F5 Advanced WAF Reviews

Vendor: F5

4.2 out of 5

67 reviews
98% willing to recommend

367 followers

What is F5 Advanced WAF?

F5 Advanced WAF is a web application security solution for financial and government sectors, e-commerce, and public-facing websites. It offers protection against various attacks, including botnets, web scraping, and foreign entities. The solution can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud and is often used with other security tools. Its most valuable features include DDoS and DNS attack protection, SSL uploading, anomaly detection, and the ability to input custom rules.

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F5 Advanced WAF is the #2 ranked solution in top Web Application Firewalls. PeerSpot users give F5 Advanced WAF an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 67 most recent F5 Advanced WAF reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.2. F5 Advanced WAF is most commonly compared to Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks: F5 Advanced WAF vs Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks. F5 Advanced WAF is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 62% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 15% of all views.

Helped 830,726 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Amr Shawky

Security & Infra Technology Specialist at BARQ Systems

The AOF solution provides numerous security features. It protects applications from various threats, including SQL injection, and ensures that the application behavior is from a human, not a bot. It includes DDoS protection which has been enhanced after migrating from SDM. The solution is very effective as it includes security features important for financial applications where protection is necessary to avoid potential financial loss or penalties. It helps protect the core and backend of applications.

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Abdul Azim

Network Security Engineer at IIPL

* Ease of Deployment: Simplify initial setup and policy configuration. * UI Enhancements: Improve user interface for better navigation and usability. * Integration: Enhance compatibility with third-party tools like SIEMs and DevOps pipelines. * Performance Optimization: Reduce latency during high traffic volumes. Suggested Features for Next Release: ------------------------------------ * AI-Driven Threat Detection: Advanced machine learning for proactive defense. * Comprehensive API Protection: Extended support for GraphQL and WebSocket APIs. * Cloud-Native Integration: Better functionality in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. * Automated Policy Suggestions: AI-based recommendations for policy tuning.

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Ahmed Moamen

Senior Security Solutions Architect at Orange

F5 offers a versatile solution that can be integrated with APM in cases where integration with an external IDB is needed. It is useful for authentication backup if the on-prem directory service is unavailable. Additionally, its WAF functionality is valuable for protecting applications from attacks. It is a versatile and strong solution that's easy to understand and deploy.

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F5 Advanced WAF mindshare

As of January 2025, the mindshare of F5 Advanced WAF in the Web Application Firewall (WAF) category stands at 12.0%, up from 10.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Web Application Firewall (WAF)

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Web Application Firewall (WAF)	Jan 15, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 15, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 Advanced WAF vs AWS WAF	Jan 15, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 Advanced WAF vs Microsoft Azure Application Gateway	Jan 15, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 Advanced WAF vs Fortinet FortiWeb	Jan 15, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks	4.2	2.4%	98%	108 interviews Add to research
Microsoft Azure Application Gateway	3.6	10.0%	78%	46 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

"The AOF solution provides numerous security features."
"The bot defense capability, as well as protection from brute force attacks and OWASP Top Ten, are notable features."
"The most valuable feature of F5 Advanced WAF is its extensive set of capabilities for application protection, including DDoS prevention, and its ability to work with Pentesters and external scanners to observe user activity and eliminate false positives."

Room for Improvement

"One improvement for AOF could be focusing on enhancing its AI engine to make it more mature."
"F5 needs to improve API protection with a single F5 solution, without requiring additional modules."
"It's a powerful tool yet can be complex for new users."

ROI

Users experience a clear ROI with F5 Advanced WAF. It safeguards revenue, requires minimal additional costs for onboarding, and enhances business efficiency while ensuring compliance. The investment is justified by superior security features, low administrative overhead, and scalability. Users appreciate its capacity to protect sensitive data and boost application efficiency, particularly in financial sectors. Though expensive, F5 Advanced WAF delivers high ROI through comprehensive security and adaptability to diverse client needs.

Pricing

F5 Advanced WAF's pricing is perceived as expensive, especially for smaller enterprises. Licensing is primarily annual, with costs potentially increasing based on modules and support levels. While users acknowledge its high price tag, they appreciate the product's robust features and value in high-stakes environments. Pricing can be negotiated, with bundled options available, and discounts occasionally offered. Compared to competitors like Fortinet, F5 tends to be costlier, emphasizing its strong protection capabilities and quality.

"It is a little bit costly, but it has all the features that are required."
"I would rate the pricing as seven out of ten"
"I rate F5 Advanced WAF's pricing a three out of ten."

Service and Support

F5 Advanced WAF customer support is highly regarded, with many users praising its expertise, professionalism, and responsiveness. However, some users report occasional delays in reaching the right engineer, especially for complex issues, and suggest improvements in response times. Support quality can vary based on the service level subscribed to. International support centers and partner locations provide additional assistance, enhancing accessibility and resolution efforts for users. Overall sentiment indicates satisfaction with the provided support.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

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Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Insurance Company

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Educational Organization

University

Energy/Utilities Company

Construction Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Hospitality Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Consumer Goods Company

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Logistics Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

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Learn more about F5 Advanced WAF

F5 Advanced WAF has helped organizations to expose more services to the public while providing an extra layer of protection, preventing revenue loss, and securing connectivity.