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F5 BIG-IQ pros and cons

Vendor: F5
3.7 out of 5

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

F5 BIG-IQ offers scalability that supports the transition from larger to smaller boxes and virtualization for flexibility.
The Load Balancing and WAF are valuable features, enhancing traffic management and security.
The integration capacity of F5 BIG-IQ allows for personalized and configured rules with high capacity.
F5 BIG-IQ functions as a central management system for BIG-IP, simplifying management across multiple devices.
F5 BIG-IQ effectively protects web-based applications, providing a reliable web-based application firewall.

CONS

F5 BIG-IQ experiences delays with the shell, kernel, or Linux, especially when using the Virtual Edition in the cloud.
Integration with VAS requires improvement.
Pricing of F5 BIG-IQ is high compared to other American options.
F5 BIG-IQ should expand its certificate management capabilities beyond just Venafi.
Stability issues occur with frequent loss of VIPs, causing troubleshooting challenges.
 

F5 BIG-IQ Pros review quotes

IA
Senior System Engineer with 201-500 employees
Sep 5, 2019
We use this solution on a daily basis, and it is very stable.
AC
Technical Engineer at marafaa
Dec 9, 2019
Features like AFM, the gateway, and Global DNS are the coolest features that save work for us.
it_user1298544 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Team Leader at Vietinbank
Mar 19, 2020
The most valuable features are load balancing and WAF.
Learn what your peers think about F5 BIG-IQ. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
879,455 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1325415 - PeerSpot reviewer
Presales Consultant - Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Apr 26, 2020
The reporting feature is quite good.
reviewer836742 - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at a government with 201-500 employees
Aug 26, 2020
The best aspect of the solution is that we can have everything integrated with a rather large capacity in order to personalize and configure specific rules.
AC
Technical Engineer at marafaa
Oct 11, 2020
The GUI is fine, at least from an engineer's perspective.
Surya Kant Pasayat - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager Network Engineering at AppViewX
Apr 10, 2022
F5 BIG-IQ has always provided us with great support.
Iyad Soliman - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Infrastructure Manager at Bupa Arab
Nov 1, 2022
The backup, monitoring and logging are the best features.
Nikolay Dimitrov - PeerSpot reviewer
Cyber Security Engineer at Paysafe / IBM
Feb 20, 2024
F5 BIG-IQ is a central management system for the BIG-IP.
AyodejiAbimbola - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Client Sales Manager at TIGER LOGIC
Feb 26, 2024
F5 BIG-IQ reduces the propensity for error.
 

F5 BIG-IQ Cons review quotes

IA
Senior System Engineer with 201-500 employees
Sep 5, 2019
There are a lot of scripts available on the internet for people who know how to use them, but with a graphical interface, it would be easier for new users.
AC
Technical Engineer at marafaa
Dec 9, 2019
The shell, kernel, or Linux has something like a delay, especially with the Virtual Edition, when you are trying to implement it in the cloud and you want to access it remotely with web management. It would be great if they could improve their kernel. It was difficult for me, especially when I got started with BIG-IP. I was struggling to find which commands work with it. If you want to work with it, you have to be a Linux guy.
it_user1298544 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Team Leader at Vietinbank
Mar 19, 2020
I had trouble with high availability deployment in my environment.
Learn what your peers think about F5 BIG-IQ. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
879,455 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1325415 - PeerSpot reviewer
Presales Consultant - Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Apr 26, 2020
Integration with VAS is something that they need to work on.
reviewer836742 - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at a government with 201-500 employees
Aug 26, 2020
The solution should improve pricing. It's expensive in comparison to other American solutions.
AC
Technical Engineer at marafaa
Oct 11, 2020
They could use YAML or JSON if they wanted to make it a little bit easier for us.
Surya Kant Pasayat - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager Network Engineering at AppViewX
Apr 10, 2022
F5 BIG-IQ should improve by being a complete certificate management solution because currently, it is only for Venafi. Other automation platforms, should be added.
Iyad Soliman - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Infrastructure Manager at Bupa Arab
Nov 1, 2022
Sometimes the solution does not work.
Nikolay Dimitrov - PeerSpot reviewer
Cyber Security Engineer at Paysafe / IBM
Feb 20, 2024
F5 BIG-IQ is a complex solution, and it cannot manage everything related to BIG-IPs.
AyodejiAbimbola - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Client Sales Manager at TIGER LOGIC
Feb 26, 2024
The solution's rSeries has been made free, and iSeries should be made free as well.