F5, Inc.
Formerly
  • F5 Labs, Inc. (1996–1999)
  • F5 Networks, Inc. (1999–2021)
TypePublic company
IndustryTechnology
FoundedFebruary 26, 1996 (1996-02-26)
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington, U.S.
Key people
François Locoh-Donou (President and CEO)
ProductsApplication Security and Delivery
RevenueIncrease US$2.70 billion (2022)
Increase US$404 million (2022)
Decrease US$322 million (2022)
Total assetsIncrease US$5.28 billion (2022)
Total equityIncrease US$2.47 billion (2022)
Number of employees
~6,300 (April 2023)
ASN
  • 35280
Websitewww.f5.com
Footnotes / references
[1]

F5, Inc. is an American technology company specializing in application security, multi-cloud management, online fraud prevention, application delivery networking (ADN), application availability & performance, network security, and access & authorization.

F5 is headquartered in Seattle, Washington in F5 Tower, with an additional 75 offices[2] in 43 countries[2] focusing on account management, global services support, product development, manufacturing, software engineering, and administrative jobs. Notable office locations include Spokane, Washington; New York, New York; Boulder, Colorado; London, England; San Jose, California; and San Francisco, California.[2]

F5's originally offered application delivery controller (ADC) technology,[3] but expanded into application layer, automation, multi-cloud, and security services. As ransomware, data leaks, DDoS, and other attacks on businesses of all sizes are arising, companies such as F5 have continued to reinvent themselves.[4] While the majority of F5's revenue continues to be attributed to its hardware products such as the BIG-IP iSeries systems, the company has begun to offer additional modules on their proprietary operating system, TMOS (Traffic Management Operating System.) [5] These modules are listed below and include, but are not limited to, Local Traffic Manager (LTM), Advanced Web Application Firewall (AWAF), DNS (previously named GTM), and Access Policy Manager (APM). These offer organizations running the BIG-IP the ability to deploy load balancing, Layer 7 application firewalls, single sign-on (for Azure AD, Active Directory, LDAP, and Okta), as well as enterprise-level VPNs. While the BIG-IP was traditionally a hardware product, F5 now offers it as a virtual machine, which they have branded as the BIG-IP Virtual Edition. The BIG-IP Virtual Edition is cloud agnostic and can be deployed on-premises in a public and/or hybrid cloud environment.

F5's customers include Bank of America, Microsoft, Oracle, Alaska Airlines, Tesla, and Meta.[6]

Corporate history

F5, Inc., originally named "F5 Labs"[7] and formerly branded "F5 Networks, Inc." was established in 1996.[8] Currently, the company's public-facing branding[9] generally presents the company as just "F5."

In 1997, F5 launched its first product,[10] a load balancer called BIG-IP. BIG-IP served the purpose of reallocating server traffic away from overloaded servers. In June 1999, the company had its initial public offering and was listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange with the symbol FFIV.[11]

In 2017, François Locoh-Donou replaced John McAdam as president and CEO.[12] Later in 2017, F5 launched a dedicated site and organization focused on gathering global threat intelligence data, analyzing application threats, and publishing related findings, dubbed "F5 Labs" in a nod to the company's history. The team continues to research application threats and publish findings every week. On May 3, 2017, F5 announced[13] that it would move from its longtime headquarters on the waterfront near Seattle Center to a downtown Seattle skyscraper that will be called F5 Tower. The move occurred in early 2019.

F5 employees include Igor Sysoev, the author of NGINX; Dahl-Nygaard laureate Gilad Bracha; Google click fraud czar Shuman Ghosemajumder; and Defense.Net founder Barrett Lyon.

48 of the Fortune 50 companies use F5 for load balancing, Layer 7 application security, fraud prevention, and API management.[2]

Product Offerings

F5 site in Liberty Lake, Washington state, December 2021

F5 BIG-IP

F5's BIG-IP product family comprises hardware, modularized software, and virtual appliances that run the F5 TMOS operating system.[14][15] Depending on the appliance selected, one or more BIG-IP product modules can be added.

In 1997, the company introduced its flagship product, BIG-IP, which quickly gained recognition for its ability to efficiently distribute network traffic, enhance application performance, and provide robust security features. BIG-IP's early success was a pivotal moment in the company's history, establishing F5 as a prominent player in the application delivery controller (ADC) market.

Over the years, BIG-IP has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of organizations in an increasingly digital world. F5 expanded its product offerings to encompass a wide range of application services, including load balancing, SSL offloading, web application firewall (WAF), and application acceleration. The platform's flexibility and scalability have made it a go-to solution for enterprises seeking to ensure the availability, security, and performance of their critical applications.

BIG-IP History

On September 7, 2004, F5 Networks released version 9.0 of the BIG-IP software in addition to appliances to run the software. Version 9.0 also marked the introduction of the company's TMOS architecture,[16] with enhancements including:

  • Moved from BSD to Linux to handle system management functions (disks, logging, bootup, console access, etc.)
  • Creation of a Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) to directly talk to the networking hardware and handle all network activities.[15][17][18]
  • Creation of the standard full-proxy mode, which fully terminates network connections at the BIG-IP and establishes new connections between the BIG-IP and the member servers in a pool. This allows for optimum TCP stacks on both sides as well as the complete ability to modify traffic in either direction.

