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F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) Reviews

Vendor: F5
4.2 out of 5
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What is F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)?

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is a high-performance, full-proxy network security solution designed to protect networks and data centers against incoming threats that enter the network. Built on F5’s industry-leading BIG-IP hardware and software platforms, BIG-IP AFM provides a scalable platform that delivers the flexible performance and control needed to mitigate aggressive distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) and protocol attacks before they overwhelm and degrade applications and infrastructure availability.

Get the F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM), Cloudflare, Cloudflare One and more!
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is the #10 ranked solution in top Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection solutions. PeerSpot users give F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is most commonly compared to Cloudflare: F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) vs Cloudflare. F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 53% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 20% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
May 2025
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Featured F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) reviews

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F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) mindshare

As of May 2025, the mindshare of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) in the Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection category stands at 1.4%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection

PeerResearch reports based on F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryDistributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) ProtectionMay 23, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersMay 23, 2025Download
ComparisonF5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) vs CloudflareMay 23, 2025Download
ComparisonF5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) vs Radware DDoSMay 23, 2025Download
ComparisonF5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) vs Arbor DDoSMay 23, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Cloudflare4.319.6%95%75 interviewsAdd to research
Cloudflare One4.44.1%100%20 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is valued for its network protection capabilities, including web traffic monitoring, effective deployment, ease of use, iRules customization, DDoS defense, and the integration of LTM, WAF, and CGNAT features. Users appreciate its load balancing, security, stability, performance, scalability, IP blocking, AI-driven behavioral analysis, and comprehensive monitoring. AFM excels in application security, uptime maintenance, and resource management without disrupting traffic.
  • "The most valuable features for me are stability, availability, and security, along with the ability to manage multiple features to secure my applications."
  • "The customer service is excellent, and I rate it ten out of ten."
  • "The solution provides behavioral analysis via AI to detect malicious traffic."

Room for Improvement

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager requires interface enhancements as it is complex with unclear feature descriptions affecting usability. There is a need for improved automation, geolocation updates, and management software. Enhancements are needed in integration with BIG-IQ, reporting, and graphical representations during attacks. Users find it costly with the need for better technical support, setup simplification, and feature enhancements like deep packet inspection, zero-day attack prevention, and pricing adjustments. Better modularity and reduced hardware dependency are also recommended.
  • "The appliance and features could be enhanced further, especially in terms of security. Some features like the WAF firewall may seem expensive compared to the standard license, so there could be room for adjusting the pricing."
  • "F5 should increase its capability to prevent zero-day attacks. Having advanced technology similar to other vendors like Palo Alto for zero-day attack prevention would be valuable."
  • "F5 should increase its capability to prevent zero-day attacks."

ROI

Many users report a positive return on investment with F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager. When combined with other F5 offerings, numerous organizations highlight discounts and affordability. As a standalone tool, the perceived ROI might be lower when compared to competitors, often rated four out of ten. Cost reductions are mentioned, though ongoing expenses are noted. Users emphasize the practical value and security benefits, suggesting it's a worthwhile investment in terms of on-premises reliability.

Pricing

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) pricing leans towards the higher side, offering various licensing options including perpetual and subscription models. Users appreciate its unified solution benefits, aligning costs with its stability and features. While support incurs extra expenses, the standard licensing is reasonable. Additional features and technical support may increase the cost. It's considered a value-for-money investment compared to other solutions, and customers find it worthwhile despite higher initial expenses.
  • "As per pricing, I would not say cheap, but little higher than cheap, but not very expensive. So you can say kind of value for money solutions."
  • "We have purchased a five-year licensing package for the product."
  • "We need to pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution."

Popular Use Cases

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is primarily deployed as a firewall for protection and traffic management. Organizations utilize it for web and mobile application security, load balancing, IP geolocation, and as a data center firewall. It provides DDoS protection, blocks malicious IPs through IP intelligence features, manages client connections, and enhances security in financial services and government offices, often integrated with the LTM module for comprehensive network security.

Service and Support

Customer service and support for F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) are generally responsive and effective, though experiences vary. Users report needing to seek separate support for deployment, with technical assistance being sometimes inconsistent in expertise. Most find support satisfactory, providing timely responses, though issues can occasionally take longer to resolve. Support is praised for being resourceful and straightforward, especially regarding traffic or platform bugs, but some desire more accurate guidance.

