F5 Recognized as a Leader in Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) by KuppingerCole’s 2025 Leadership Compass Report
F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in delivering and securing every app and API, has been named an overall leader in the 2025 KuppingerCole Leadership Compass Report for Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solutions. This prestigious recognition underscores F5’s commitment to excellence in cybersecurity and its ability to address the evolving challenges of protecting modern applications and APIs. The report evaluates vendors based on innovation, market presence, and technology leadership, with F5 standing out as a frontrunner that sets the standard for robust and comprehensive WAAP solutions.
The Growing Importance of WAAP Solutions
In today’s digital-first world, web applications and APIs are at the heart of every business interaction. They power everything from customer experiences to internal workflows, making them indispensable to modern enterprises. However, as applications become more distributed—spanning hybrid multicloud environments, on-premises infrastructure, and serverless platforms—they also become harder to protect. The complexity of these architectures increases operational challenges and expands attack surfaces, creating vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are quick to exploit.
This is where WAAP solutions come into play. WAAP combines traditional web application firewall (WAF) capabilities with advanced tools designed to discover, protect, and secure apps and APIs at a granular level. These solutions provide protection against automated threats, fraud, vulnerabilities, anomalies, and multi-layered DDoS attacks, ensuring comprehensive defense for digital assets.
“F5 WAAP is an excellent option for large enterprises looking for a WAAP solution,” said Osman Celik, research analyst at KuppingerCole and author of the report. “Its versatility across deployment models and integration with major platforms make it a strong candidate for enterprises with complex, multi-cloud environments.”
F5’s Comprehensive Approach to WAAP
The F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP) is highlighted in the report as the most comprehensive WAAP solution on the market. It is the only platform that delivers, secures, and optimizes every app and API, regardless of where they reside—whether in the cloud, on-premises, or across hybrid environments. This flexibility ensures that organizations can maintain consistent security policies and performance across their entire application portfolio.
The Leadership Compass Report emphasizes several key strengths of F5’s WAAP portfolio:
- Robust API Protection: As APIs become increasingly critical to digital ecosystems, F5 offers advanced protection against the OWASP Top 10 for APIs. Its AI- and machine learning (ML)-powered discovery and testing functionalities ensure that APIs are not only identified but also rigorously tested for vulnerabilities.
- Secure DNS and Client-Side Defense: F5’s WAAP solution includes secure DNS services and client-side defense mechanisms, addressing threats that originate from both network layers and user endpoints.
- Web App Scanning and AI-Assisted Operations: F5 integrates AI-assisted operations interfaces to streamline threat management and provide contextual insights. This enables security teams to respond quickly and effectively to emerging threats.
- Comprehensive DDoS Mitigation: F5’s WAAP solution ensures application availability by mitigating DDoS attacks at multiple layers, preventing disruptions while maintaining seamless user experiences.
- Scalable Deployment Models: F5 supports a wide range of deployment options, including cloud, on-premises, containers, serverless platforms, and virtual machine instances. This scalability allows organizations to adapt their security strategies to evolving business needs without compromising performance or protection.
Leveraging AI and ML for Predictive and Adaptive Security
One of the standout features of F5’s WAAP solution is its strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These technologies enable F5 to deliver dynamic, predictive, and adaptive protection mechanisms that evolve alongside emerging threats. By analyzing user behavior and tracking patterns, F5’s AI-driven algorithms can identify and mitigate risks in real time, providing a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
“F5 incorporates agentic AI into the Application Delivery and Security Platform to deliver contextual insights for threat management,” the report notes. “This capability allows organizations to stay ahead of attackers by anticipating potential vulnerabilities and neutralizing threats before they impact operations.”
Recognition as a WAAP Leader
The KuppingerCole Leadership Compass Report highlights F5’s leadership across multiple WAAP categories, reaffirming its position as a trusted partner for enterprises seeking to secure their digital assets. According to John Maddison, Chief Product and Corporate Marketing Officer at F5, “The WAAP solutions built into the F5 ADSP stand at the forefront of safeguarding web applications in a rapidly changing cyber landscape across complex hybrid and multicloud environments. This acknowledgment reaffirms F5’s position as a WAAP leader and our effectiveness in meeting customer needs and protecting any application or API.”
Why F5’s WAAP Leadership Matters
As the relevance of WAAP expands beyond threat detection to include visibility and control, F5’s holistic approach positions it as a critical enabler of secure digital experiences. By addressing the full spectrum of application and API security challenges, F5 empowers organizations to unlock the business value of their digital assets while minimizing risk.
For large enterprises operating in complex, multi-cloud environments, F5’s WAAP solution offers unmatched versatility and integration capabilities. Its ability to scale across diverse deployment models ensures that businesses can future-proof their security strategies as their application landscapes evolve.
About F5
F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) is the global leader that delivers and secures every app. Backed by three decades of expertise, F5 has built the industry’s premier platform—F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP)—to deliver and secure every app, every API, anywhere: on-premises, in the cloud, at the edge, and across hybrid, multicloud environments. F5 is committed to innovating and partnering with the world’s largest and most advanced organizations to deliver fast, available, and secure digital experiences. Together, we help each other thrive and bring a better digital world to life.