In late 2021, F5 introduced the next generation of their BIG-IP hardware platforms, the rSeries and VELOS chassis platform. These next-generation systems will replace the previous generation iSeries and VIPRION chassis system.[19]

F5 NGINX

As a part of the NGINX, Inc. acquisition in 2019, F5 offers a premium, enterprise-level version of NGINX with advanced features, multiple support SLAs, and regular software updates. Hourly and annual subscription options are available with multiple levels of support, professional services, and training.

Launched in 2013, NGINX Plus builds upon the foundation of the open-source NGINX web server, offering additional enterprise-grade features and support for businesses seeking enhanced control, scalability, and security for their web applications. This commercial version of NGINX has become a cornerstone of modern web architecture, trusted by a diverse range of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies.[20]

NGINX Plus is renowned for its ability to efficiently distribute network traffic, balance loads across multiple servers, and accelerate the delivery of web content, making it a critical component in ensuring high availability and optimal performance for web applications. It also provides advanced features like session persistence, content caching, and support for SSL/TLS encryption. Furthermore, NGINX Plus offers robust monitoring and management tools, allowing administrators to gain valuable insights into their application delivery infrastructure and make real-time adjustments. With a strong focus on flexibility, performance, and security, NGINX Plus continues to play a pivotal role in enabling businesses to deliver fast, secure, and reliable web experiences to their users.

[21]

F5 Distributed Cloud Services

During F5 Agility 2022, F5 announced a new product offering being built on the platforms of BIG-IP, Shape Security, and Volterra.[22] Announced during F5 Agility 2022, this suite is built upon the foundation of F5's BIG-IP, Shape Security, and Volterra platforms. The primary offering in this suite is the SaaS-based Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solution. F5 Distributed Cloud Services enable organizations to deploy, secure, and manage their applications across various environments, including data centers, multi-cloud setups, and the network or enterprise edge.

The suite includes a range of products tailored to address specific security and networking needs, such as Distributed Cloud DDoS Mitigation Service, Web Application Firewall (WAF), Bot Defense, API Security, and Client-Side Defense. These products offer advanced features like multi-layered DDoS protection, behavior-based application security, bot detection and mitigation, API threat detection, and client-side monitoring.

In addition to these security-focused products, F5 Distributed Cloud Services also encompass various networking and application management solutions, including Aggregator Management, Network Connect, App Connect, App Stack, DNS services, Content Delivery Network (CDN), and Synthetic Monitoring.

F5's Distributed Cloud Services aim to assist organizations in safeguarding their digital operations, optimizing application performance, and enhancing overall security in the dynamic landscape of modern cloud computing and application deployment.

[23][24]

Acquisitions

uRoam, Inc.

F5 acquired uRoam, Inc. in 2003 for a total cash deal size of $25 million.[25] The strategic intent behind F5 Networks' acquisition of uRoam was to diversify its product offerings beyond its core application delivery and security services. This move aimed to address the growing demand for secure remote access to corporate networks and applications, aligning with industry trends.

MagniFire Websystems, Inc.

F5 acquired MagniFire Websystems in 2004 for a total cash deal size of $29 million. This acquisition allowed F5 to enter the web application security space within the BIG-IP platform.[26] MagniFire Websystems products were sold independently when the deal first closed, then were quickly bundled into the BIG-IP product group.

Swan Labs Corporation

In September 2005, F5 announced they had acquired Swan Labs for a total of $43 million to incorporate WAN optimization and application acceleration technology into the BIG-IP platform, specifically to improve their load balancing offering.[27]

Traffix Systems, Inc.

In 2005, F5 Networks, Inc. at the time, now F5, Inc., announced it has acquired Traffix Systems for a total value of $135 million. Traffix Systems product was integrated within the F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) product line.[28]

Acopia Networks, Inc.

In August 2007, F5, Inc., at the time, F5 Networks, Inc., announced they acquired Acopia Networks, Inc. to add file-area networking to the F5 BIG-IP application-delivery product line, also known as the Local Traffic Manager (LTM) module on the BIG-IP platforms.[29] The deal was valued at $210 million.[29]

Defense.Net, Inc.

In May 2014, F5, Inc., at the time, F5 Networks, Inc., announced they acquired Defense.Net, Inc., a company offering cloud-based DDoS mitigation services.[30] The Defense.Net product would later become F5 Silverline. As of December 2022, the Silverline brand was retired and the managed service offerings Silverline offered were merged into the F5 Distributed Cloud Services product portfolio.

NGINX, Inc.

In March 2019, F5 acquired NGINX, Inc., the company responsible for widely used open-source web server software, for $670 million.[31]

Shape Security, Inc.

In January 2020, F5 acquired Shape Security, Inc., an artificial intelligence-based bot detection company, for $1 billion.[32] It also sells products to protect applications against fraud.[33] The previous Shape Security-branded solutions are now included in F5 Distributed Cloud Services.[34]

Volterra, Inc.