Deployment

Setup experiences with F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) vary. Some found it straightforward and user-friendly, requiring minimal steps and easy navigation when guidelines are followed. Others experienced moderate complexity, needing significant configuration time, especially in complex environments. Deployment times range from quick installations to longer processes involving traffic monitoring and policy adjustments. Typically, a small team manages configuration and maintenance, with some integrations facing initial challenges before successful operation.

Scalability

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) is highly scalable, supporting both physical and virtual environments. Users can easily upgrade hardware or licenses to enhance capacity. It efficiently supports enterprises with thousands of users, offering options for cluster expansion and hybrid setups. Although scaling sometimes requires additional resources, it generally meets requirements with flexible architecture and seamless synchronization. Feedback typically rates scalability as favorable, with occasional cost considerations.

Stability

Users consistently praise the stability of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM), highlighting its reliability, absence of major issues, and support for older machines. Many appreciate its transparency in addressing bugs through patches and online listings. Users frequently rate its performance between eight and nine out of ten, emphasizing its reliability during operation without crashes or glitches. They commend it for straightforward logging, enhancing security insights and integration capabilities.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
20%
Computer Software Company
18%
Government
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Insurance Company
8%
Performing Arts
3%
University
3%
Healthcare Company
3%
Venture Capital & Private Equity Firm
2%
Engineering Company
2%
Educational Organization
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Logistics Company
2%
Manufacturing Company
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Cloud Solution Provider
2%
Non Profit
1%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Energy/Utilities Company
1%
Construction Company
1%
Hospitality Company
1%
Retailer
1%
Security Firm
1%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Media Company
1%

Compare F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) with alternative products

Go!

Learn more about F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)

For service providers, BIG-IP AFM IPS does even more, protecting the network edge and performing traffic inspection and protocol adherence for prevalent service provider protocols such as SS7, Diameter, HTTP/2, GTP, SCTP and SIP traffic coming into the network over UDP, TCP, and SCTP.

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) was previously known as F5 AFM, F5 Advanced Firewall Manager.

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) customers

City Bank, Ricacorp Properties, Miele, American Systems, Bangladesh Post Office

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons
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F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) reviews

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Richard Polyak - PeerSpot user
Sr. Architect at NBC Universal
Verified user of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Jan 1, 2023
Product version discussed: 15
Straightforward setup with very good granularity and performance

Pros

"The setup and functionality are fairly straightforward. "

Cons

"The solution doesn't really meet our requirements for an edge firewall."

What is our primary use case?

Our company uses the solution as a data center firewall. 

It is hard to determine all users within our infrastructure. It depends on systems we put behind the solution. Its internal but also a data center firewall. Sometimes, there are hooks from the solution to our external infrastructure or external into internal. A ballpark range is that we have 10,000 users. 

What is most valuable?

The solution's performance and granularity are very good. 

The setup and functionality are fairly straightforward. 

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (463 words)
Nabil Magdy - PeerSpot user
RETIRED at Banque du Caire
Verified user of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Jan 1, 2023
Product version discussed: 14.1.5.2
Beneficial configuration customization, fast installation, and high performance

Pros

"The most valuable feature of F5 BIG-IP AFM is the iRules where I can customize the configuration."

Cons

"F5 BIG-IP AFM can improve the reporting interface in relation to advanced troubleshooting depending on CLI. They should have enhanced troubleshooting with the use of GUI."

What is our primary use case?

I am using F5 BIG-IP AFM as a proxy in relation to a code decrypt traffic and analysis for the web application signatures on different published websites in our company. Additionally, I can customize iRules to inspect traffic or redial traffic to another reach. I can use it for text signatures and it can provide a security profile.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of F5 BIG-IP AFM is the iRules where I can customize the configuration.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (609 words)
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Pawel Augustyn - PeerSpot user
System Advisor at CRIF SpA
Verified user of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Apr 8, 2025
Provides outstanding resource management and application security across multiple geographies

Pros

"The most valuable features for me are stability, availability, and security, along with the ability to manage multiple features to secure my applications."

