The Howdy Glossary

The F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager (ASM) is a web application firewall (WAF) tailored to safeguard web applications by offering real-time protection against numerous cyber threats and attacks. It enhances security, ensures compliance with industry standards, mitigates risks, and optimizes cloud resource performance via SSL processing offloading. Developed by F5 Networks—an American company recognized for its expertise in application delivery networking technology—the ASM is designed to provide robust web application security.

Key features of the F5 BIG-IP ASM include its capability for real-time defense against various online attacks, data security functions, support for regulatory compliance, risk mitigation strategies for online environments, and cloud resource optimization through SSL offloading from back-end servers. These functionalities make it a comprehensive solution aimed at enhancing both the security and performance of web applications. The product competes with other WAFs such as Imperva SecureSphere, Akamai Kona Site Defender, Barracuda Web Application Firewall, Citrix NetScaler AppFirewall, and Fortinet FortiWeb. Differences among these products often lie in their specific implementations, adaptability to custom requirements, scalability options, integration capabilities with other systems, ongoing support services, regular updates, and infrastructure compatibility.

The competitive edge of the F5 BIG-IP ASM lies in its multi-faceted approach to securing web applications combined with performance optimization capabilities grounded in F5 Networks' advanced application delivery networking technology. This translates into unique configurations tailored to specific needs and seamless integration abilities that can cater to varied organizational infrastructures. It targets organizations across different sectors looking to secure their online services while maintaining efficient operational performance. IT professionals within these organizations leverage the ASM's extensive suite of features to ensure high levels of protection against cyber threats while staying compliant with industry regulations.