F5 Keeps Android Users Connected And Productive With New Secure Access Solutions

In parallel, F5 has also developed a version of its BIG-IP Edge Client for “rooted” devices, which can be used by IT professionals to extend client support for devices running previous versions of the Android OS, or for testing and demonstration purposes. Additionally, F5 is introducing enhanced support for its BIG-IP Edge Portal™, which provides managed application access to enterprise web applications such as SharePoint, wikis, and Intranet sites.

“As a recognized leader in the SSL VPN market, customers continually look to us for solutions to address their evolving IT needs,” said Mark Vondemkamp, Director of Product Management at F5. “User requests to support the latest smartphones and tablets are a great example. Our Edge Client and Edge Portal applications give users secure, convenient, and fast access to company resources from the corporate and personal devices of their choice. With leading support for Android, Linux, and Apple iOS endpoints, F5 solutions provide flexible, optimized access to empower mobile users without sacrificing IT’s ability to manage applications and infrastructures.”

With F5’s new remote access solutions and mobile applications, organizations can:

Securely Extend IT Support Capabilities and Maintain Infrastructure Safeguards Without direct control of the individual devices they’re being asked to support, IT organizations often deny such access requests rather than risk exposure of sensitive data or materials. With F5’s new mobile applications, IT personnel can provide secure access for Android-based devices without jeopardizing their ability to protect and manage their systems.

Tailor IT Policies to Meet Specific Compliance Requirements and Business Needs With F5' solutions, IT teams can implement customizable access policies to provide managed mobile connectivity for contractors, partners, or specific groups of employees. Organizations can also grant full network access or limited web access to specific applications, depending on business priorities and personnel requirements.

Improve User Experience and Accelerate Client Access with BIG-IP Edge Gateway When implemented together, the BIG-IP Edge Gateway™ solution and the BIG-IP Edge Client provide accelerated application performance for Android devices, enabling users to access applications up to 10 times faster. In addition, BIG-IP Edge Client keeps smartphone and tablet users connected as they change locations, moving from LAN to a wireless network or mobile hotspot, for example.

Additional SSL VPN Solution Enhancements from F5 In conjunction with new Android-focused solutions, F5 is introducing technologies to better support organizations’ users and SSL VPN infrastructures, including:

The industry’s first remote access solutions that are truly IPv6 capable – F5’s SSL VPN offerings allow organizations to simultaneously support mixed IPv4 and IPv6 environments, helping IT teams scale and transition their infrastructures while ensuring business continuity.

Virtual editions for maximized efficiency – Customers can now deploy BIG-IP' Edge Gateway™ and WebAccelerator™ without adding new hardware, enabling organizations to better support virtual and cloud environments.

Superior remote access scalability – BIG-IP Access Policy Manager™ is now available on F5’s award-winning VIPRION' chassis, meaning customers can support up to 100,000 concurrent users at a fraction of the cost of competitors’ offerings.

Supporting Quotes

“Increasing varieties of consumer-driven smartphones and tablets as well as ‘Bring Your Own Device’ programs are creating challenges for companies interested in enforcing common security policies,” said John Girard, VP and Distinguished Analyst at Gartner. “IT managers need to be able to get the measure of any device—whether it’s owned by the company or by the individual—at any time.”

“As mobile computing proliferates, organizations are facing challenges such as managing mobile access to critical applications,” said Dan Schiappa, SVP, Identity and Data Protection at RSA, The Security Division of EMC. “RSA and F5 have worked together to integrate and certify solutions such as RSA SecurID' technology and F5’s BIG-IP Access Policy Manager. Organizations that want to provide secure, unified access to business critical applications, company-issued and employees’ personal devices, and corporate networks can now do so with a proven solution. The combined offerings provide valuable features such as single sign-on, support for hardware and software authenticators, and an integrated ecosystem—all of which are engineered to ensure compatibility out-of-the box. These features are increasingly viewed by our customers as key components of a successful strategy for enterprise mobility.”

“Accuvant is focused on helping clients navigate the ever-evolving security landscape, which is fueled in part through the growing use of mobile devices,” said Toby Penn, Accuvant Solutions Director. “F5’s secure access solutions provide companies with performance and business advantages. BIG-IP Access Policy Manager and Edge Gateway integrate seamlessly, helping organizations scale IT systems while enhancing their overall approach to enterprise mobility. As a long-term F5 partner, we’re looking forward to offering the company’s new solutions to our clients.”

Availability

F5’s BIG-IP Edge Client, BIG-IP Edge Client for rooted devices, and BIG-IP Edge Portal can be downloaded from the Google Android Market. All other F5 solutions mentioned in this announcement are available today with BIG-IP version 11.1 software.

Additional Resources

* F5 SSL VPN Security Solutions – Overview * Magic Quadrant for SSL VPNs – Gartner Report * F5 Access Control Solutions – Overview * BIG-IP Edge Client – Image

About F5 Networks F5 Networks, Inc., the global leader in Application Delivery Networking (ADN), helps the world’s largest enterprises and service providers realize the full value of virtualization, cloud computing, and on-demand IT. F5' solutions help integrate disparate technologies to provide greater control of the infrastructure, improve application delivery and data management, and give users seamless, secure, and accelerated access to applications from their corporate desktops and smart devices. An open architectural framework enables F5 customers to apply business policies at “strategic points of control” across the IT infrastructure and into the public cloud. F5 products give customers the agility they need to align IT with changing business conditions, deploy scalable solutions on demand, and manage mobile access to data and services. Enterprises, service and cloud providers, and leading online companies worldwide rely on F5 to optimize their IT investments and drive business forward. For more information, go to www.f5.com.