Cons

"The appliance and features could be enhanced further, especially in terms of security. Some features like the WAF firewall may seem expensive compared to the standard license, so there could be room for adjusting the pricing."

What is our primary use case?

I use F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) to balance the traffic to my application. Specifically, I use the Web Application Firewall (WAF) in the Advanced Firewall to block various types of attacks such as DDoS, monitor and secure my application, and manage client connections from different geographies.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features for me are stability, availability, and security, along with the ability to manage multiple features to secure my applications. The solution also monitors and blocks unconventional requests and maintains security efficiently. The scalability feature also allows me to manage and allocate resources dynamically without disrupting production traffic.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (393 words)
Richard Polyak - PeerSpot user
Sr. Architect at NBC Universal
Verified user of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Jul 12, 2022
Easy to use, good performance, and capable of processing a large load of traffic

Pros

"Its performance and ease of use are valuable."

Cons

"There should be simplified and better integration with BIG-IQ."

What is our primary use case?

We use these as our data center firewalls. At the time of our analysis of the systems, they were the ones able to process the large load of traffic that we needed over any other systems out there. So, capacity-wise, these were able to address our needs.

We have version 12, version 13, version 14, and version 15.

How has it helped my organization?

We're a media company, and it provides security around very sensitive content. It provides security for content before being released.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (529 words)
AbdulSami - PeerSpot user
Network Security Engineer at IIPL
Verified user of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Mar 7, 2025
Leverage AI to detect malicious traffic with enhanced firewall capabilities.

Pros

"The solution provides behavioral analysis via AI to detect malicious traffic. "

Cons

"F5 should increase its capability to prevent zero-day attacks."

What is our primary use case?

I provide F5 solutions to load balance application servers behind their network. I also work with API security, protecting their APIs with AFM and BIG-IP.

What is most valuable?

I provide load balancing features for managing incoming traffic. I use AFM's IP Intelligence to create custom feeds for enhancing firewall capabilities. The solution provides behavioral analysis via AI to detect malicious traffic. It integrates with logging and SIEM solutions for comprehensive monitoring and security.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Read full review (332 words)
Bonieber Orofeo - PeerSpot user
IT Manager at Chong Hua Hospital
Verified user of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Jun 16, 2024
Helpful in mitigating DDoS attacks and web application firewall

Pros

"The web application firewall has been very helpful. We purchased F5 when we were migrating our applications to the cloud."

Cons

"NGINX, which F5 purchased, has room for improvement in its features, particularly its load balancing or application load balancing features."

How has it helped my organization?

It's very helpful in mitigating DDoS attacks. It helps us with our database and provides defence in areas we aren't focused on.

What is most valuable?

The web application firewall has been very helpful. We purchased F5 when we were migrating our applications to the cloud.

So it has the capability to move to the cloud, providing us with that opportunity in the future.

BIG-IP utilize AI and it is very helpful in gathering reports and collaborating all the reports for reporting to our executives.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Read full review (433 words)
PeerSpot user
Systems Engineer at Datasure Solutions
Verified user of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Sep 8, 2019
Product version discussed: On-premises
Enables us to configure the product to the client's exact needs with unprecedented flexibility

Pros

"This product excells in every aspect from installation and the interface to providing superior network security."

Cons

"This would be absolutely the best network security solution if the price were not so high."

What is our primary use case?

I use F5 AFM (Advanced Firewall Manager) for several solutions including firewall, load balancing, and security.

How has it helped my organization?

The F5 product has one thing that is remarkable. I do not have any two deployments for customers that are exactly the same. There are so many opportunities to configure the product to the client's exact needs that it offers unprecedented flexibility.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (1758 words)
Michael GEgziabher - PeerSpot user
Network Administrator at Bank of Abyssinia
Verified user of F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)
Sep 16, 2023
An easily deployable solution that can be used to establish clientless and client VPNs

Pros

"The solution is easily deployable and has great functionality."

Cons

"The solution's UI could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution to establish a clientless VPN and the client VPN. We also use the solution to monitor traffic, block traffic, and filter traffic between the external and internal fixed environments.

What is most valuable?

The solution is easily deployable and has great functionality.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (300 words)