In January 2021, F5 acquired Volterra, Inc., an edge networking company, for $500 million.[35] It sells SaaS security services. The previous Volterra-branded solutions are now included in F5 Distributed Cloud Services.[34]

Threat Stack, Inc.

In October 2021, F5 acquired Threat Stack, Inc., a Boston cloud computing security startup company for a reported $68 million.[36][37][38] As of December 15, 2022, the previous Threat Stack offering has been rolled into the F5 Distributed Cloud platform as the Application Infrastructure Protection feature.[39]

Lilac Cloud, Inc.

In January 2023, F5 announced they had entered into an agreement to purchase Lilac Cloud, an application services delivery provider. Lilac Cloud, based in Cupertino, California, was F5's CDN provider for their Distributed Cloud Services solution. The entire Lilac Cloud offering will be rolled into the overall F5 Distributed Cloud Services product line.

Suborbital Software Systems, Inc.

In July 2023, Suborbital Software Systems, a technology startup building cloud-native platforms on WebAssembly, announced they had been acquired by F5, Inc. The details of this acquisition were not disclosed due to the small nature of Suborbital's operations. The entire Suborbital product will be used within the F5 Distributed Cloud Services product line.

References

  1. ↑ "F5, Inc. 2022 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 15 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "English (US)". www.f5.com. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  3. ↑ "How F5 Networks built an empire on controlling the internet". Information Age. 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  4. ↑ Datanyze. "F5 BIG-IP Platform Market Share and Competitor Report | Compare to F5 BIG-IP Platform, F5 BIG-IP APM, AWS Elastic Load Balancer". Datanyze. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  5. ↑ "Take a Flexible and Adaptable Approach to Application Delivery" (PDF). BIG-IP Modules Datasheet. September 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Customers". www.f5.com. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "F5 Networks Form 10-K". Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  9. ↑ "Creative Guidelines" (PDF). f5.com. April 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Rossi, Ben (10 June 2016). "How F5 Networks built an empire on controlling the internet". Information Age.
  11. ↑ "F5 Networks Inc files for a $30,000,000 initial public offering on April 7, 1999". Stock IPO Dates & Prices. 1999-04-07. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  12. ↑ "F5 names new CEO after yearlong search". The Seattle Times. January 30, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  13. ↑ "F5 Networks will move HQ to glitzy new Seattle skyscraper, to be called 'F5 Tower'". geekwire.com. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  14. ↑ Steven Iveson (2013-04-20). "What the Heck Is F5 Networks' TMOS?". packetpushers.net. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  15. 1 2 Ryan Kearny; Steve Graves (2008-12-14). "No operating system is an island". embedded.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  16. ↑ "What The Heck Is F5 Networks' TMOS? - Packet Pushers -". Packet Pushers. 2013-04-20. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  17. ↑ "Manual Chapter: Understanding Core System Services". f5.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  18. ↑ "Overview of BIG-IP Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) CPU and RAM usage". f5.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  19. ↑ "MyF5". support.f5.com. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  20. ↑ "F5 NGINX Solutions". NGINX. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  21. ↑ "Datasheets". NGINX. 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  22. ↑ "F5 Agility 2022". agility2022.f5agility.com. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  23. ↑ "F5 Distributed Cloud Services". www.f5.com. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  24. ↑ "F5 Strengthens Protection of the Digital World with F5 Distributed Cloud Services". www.f5.com. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  25. ↑ Greene, Tim (2003-07-23). "F5 buys uRoam to strengthen access and authentication offering". Network World. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  26. ↑ Greene, Tim (2004-06-01). "F5 buys Magnifire for $29 million". Network World. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  27. ↑ Dubie, Denise (2005-09-07). "F5 to acquire Swan Labs". Network World. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  28. ↑ "Acquisitions by F5 Networks". 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  29. 1 2 Connor, Deni (2007-08-06). "F5 Networks to acquire Acopia Networks". Network World. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  30. ↑ "F5 Networks Acquires Defense.Net, Inc". www.f5.com. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  31. ↑ "F5 acquires NGINX for $670M to move into open-source, multi-cloud services". TechCrunch. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  32. ↑ Condon, Stephanie. "F5 to acquire Shape Security for approximately $1 billion". ZDNet. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  33. ↑ Gagliordi, Natalie. "F5 Networks intros new fraud detection engine based on Shape Security acquisition". ZDNet. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  34. 1 2 "F5 Strengthens Protection of the Digital World with F5 Distributed Cloud Services". www.f5.com. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  35. ↑ "F5 Networks Reaches $500 Million Deal for Startup Volterra". Bloomberg.com. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  36. ↑ Page, Carly (20 September 2021). "F5 acquires cloud security startup Threat Stack for $68 million". Tech Crunch.
  37. ↑ Networks, F5. "F5 Enhances Cloud Security Portfolio with Acquisition of Threat Stack". F5, Inc. Investor Relations.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ↑ "F5 Completes Acquisition of Threat Stack to Enhance Cloud Security Portfolio". AiThority. 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  39. ↑ "Enhancing Modern App Security: Introducing F5 Distributed Cloud App Infrastructure Protection". www.f5.com. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
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