F5 Integrates Security Into Application Switch Line

F5 Networks on Tuesday rolled out its new Application Security Module, a software add-on for its Big-IP application switch.

The new module, built on technology that F5 picked up via its acquisition of MagniFire in 2004, adds an integrated application firewall to the Seattle-based vendor’s traffic management platform. The application firewall also continues to be sold separately as F5’s TrafficShield family of security appliances.

The integrated functionality is enabled by F5’s Traffic Management Operating System, a complete rewrite of Big-IP’s underlying OS that was introduced last year as a first step toward building functionality such as content acceleration, traffic compression, bandwidth optimization and security features into the application switch.

“For the channel, this creates the opportunity for them to go in and recommend and design better ways to deliver applications,” said Erik Giesa, vice president of product management at F5.

The company also plans to launch a channel road show Nov. 1 to educate partners on its new technology. The Application Security Module is available now for $12,500 and runs on F5’s Big-IP 6400 and 6800 models.In other news, F5 last week completed its $43 million acquisition of WAN optimization player Swan Labs. Swan products are available now through F5. The company is currently looking at how to integrate Swan’s technology with its current portfolio, Giesa said.