F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) Reviews

Users report a positive ROI from F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM), especially when used with other F5 offerings. Discounts enhance affordability, making it a cost-effective choice. For standalone users, ROI may not compare favorably to competitors, rated four out of ten. Purchasers experience cost reductions initially, though ongoing expenses can accumulate. Security benefits justify the investment. The emphasis should be on the added value rather than the cost factor.

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is generally regarded as expensive. Users highlight the high cost but acknowledge the solution's quality and comprehensive features. Licensing options include perpetual licenses and subscriptions, with support fees as an additional expense. Some users find it affordable or reasonably priced, depending on the comparison with similar products. The solution offers value for its functionality, making it a competitive choice for enterprises seeking a unified solution.

• "As per pricing, I would not say cheap, but little higher than cheap, but not very expensive. So you can say kind of value for money solutions."
• "We have purchased a five-year licensing package for the product."
• "We need to pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution."

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is primarily utilized for web and mobile application security, protecting software and data centers with firewalls, access control, and DDoS safety. Users leverage features like IP geolocation and IP intelligence for limiting country access and blocking malicious IPs. It's employed for load balancing, traffic management, and VPN establishment, enhancing security in financial services and government offices. AFM integrates with other modules, safeguarding DNS solutions and APIs.

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) customer service is rated highly, with some finding technical support variable. Global support is good, but the expertise of individual representatives can vary. Technical assistance is responsive and professional, often resolving issues quickly, although some delays in ticket handling occur. Support is deemed valuable, particularly for traffic and configuration matters. Communication is generally straightforward, but precision in support guidance needs improvement.

Many users found F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)'s initial setup straightforward and easy to install, often describing it as not complex. Deployment time varies by environment, ranging from a few days to months, influenced by the complexity and need for traffic behavior observation. Configuration can be done by one or two people. In cases where difficulties were mentioned, experience level or environment complexity played a significant role in setup ease.

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is highly scalable, handling diverse enterprise needs, with both virtual and hardware options enhancing flexibility. Scalability is straightforward, allowing for hardware upgrades or virtual machine editions. While some find scaling limited due to hardware reliance, many report seamless expansion with consistent policies across environments through the BigIQ solution. Companies with thousands of users benefit from its capacity, though cost considerations are noted. Scalability ratings vary, often between six and eight out of ten.

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is highly stable, praised for its reliability and absence of bugs. Users appreciate the continuous support and improvements even for older versions. They note that F5 actively provides patches for any issues, maintaining transparency by listing known bugs on their website. Many rate its stability between seven and nine out of ten, highlighting its seamless performance with no major disruptions or crashes, making it a dependable choice for their needs.