobile devices, and the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), risks are only increasing. The data behind the application includes business strategies, finances, and your customers’ most sensitive information.

Features And Benefits

Over 70 percent of today’s Internet traffic is encrypted and analysts predict it will continue to rise. This growth is creating a dangerous blind spot because many traditional, network—focused security appliances can’t effectively decrypt traffic. And hackers readily exploit this blind spot to hide malware and other threats. By fortifying security strategies with solutions and services focused specifically on the application, you can better secure access to applications and protect the ones that expose sensitive data, no matter where they live. Look for solutions centered on access, protection, and visibility into encrypted traffic. And, above all, make sure those solutions are built on an intrinsic understanding of applications. F5 Networks™ secures applications and the data behind them—because that’s where today’s attacks happen. With decades devoted to connecting users and applications, our solutions provide unparalleled visibility into hidden threats and offer the controls needed to manage access and reduce the risks of app attacks. F5 Networks solutions support security for any infrastructure, from data centers to the cloud.