F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) Reviews

Vendor: F5

4.1 out of 5

17 reviews
88% willing to recommend

What is F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)?

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is an access management proxy solution for managing global access to the enterprise networks, cloud providers, applications, and application programming interfaces (APIs). Through a single management interface, BIG-IP APM consolidates remote, mobile, network, virtual, and web access.

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F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is the #5 ranked solution in top SSL VPN solutions, #8 ranked solution in top Network Access Control (NAC) solutions, #10 ranked solution in top Remote Access solutions, #10 ranked solution in top Access Management solutions, and #17 ranked solution in top Web Security Gateways. PeerSpot users give F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is most commonly compared to Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks: F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks. F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 64% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 14% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

April 2025

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Featured F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) reviews

Ashish Kumar Rai

Associate Network Engineer at a computer software company with 11-50 employees

I'd suggest improved documentation integration directly within the GUI. Right now, finding comprehensive documentation often requires going to external websites like the community portal. In the APM interface itself, they could add direct hyperlinks to relevant online documentation. This would provide easy access to admin guides and other resources when working within the GUI.

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Richard Polyak

Sr. Architect at NBC Universal

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager is scalable. We have somewhere between six and seven hundred people using it daily. Their roles vary. Some are writers, while others are administrators. It all depends on how we deploy it and who's going to use it. The staff required to deploy and maintain F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager is minimal. We do potentially have plans to increase usage of the solution. I'm currently investigating other projects that could benefit from it.

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Clyde Livingston

Senior Process Specialist at Telstra

I use F5 BIG-IP APM to connect to my company's private network and access the tools that I need F5 BIG-IP APM is relatively easy to use. F5 BIG-IP APM disconnects when you leave it for long enough, but that is natural for IT solutions to do. That's a little bit frustrating. I have been using…

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F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) mindshare

Product category:

As of May 2025, the mindshare of F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category stands at 1.1%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

PeerResearch reports based on F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Secure Web Gateways (SWG)	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Cisco Umbrella	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Zscaler Internet Access	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks	Apr 30, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks	4.2	11.2%	92%	63 interviews Add to research
Zscaler Internet Access	4.1	15.6%	98%	52 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) excels in handling complex requirements with robust capabilities appreciated by banks and insurance companies. Key features include an SSL VPN for remote access, reliable scalability, portal access, customization options, and seamless integration with diverse authentication protocols. Users value performance, the efficient GUI, virtual IP creation, strong security via pre-logon checks, load balancing, and stickiness. It protects organizations like colleges against potential threats, ensuring secure access and compatibility with multi-factor authentication.

"I recommend F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) to others due to its reliability, and it is perceived as critical to security infrastructure."
"On a scale from one to ten for stability, I would rate F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) a ten."
"I rate the overall solution nine out of ten."

Room for Improvement

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) could enhance cloud service integration and improve its reporting features. Users find it complex to set up and costly. The graphical user interface appears outdated, and accessibility issues exist for MacOS users. Enhancing technical support response times would be beneficial. Direct documentation links within the interface could streamline administration. Incorporating more network and VPN features, including identity providers and single sign-on solutions, would enhance connectivity and user experience.

"The main improvement needed for F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is to integrate into the cloud-delivered services from F5."
"F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) does not have a direction for SaaS."
"I have had a lot of issues in the past few months with the agents, which was disappointing."

ROI

Organizations observed a return from F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager, providing crucial access when needed. They've seen beneficial financial returns, including a full recovery of investments. The platform efficiently saves time and reduces expenses, though specific operational cost impacts are hard to pinpoint. APM aids in lowering costs indirectly by mitigating security risks. Adopting it ensures both time and cost efficiencies for users impressed by its financial benefits.

Pricing

Users indicate that F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager has a high price point and is costlier than other solutions, yet offers quality and reliability akin to premium brands. Licensing has been simplified, making it easier to understand, although cloud costs can be unpredictable due to consumption-based pricing. Despite additional charges for some features and services, it is considered a worthwhile investment by enterprises prioritizing quality.

