F5 Targets Mobile Infrastructure To Enhance Its Security Portfolio

F5 Networks (NASDAQ:FFIV), one of the leading providers that optimizes the delivery of network-based applications, enhanced its firewall security portfolio offering with new products this month. Targeting service providers’ mobile infrastructure, the company introduced S/Gi firewall, the industry’s fastest and most scalable firewall solution for service providers, and the BIG-IQ Security offering which rationalizes policy management for a number of devices for enterprise and service provider deployments.

By simplifying firewall security and management capabilities, F5’s new solutions serves as an important function within a mobile service provider’s network infrastructure. It protects subscribers and networks from targeted attacks from a number of sources – Internet-to-mobile, Internet-to-infrastructure, mobile-to-mobile, etc. and preserve network availability and performance by responding to threats in real time.

Keeping it well in line with changing trends and developments, we expect F5’s increasing focus on security and mobile applications to make its product portfolio more competitive.

See our complete analysis for F5 Networks here

Security and Mobile Application Delivery Are Important Markets For F5

With the explosion of data and processing required online, security has become a major concern for most enterprises, and thus, this is one segment bound to witness tremendous growth in the coming years. With its BIG-IP 11.1 software passing the ISCA Labs test for network firewalls, F5 entered the Internet firewall market in February 2012. In addition to improving products, the company is coming out with innovative programs to boost its security solutions sales, which is witnessing strong growth.

Enterprise demand for mobile application delivery is also rising as the number of remote workers and mobile customers grow. The rapid changes in mobile technology presents various network-related challenges for service providers. There is growing demand for applications and content as subscribers now interact with a number of different types of networks (3G, 4G LTE) and protocols. Additionally, newer, feature-rich mobile devices require more connections and bandwidth per subscriber. With increasing network complexity, reducing security risk is an important criteria for enterprises.

With more connections per second and three times faster firewall throughput, F5 claims that its new firewall solution offers better performance and scalability compared to other vendors. With the S/Gi firewall solution service providers can accommodate more subscribers, support growing data use without sacrificing device and network performance and reduce their capital and operational costs by reducing their network equipment need.

F5 claims to be working on the most significant product line refresh in several years. It has a gamut of new products and software solutions planned for launch in 2013, which it believes will help boost demand and create new revenue growth opportunities for the future.

Our price estimate of $114 for F5 Networks is at a considerable premium to the current market price.

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