Distributed cloud services securely connect applications and APIs across cloud, hybrid, and edge environments. This makes it easy to extend application and security services to one or more public clouds, hybrid deployments, native Kubernetes environments, and edge locations.
F5 Distributed Cloud Services provide connectivity and security at both the network and application levels. As an overlay across various offerings from cloud providers (including native cloud services), F5 customers can easily integrate network operations, application performance optimization, troubleshooting and visibility via a management console with the help of distributed cloud services.
State of Application Strategy
According to F2023's recently released 5 State of Application Strategy (SOAS) Report, 85 percent of organizations are running distributed application deployments across traditional and modern architectures and diverse hosting environments. However, these distributed implementations increase operational complexity and cost, make visibility difficult, and increase the potential attack surface. F5 offers a platform-based approach that is cloud agnostic and meets the needs of traditional and modern apps. It does this without adding complexity or sacrificing the granular control and visibility you need. The introduction of Distributed Cloud App Connect and Distributed Cloud Network Connect expands MCN's deployment scenarios.
App and network connectivity
Traditional network and infrastructure models cannot meet the demands of modern apps and the digital offerings they deliver. This is because newer microservices-based apps rely on distributed Kubernetes cluster services and APIs and are not limited to one cloud location or cloud provider. According to the SOAS Report 2023, the top multi-cloud challenges are managing the complexity of associated tools and APIs, applying consistent security to apps, and optimizing app performance. Addressing them requires a comprehensive approach to secure MCN that provides:
- Iintegrated service stack for layer 3 transit and layer 7 app-to-app service networking between clouds and distributed applications to reduce complexity and increase flexibility.
- End-to-End Security for both cloud/site connectivity and protection of connected workloads, with unified policy controls for rapid response to emerging threats.
- cloud independent Orchestration for application awareness, networking and security, and end-to-end private connectivity.
- Granular Control of app-to-app communication for modern applications with integrated app security.
"Secure app-to-app connectivity is a goal for any digital organization, but how it is achieved is becoming increasingly important," said Michael Rau, SVP and general manager, F5 Distributed Cloud Platform and Security Services. “The proliferation of cloud and hybrid architectures comes with microservices and API-heavy distributed applications, all of which increase complexity and reduce visibility. Distributed cloud services significantly expand our ability to serve our customers' hybrid and multi-cloud use cases. They offer great flexibility and security for global infrastructure and app environments.”
F5 can provide the necessary technologies for MCN as it connects and secures any app and API anywhere. It also ensures fast network-to-network and workload-to-workload connectivity across diverse cloud locations, data centers, hybrid environments and enterprise edge locations. Since introducing Distributed Cloud Services, F5 has continued to expand the capabilities available as SaaS or Managed Services, including the recently introduced Distributed Cloud Application Infrastructure Protection. The range of Distributed Cloud Services is now being expanded with the following new SaaS offerings:
Distributed Cloud App Connect
Distributed Cloud App Connect offers an integrated stack approach through a single console to combine comprehensive app networking with full app security, faster deployment and ease of use.
- Advanced App Networking Services, including load balancing, API gateway, ingress/egress control and comprehensive visibility.
- Automated or one-click deployment of additional Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) services such as Web Application Firewall, DDoS and Bot Mitigation, and API Security.
- Native Kubernetes integration with fine-grained control of app-to-app and even specific API-to-API communication without exposing the underlying network, greatly reducing security risks and increasing app delivery speed.
Distributed Cloud Network Connect makes providing connectivity across cloud locations and cloud providers extremely secure and easy.
- Automated Deployment and orchestration of cloud provider connectivity services reduces management complexity and increases transparency.
- Secure connectivity andnd Extensibility with intent-based micro-segmentation and third-party network function virtualization (NFV) service incorporation.
- Optional, fully private F5 Global Network to optimize app performance and provide private high-speed connectivity to public cloud providers
Via F5 Networks F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) gives the world's largest companies, service providers, government agencies and consumer brands the freedom to deliver any app securely, anywhere, with confidence. F5 offers cloud and security solutions that enable companies to use the infrastructure they choose without compromising speed and control. Please visit f5.com for more information. You can also visit us on LinkedIn and Facebook for more information about F5, its partners and technologies.