

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager and Link11 are prominent competitors in the network security sector. Link11 appears to have an edge in flexibility and user satisfaction due to its cloud capabilities and positive feedback on support.
Features: F5 BIG-IP AFM provides a wide array of security features like web gateways, load balancing, and custom configuration options through iRules. It integrates modules like LTM, APM, and AFM, offering a comprehensive network security solution that excels in stability, ease of use, and DDoS attack protection. Link11 offers features such as real-time monitoring, DDoS protection, and strong rule management capabilities. Its elastic search and reporting features provide thorough security insights.
Room for Improvement: F5 BIG-IP AFM could improve interface navigation and automation updates, especially in geolocation features. Users also suggest better pricing and technical support services. Link11 could enhance bot management, offer more granular WAF features, and improve reporting and interface clarity. Enhanced automated alerts and comprehensive session management are also desired.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: F5 BIG-IP AFM primarily offers on-premises deployment with some hybrid capabilities, but user reviews show varying satisfaction levels with technical support. Some praise the support effectiveness, while others report response delays. Link11 supports hybrid and cloud deployment models and generally receives positive support system feedback, though some users call for better global support proficiency.
Pricing and ROI: F5 BIG-IP AFM is seen as expensive, with some justifying the cost based on its security offerings. Users note potential ROI due to its comprehensive feature suite, though they often mention additional fees for support and licenses. Link11 is perceived to offer flexible pricing models with options for negotiation and discounts, with users highlighting ROI efficiencies, particularly for organizations using multi-cloud environments and bundled services.
The responses are generally fast and effective.
The customer service is excellent, and I rate it ten out of ten.
The solution is highly scalable, allowing me to add or remove nodes and manage traffic without interruption, which is essential for meeting application demands.
Having advanced technology similar to other vendors like Palo Alto for zero-day attack prevention would be valuable.
The appliance and features could be enhanced further, especially in terms of security.
The standard license is reasonably priced, but additional features like the WAF can be more expensive.
If considering a one-stop solution that provides load balancing, DNS security, AAA authentication, and firewalling on the same hardware, the cost is reasonable.
The solution provides behavioral analysis via AI to detect malicious traffic.
The most valuable features for me are stability, availability, and security, along with the ability to manage multiple features to secure my applications.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | 1.2% |
| Link11 | 2.4% |
| Other | 96.4% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 8 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 5 |
| Large Enterprise | 14 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 5 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 3 |
| Large Enterprise | 2 |
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.
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.
Link11, headquartered in Germany, offers cloud-based IT security services designed to prevent business disruptions, enhancing cyber resilience for IT networks and critical applications globally. Their services benefit industries across Europe, North America, and Asia with comprehensive protection.
Link11 provides a range of security and performance solutions, including Network Security, Web Application & API Protection, and Application Performance solutions. Their offerings encompass Network DDoS protection and an all-in-one WAAP solution, featuring Web Application Firewall, Web DDoS Protection, Bot Management, API Protection, and Secure CDN & DNS. A high-performance global network, monitored 24/7 by the Link11 Security Operations Center, ensures robust defense mechanisms.
What are the key features of Link11?Link11 is suited for industries wanting to protect web applications against Layer 7 DDoS attacks, cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and phishing attempts. Deployed on cloud models, Link11 integrates as a fundamental security layer, offering effective bot management and securing websites with multiple technologies.
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