F5 has taken a strategic step forward in its platform road map with the launch of the Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP) Partner Program, a new technology partner program designed to build a strong ecosystem around its application delivery and security platform. The clear goal is to help companies manage the complexity of multicloud environments, strengthen security, and accelerate application delivery in an increasingly distributed landscape.
Alongside the announcement, the company introduced seven technology partners as the initial Select Partners: AppViewX, CrowdStrike, DigiCert, Kasm Technologies, Keyfactor, MazeBolt, and OPSWAT. Each brings complementary capabilities that integrate with the ADSP platform, from certificate automation and advanced DDoS protection to endpoint security and file analysis.
Current Challenge: Multicloud, Complexity, and Security Pressure
Organizations have been transitioning toward hybrid and multicloud architectures for years. This shift has increased flexibility but has also significantly heightened operational complexity: multiple clouds, different providers, applications distributed across data centers, edge computing, and managed services.
In this context, integrating new network and security solutions without causing disruptions or increasing risk has become a challenge. Companies demand true interoperability, fewer blind spots, and infrastructure capable of delivering high performance without overburdening IT teams.
F5 positions its Application Delivery and Security Platform as a unified layer to deliver and protect applications and APIs across any environment: on-premises, public cloud, edge, or hybrid models. The new ADSP Partner Program leverages this platform to offer a catalog of validated, tested solutions ready for frictionless integration.
Two Partner Levels and Focus on Validated Solutions
The F5 ADSP program is structured into two levels:
- Member Partners: Access to self-service resources, technical documentation, and basic integration capabilities.
- Select Partners: Deeper technical alignment, strategic integrations, and joint go-to-market collaboration.
The aim is for customers to choose solutions already validated by F5 to ensure interoperability with their platform. This reduces uncertainty when adopting new security, observability, or automation components within critical environments.
The First Seven Select Partners in the ADSP Program
With this launch, F5 has announced seven partners joining as Select Partners, each covering key areas of the application delivery and security value chain.
AppViewX: Automation and Orchestration
AppViewX collaborates with F5 to automate certificate lifecycle management, network configuration, and workflow orchestration. Integrated with the ADSP platform, it enables:
- Reducing manual tasks in certificate management.
- Improving security posture by avoiding expirations and misconfigurations.
- Facilitating compliance in regulated environments.
This integration targets organizations that need to align security with agility, preventing key and certificate management from becoming bottlenecks.
CrowdStrike: Endpoint to Edge Protection
The partnership between CrowdStrike and F5 extends endpoint protection to the application edge. The CrowdStrike Falcon platform integrates with F5 ADSP to provide:
- Threat detection and response using AI.
- Unified visibility from devices to web and application traffic.
- Coordinated protection across hybrid and multicloud environments.
The goal is for companies to detect and stop threats at the speed of their workloads and users, leveraging advanced analytics and shared telemetry.
DigiCert: Digital Identity and PKI at Scale
DigiCert offers expertise in PKI and digital identity validation. Paired with F5, it helps to:
- Manage digital identities for applications and encrypted communications at scale.
- Reduce risks associated with certificates and keys.
- Meet regulatory and compliance frameworks requiring encryption and identity controls.
In a world of APIs, microservices, and default encrypted traffic, this integration maintains control without sacrificing performance.
Kasm Technologies: Modern VDI and Remote Workspaces
Kasm Technologies adds its virtual desktop and remote workspace solutions to the ADSP ecosystem. Combined with F5, organizations can:
- Securely and scalably deliver remote desktops and applications.
- Ensure business continuity in intensive telecommuting scenarios.
- Enhance user experience without compromising security control.
This integration targets companies looking to modernize traditional VDI environments and adopt more flexible remote work models.
Keyfactor: Certificate Lifecycle Automation
Keyfactor integrates with BIG-IP, BIG-IQ, and F5 Distributed Cloud Services to automate certificate and key management. Benefits include:
- Elimination of error-prone manual tasks.
- Preventing service outages due to expired certificates.
- Complete visibility over certificates and keys in hybrid and multicloud environments.
- Preparation for emerging cryptography standards and post-quantum security.
The combination of Keyfactor and F5 ADSP aims to address one of the most common operational weak points: forgotten or poorly managed certificates.
MazeBolt: Proactive DDoS Defense with AI
MazeBolt offers its RADAR™ platform for continuous DDoS testing integrated with F5 ADSP. This combination enables:
- Automated detection of misconfigurations and DDoS vulnerabilities.
- Non-disruptive testing of existing defenses.
- Strengthening protection before actual attacks occur, including AI-enhanced threats.
In an environment of increasingly automated and intelligent DDoS threats, continuous visibility into defense gaps is critical to prevent service outages.
OPSWAT: Threat Prevention in Files
Finally, OPSWAT integrates its MetaDefender technology with F5 to inspect and secure file traffic at scale. The partnership allows for:
- Detecting and blocking threats embedded in files.
- Ensuring compliance in regulated sectors.
- Maintaining operational continuity while reducing risks to critical data.
This integration is especially relevant for organizations managing large volumes of file exchanges with clients, suppliers, or employees.
An Ecosystem Built to Simplify, Not Complicate
With the launch of the ADSP Partner Program and the addition of these first seven Select Partners, F5 seeks to reinforce its platform message: it’s not just about adding more tools, but about providing a common core for integrating advanced third-party capabilities.
The company emphasizes that this model aims to:
- Accelerate adoption of new technologies, now validated for use with ADSP.
- Reduce operational complexity by avoiding difficult-to-maintain ad hoc integrations.
- Improve business outcomes by aligning performance, security, and application availability.
As companies continue migrating applications to the cloud, modernizing data centers, and exposing more APIs and digital services, having an extensible delivery and security platform supported by a strong partner ecosystem becomes a strategic asset.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP) Partner Program?
It is a technology partner program created by F5 to bring together validated solutions that integrate with its ADSP platform. The goal is to simplify application delivery and security in hybrid and multicloud environments, reducing integration complexity and enhancing interoperability.
What is the difference between Member Partner and Select Partner in the F5 program?
Member Partners have access to self-service resources and basic integration capabilities. Select Partners maintain a deeper technical relationship with F5, with advanced strategic integrations and joint go-to-market efforts, offering more comprehensive solutions to customers.
What benefits does the ADSP Partner Program offer to companies with complex multicloud environments?
It provides a set of validated, interoperable solutions that integrate directly with ADSP, enabling faster adoption of technologies like DDoS security, certificate management, VDI, and file protection. This reduces configuration risks and improves visibility and control over distributed applications and APIs.
What kinds of technologies are integrated by the initial Select Partners?
The initial partners cover critical areas such as certificate and network automation (AppViewX, Keyfactor), endpoint and application security (CrowdStrike), digital identity management (DigiCert), virtual desktops and remote workspaces (Kasm Technologies), proactive DDoS defense (MazeBolt), and file threat prevention (OPSWAT), all integrated with F5’s delivery and security platform.
via: f5