F5 Distributed Cloud WAF
Web application firewalls (WAF)
Website security software
DevSecOps software
Web security software
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What is F5 Distributed Cloud WAF
F5 Distributed Cloud WAF is a cloud-delivered web application firewall designed to protect web applications and APIs from common exploits and automated attacks. It is used by security and platform teams to apply consistent protection across applications running in public cloud, private data centers, and edge locations. The service is typically managed through a centralized console and can be deployed as part of F5’s distributed cloud platform alongside traffic management and bot/DoS protections.
Multi-environment deployment options
The service supports protecting applications across public cloud, on-premises, and edge environments using a single policy and management plane. This helps organizations standardize controls when applications are distributed across multiple infrastructures. It also reduces the need to run separate WAF products per environment.
Centralized policy and visibility
Distributed Cloud WAF provides centralized configuration, monitoring, and alerting for protected applications. This is useful for teams that need consistent governance across many apps and business units. Consolidated telemetry can simplify incident triage compared with managing multiple point tools.
Broader app security integrations
The WAF is positioned to integrate with adjacent capabilities in the same platform (for example, API protection and bot/DoS defenses, depending on licensing and deployment). This can reduce operational overhead versus stitching together separate services. It also supports security workflows where protection is applied close to the application delivery path.
Platform complexity and learning curve
Because it is part of a broader distributed cloud platform, initial setup and day-to-day operations can be more complex than simpler, single-purpose WAF offerings. Teams may need time to understand the platform’s concepts, policy model, and deployment patterns. This can slow early rollouts for smaller teams.
Cost and packaging variability
Capabilities are often packaged across editions and add-ons, which can make total cost and feature comparisons less straightforward. Organizations may need careful scoping to avoid paying for unused platform components. Budgeting can be harder when multiple protections (WAF, bot, API, DDoS) are evaluated together.
Tuning effort for false positives
As with most WAFs, achieving strong protection without disrupting legitimate traffic typically requires tuning and ongoing maintenance. Applications with frequent releases or complex APIs can increase rule and exception management work. This can be challenging for teams without mature DevSecOps processes and test coverage.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Not published on F5 site — contact F5 for pricing | Core WAF protections (signature + behavior engines), compliance enforcement, automatic attack signature tuning, masking sensitive parameters in logs, IP reputation, basic service networking. Available as an annual enterprise subscription or via Private Offers in cloud marketplaces. |
| Advanced | Not published on F5 site — contact F5 for pricing | Includes Standard features plus advanced API discovery/protection, behavioral bot mitigation, Layer-7 DDoS mitigation, and additional advanced WAAP capabilities. Available as an annual enterprise subscription or via Private Offers in cloud marketplaces. |
Pay-as-you-go option (usage-based): Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go (F5 states PAYG is available via the AWS Marketplace for Distributed Cloud Services). F5’s official documentation confirms PAYG billing is measured hourly and billed via the AWS Marketplace, but F5 does not publish the PAYG rates on its product/pricing pages; customers are directed to the AWS Marketplace listing or to contact sales/private offers for pricing.
Seller details
F5, Inc.
Seattle, Washington, USA
1996
Public
https://www.f5.com/
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https://www.linkedin.com/company/f5/
