Most of the time, we use it as a load balancer. It's for the client’s applications. They then apply WAF policies, of course, if the customer wants, and also an APM solution, like VPN access or Web Box, like a web and reverse protocol. Customers vary in terms of what they want.
Network Engineer at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Reliable with good WAF and APM modules
Pros and Cons
- "It can scale."
- "The BNS module needs improvement."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The WAF and APM are very useful. I like the modules.
The solution has been mostly stable and reliable.
It can scale.
What needs improvement?
The BNS module needs improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I’ve been using the solution for the last four and a half or five years. It’s been a while.
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May 2025

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Most of the time, the stability is okay. For the most part, we don’t have issues with bugs or the solution crashing. It’s fine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale as necessary.
We have a lot of telecom and banking clients that use the solution. I’m not sure how much in total each client has in terms of users. Whoever would be using it would be more on the technical side.
We do plan to increase usage and to continue to offer this to our clients.
How are customer service and support?
We help with the support as well as implementation. If a client runs into issues, they can always talk to us.
I’ve contacted the technical support of F5. However, I haven’t used them that much. They have always been okay. I’ve never had issues with them.
How was the initial setup?
Sometimes the setup is straightforward. Other times it’s more complicated. It depends on the client and the project. How long the deployment takes depends on what they want.
You only need one person to handle deployment and maintenance tasks.
What about the implementation team?
We are an integrator and can help customers set up the solution.
What was our ROI?
While there may be a potential for ROI, I don’t track it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I’m not sure about the licensing. I don’t handle this aspect of the product.
What other advice do I have?
We’re platinum partners with F5 in Greece. We’re integrators and resellers. We work with different versions.
The solution can be deployed both on the cloud and on-premises.
I’d recommend the solution to others.
I would rate the solution nine out of ten. We’ve been pretty happy with its capabilities.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller

Sales Manager For State-Ownership Enterprise at PT EDI INDONESIA
Scalable, good local support, and reliable
Pros and Cons
- "F5 Advanced WAF is a stable solution, we are satisfied. It is more stable than ForiWeb."
- "F5 Advanced WAF could improve the precision of the scanning. There are many false positives. They should improve their threat database."
What needs improvement?
F5 Advanced WAF could improve the precision of the scanning. There are many false positives. They should improve their threat database.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using F5 Advanced WAF for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
F5 Advanced WAF is a stable solution, we are satisfied. It is more stable than ForiWeb.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have found F5 Advanced WAF to be scalable.
How are customer service and support?
The local support is good and they have been helpful. However, if we raise an issue to the global support they take a lot of time to return our inquiry.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the enterprise solution is reasonable. However, if you are a small to medium-sized business the price could be difficult to afford.
F5 Advanced WAF pricing structure should be adjusted to meet the need of small to medium-sized companies.
What other advice do I have?
I rate F5 Advanced WAF an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Buyer's Guide
F5 Advanced WAF
May 2025

Learn what your peers think about F5 Advanced WAF. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
851,823 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Head IT Infrasrtucture at ActivEdge
A robust solution that is efficient, scalable, and highly secure
Pros and Cons
- "The solution isn't too expensive. The license allows you to license what you need and leave out what you don't need."
- "The solution is tedious. It takes a lot of discrete settings so one needs to get detailed and granular when they use the solution. It takes you a whole lot of energy and concentration to configure. It needs to be much more straight-forward, like other web solutions."
What is most valuable?
The DCI feature is very valuable. The solution is very robust, and I like the setup.
With this solution, you can set distinct perimeters that you can monitor. You can go very granular, which makes it possible to set up very specific perimeters that you are then able to secure.
What needs improvement?
The solution is tedious. It takes a lot of discrete settings so one needs to get detailed and granular when they use the solution. It takes you a whole lot of energy and concentration to configure. It needs to be much more straightforward, like other web solutions.
They need to have a way to define attack signatures. It might help improve the user experience.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for close to four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is quite stable. Since 2016, there hasn't been any concern in regards to security.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is highly scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is excellent. It's top-notch.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very straightforward. The solution is very compact. It takes more than one month for effective deployment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution isn't too expensive. The license allows you to license what you need and leave out what you don't need.
What other advice do I have?
We currently deal with the on-premises deployment model.
I would recommend the solution for use as an efficient firewall. Security is a complex thing, however, and I would advise others to use multiple vendors for different layers.
I would rate the solution ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Security Technical Manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Helpful support, stable, and useful local traffic manager
Pros and Cons
- "One of the most valuable features is the Local Traffic Manager."
- "The Sandbox integration feature could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use the F5 Advanced WAF for TicTac on house applications at our Induction University.
What is most valuable?
One of the most valuable features is the Local Traffic Manager.
What needs improvement?
The Sandbox integration feature could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using F5 Advanced WAF for approximately one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
F5 Advanced WAF is reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
We have one customer that has multiple sites that use this solution. They have 24 universities using the clusters.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
I am able to do the installation by myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is an annual subscription for this solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others that are satisfied with the load balancer provided. If not then they could go to another solution with different load balancers for their needs.
I rate F5 Advanced WAF a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
Technical Product Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Great accessibility features and useful for web application security
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easily accessible on mobile and laptop devices."
- "The delay times on firmware patches and software updates could be better and improved."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for this solution is web application security. We deploy this solution on-premises.
What is most valuable?
We have found the accessibility feature most valuable. For example, the solution is easily accessible on mobile and laptop devices and allows you to send and receive money from anyone.
What needs improvement?
The delay times on firmware patches and software updates could be better and improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution for seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is complex but easy once you understand the product.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Their pricing is very good for the quality of the product they have delivered in the market. It is a standard licensing cost annually.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We chose this product because we believe it is the best product for us. There are other firewalls in the market, but you always look for the best as a vendor.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner

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Updated: May 2025
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