The race to deploy AI workloads safely and without physical complexity has taken a significant step forward. F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) and Equinix, a global leader in interconnection and data centers, announced the expansion of their strategic partnership to facilitate the deployment and protection of modern applications and distributed AI workloads across hybrid and multicloud environments.
The new offering combines the F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP) with Equinix Network Edge and Equinix Fabric solutions, enabling companies to rapidly scale their digital infrastructure worldwide without the burden of managing physical hardware.
Responding to Business Pressure
In a landscape where organizations need to deploy applications quickly and securely, this collaboration provides a simplified path to reducing operational complexity, infrastructure costs, and cybersecurity risks, all while meeting data sovereignty regulations.
A significant advancement is the availability of F5 Distributed Cloud Customer Edge as a virtual network function (VNF) within Equinix Network Edge, allowing near-instant provisioning of F5’s application delivery and security services across Equinix’s global network.
This is especially beneficial for environments requiring low latency and high performance, such as inference AI and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) models, without compromising data privacy and security.
“AI is generating massive demands on infrastructure, especially at the edge where latency, security, and control are critical,” said John Maddison, F5’s Chief Product and Corporate Marketing Officer. “With Equinix, we provide our clients with a flexible, high-performance foundation to support AI-driven use cases and deliver exceptional digital experiences in any environment.”
Key Benefits of the Joint Solution
- AI-Ready Infrastructure: Secure, fast connections for distributed AI workloads, protecting sensitive data against leaks or breaches.
- Global Reach Without Hardware: Instant deployment of application services in new markets via virtual functions, reducing rollout times and capital costs.
- Enhanced Agility: Rapid adaptation to demand changes without physical limitations.
- Unified Management and Compliance: Centralized security policies and support for data sovereignty and sector-specific regulations.
A Focus on Edge and Hybrid Cloud
Equinix customers can directly deploy F5 services from Network Edge, while F5 clients get simplified access to Equinix’s extensive global interconnection infrastructure, including low-latency private links to major cloud providers.
Maryam Zand, Vice President of Partnerships and Ecosystems Development at Equinix, emphasized the impact:
“Organizations are adopting AI at an accelerated pace, but legacy infrastructure can slow them down or increase risks. With F5, we offer a seamless path to scale AI applications and modern workloads securely and efficiently.”
The partnership also presents new go-to-market opportunities for F5 Unity+ partners, enabling them to deliver secure, scalable solutions in complex hybrid environments without managing physical infrastructure.
FAQs
1. What is the F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP)?
It’s F5’s platform for delivering and securing applications and APIs across any environment—on-premises, cloud, edge, or multicloud—featuring advanced traffic control, security, and optimization capabilities.
2. What role does Equinix Network Edge play in this partnership?
It provides virtualized network functions and access to Equinix’s global interconnection fabric, removing the need for physical hardware to deploy and manage critical services.
3. Why is this solution important for AI?
It offers optimized infrastructure for AI workloads like inference and RAG, ensuring low latency, security, and compliance—crucial for enterprise-grade applications.
4. Can it integrate with public clouds?
Yes, it supports private, low-latency connections to providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and others, enhancing hybrid and multicloud environments.
Source: f5