"I rate the tool's pricing an eight out of ten."
"The tool is a little bit expensive."
"The product is very expensive."

Popular Use Cases

Companies primarily use F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) for secure remote access, enabling connectivity from home to office networks during COVID-19. It supports VPN integration, identity access management, and load balancing. APM allows users to access applications through SSO and integrates with third-party authentication systems. The platform controls device access, inspects traffic, and performs packet modifications, enhancing security and enabling efficient traffic management with features like SSL decryption and Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB).

Service and Support

Customer service and support for F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager receive mixed feedback. Some users rate their interaction very positively, highlighting responsiveness and professionalism, while others find the resolution process lengthy and communication lacking. Many appreciate the assistance for initial setup and ongoing issues, yet there's dissatisfaction with communication transparency and resolution timelines. Most users express appreciation for staff answering calls, though some feel improvement is needed for more complex issue management.

Deployment

Some users find initial setup with F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) easy using available documentation, while others navigate a complex process, especially when involving integration and network components. Deployment duration varies, from days to several months, influenced by factors like project requirements and customer dependencies. Simplified instances exist with flexible deployment options on virtual machines, hardware, or cloud. A strong team is beneficial for handling setup and management, rated frequently at eight out of ten for ease.

Scalability

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) demonstrates strong scalability, accommodating fluctuating user volumes with minimal deployment and maintenance staff. Organizations, ranging significantly in size, benefit from its customizable upgrades, especially when virtual machines are used. Users highlighted challenges with hardware scale, yet solutions were easily found. Traffic management, analytics, and load balancing contribute to efficient user experiences. While scalability levels vary in rating from seven to ten, many users find it well-suited for enterprise environments.

Stability

Users report no complaints about the stability of F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM). It is described as very stable, reliable, and performs well with no major issues. While some mention that stability could improve, most users rate it ten out of ten. Some note that logs could be clearer, but the tool is considered reliable, delivering as expected. Many have used it extensively with multiple applications for years.

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 Access Policy Manager (APM) 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

14%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Government

10%

Educational Organization

Healthcare Company

University

Comms Service Provider

Retailer

Construction Company

Insurance Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Wellness & Fitness Company

Compare F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) with alternative products

Learn more about F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

BIG-IP APM can also serve as a bridge between modern and classic authentication and authorization protocols and methods. For applications which are unable to support modern authentication and authorization protocols, like SAML and OAuth with OIDC, but which do support classic authentication methods, BIG-IP APM converts user credentials to the appropriate authentication standard supported by the application.

BIG-IP APM Benefits:

Ease of use
Flexibility
Ability to integrate with other systems
Security features
Granular access control
Responsive and helpful support team

BIG-IP APM Features:

Support for Identity Aware Proxy (IAP) enabling Zero Trust application access
Context-based authorization with dynamic L4/L7 ACLs
Integration with third-party MFA solutions
DTLS 2.0 mode for delivering and securing applications
SAML 2.0 identity federation support
Support for OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol
SSO support for classic authentication (Kerberos, header- based, etc.), credential caching, OAuth 2.0, SAML 2.0, and FIDO2 (U2F)
AAA server authentication and high-availability
Integration with leading IAM vendor products (Microsoft, Okta, Ping Identity)
BIG IP Edge Client and F5 Access integrate with VMware Horizon ONE (AirWatch), Microsoft Intune and IBM MaaS360
Risk-based access leveraging third-party UEBA and risk engines (HTTP Connector)

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by BIG-IP APM users.

Mahmmoud Rabie, Senior Site Reliability Engineer, writes that BIG-IP APM is "A highly stable solution for load balancing, but the initial setup is complex."

Clyde Livingston, Senior Process Specialist at Telstra, says that BIG-IP APM is "Easy to use, useful access remotely, but lacking stability."

Chris Lam, Senior Solution Consultant at Macroview Telecom Limited, states that BIG-IP APM is "Useful for remote access VPN and VPI integration with VMware.

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) was previously known as F5 Access Policy Manager.