F5 Secure Web Gateway Services
Secure web gateways
Web security software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
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What is F5 Secure Web Gateway Services
F5 Secure Web Gateway Services is a cloud-delivered secure web gateway offering that helps organizations control and protect users’ web access. It is used by IT and security teams to enforce acceptable-use policies, reduce exposure to malicious sites, and apply web traffic inspection for remote and on-network users. The service typically integrates with identity providers and security policy workflows to apply user- and group-based controls. It fits organizations that want web security controls delivered as a service rather than relying only on on-premises web proxies.
Cloud-delivered web access control
Provides a managed, cloud-based approach to governing outbound web traffic without requiring customers to deploy and maintain full proxy infrastructure. This can simplify rollout for remote users and distributed sites. Centralized policy management supports consistent enforcement across user populations. It aligns with secure web gateway use cases such as URL filtering and web threat protection.
Policy enforcement with identity context
Supports applying web access policies based on user identity and group membership rather than only IP addresses. This helps security teams implement differentiated controls for employees, contractors, and privileged users. Identity-aware policy also improves auditability for investigations. It is useful when users frequently change networks or work remotely.
Fits broader security architecture
Positions as a component that can be used alongside other network and application security controls in an enterprise security stack. This can reduce the need to manage separate point tools for basic web access governance. Integration options typically include standard enterprise authentication and logging workflows. It can support phased adoption where web security is one part of a broader secure access strategy.
Feature scope varies by bundle
Secure web gateway capabilities can differ depending on the specific service tier and how it is packaged with other security offerings. Buyers may need to validate which controls are included (for example, advanced threat inspection, reporting depth, or data controls). This can complicate like-for-like comparisons in the category. Procurement often requires careful SKU and licensing review.
Potential inspection and latency tradeoffs
Web traffic inspection and policy enforcement can introduce latency, especially when decrypting and inspecting TLS traffic. Performance depends on the service’s egress locations and how user traffic is routed to the cloud gateway. Organizations with latency-sensitive applications may need testing and tuning. Some traffic types may require bypass rules to maintain usability.
Operational change management required
Moving from direct-to-internet access or legacy proxies to a cloud SWG requires updates to endpoint/network routing, PAC files/agents, and exception handling. Security teams must maintain allow/deny lists and manage false positives for business-critical sites. Logging and alerting workflows may need integration into existing SIEM/SOAR processes. These efforts can be non-trivial during initial rollout.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan / Purchasing Option | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| BIG-IP VE Subscription (includes option to add Secure Web Gateway Services as an add‑on) | Contact F5 / Custom pricing | Subscription terms: renewable 1-, 2-, and 3‑year subscriptions; available as standalone modules, per‑app VEs, or Good/Better/Best bundles. See "BIG‑IP VE Subscription Licensing" for licensing model. |
| Perpetual / Good‑Better‑Best product bundles (BIG‑IP bundles that can include access modules) | Contact F5 / Custom pricing | Perpetual licensing available via Good/Better/Best bundles; SWG functionality is offered as a service/add‑on integrated with BIG‑IP SSL Orchestrator. |
| Hardware appliances (purpose‑built F5 appliances) | Contact F5 / Custom pricing | Hardware appliance options available; pricing not published online — contact sales or reseller. |
| Flex Consumption / Enterprise programs (e.g., Flex Consumption Program, ELAs) | Contact F5 / Custom pricing | Consumption and enterprise agreements available (three‑year commitments, volume/commitment models). |
Notes: No publicly listed dollar prices or per‑user/per‑month fees for F5 Secure Web Gateway Services were found on F5’s official site. The vendor requires contacting F5 sales or an authorized reseller for pricing and quotes.
Seller details
F5, Inc.
Seattle, Washington, USA
1996
Public
https://www.f5.com/
https://x.com/f5
https://www.linkedin.com/company/f5/
