Latest news with #JohnMaddison
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
F5 And Equinix Expand Partnership To Accelerate AI-Ready Infrastructure For Secure Global Application Delivery
F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in delivering and securing every app and API, today announced it has expanded its partnership with Equinix to simplify the deployment and security of modern, distributed applications and AI workloads across hybrid multicloud environments. The broadened solution brings together the F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP) with Equinix's Network Edge and Equinix Fabric. Together, they enable enterprises to quickly and securely scale digital infrastructure globally—without the complexities of physical hardware. As large enterprises face pressure to quickly deploy and secure applications, Equinix and F5 offer a streamlined way to deliver high-performance applications securely across locations while reducing infrastructure costs and management overhead. The solution helps joint customers tackle challenges like operational complexity, rising costs, cyber-risk, and regulatory compliance in hybrid multicloud environments. F5 Distributed Cloud Customer Edge, which is a critical component of the F5 ADSP, is now available as a virtual network function (VNF) on Equinix Network Edge, enabling near-instant provisioning of F5's app delivery and security services across Equinix's global footprint. By leveraging Equinix's extensive global infrastructure and interconnection, businesses can dynamically adapt to changing demands while maintaining seamless connectivity. This includes support for low-latency, high-performance environments for AI inference and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), while also addressing regulatory requirements for data sovereignty and privacy. 'AI is putting massive new demands on infrastructure, especially at the edge, where latency, security, and control are critical,' said John Maddison, Chief Product and Corporate Marketing Officer at F5. 'Enterprises need faster, more secure ways to deploy and connect applications and AI workloads globally—without the complexity of managing physical infrastructure. Our expanded partnership with Equinix gives customers exactly that: a flexible, high-performance foundation to support AI-driven use cases and deliver exceptional digital experiences across any environment.' Key benefits of the expanded solution for customers include: AI Infrastructure Readiness – Support high-speed, secure connections for distributed AI workloads like inference and RAG, protecting sensitive data from leakage or compromise. Global Reach, No Hardware Required – Instantly deploy application services in new markets via virtual functions, significantly reducing time to market and capital expenditures. Increased Agility – Quickly adapt to changing demands without being constrained by infrastructure limitations, enabling businesses to stay competitive in dynamic markets. Unified Management and Compliance – Centrally enforce security policies across regions while meeting data sovereignty and industry-specific compliance requirements, simplifying management and improving efficiency. Equinix customers can now deploy F5 app delivery and security services directly through Equinix's Network Edge, while F5 customers gain simplified access to Equinix's global interconnection infrastructure—including private, low-latency connections to major cloud providers. Equinix and F5 customers interested in taking advantage of this new integrated offering have the flexibility to leverage their existing purchasing vehicles. 'Organisations are racing to adopt AI, but legacy infrastructure can slow them down or expose them to unnecessary risk,' said Maryam Zand, Vice President of Partnerships and Ecosystem Development at Equinix. 'By partnering with F5, we're giving our customers a seamless way to scale their AI applications and modern distributed workloads with built-in security, compliance, and performance. This solution can help businesses innovate faster, safeguard their operations, and maintain a competitive edge.' F5 Unity+ partners also benefit from expanded go-to-market opportunities, able to deliver secure, scalable solutions for complex hybrid environments without the burden of physical infrastructure management. 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. For more information visit F5 is a trademark, service mark, or tradename of F5, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. The use of the terms 'partner,' 'partners,' 'partnership,' or 'partnering' in this press release does not imply that a joint venture exists between F5 and any other company.
Techday NZ
5 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
F5 & Equinix expand partnership for secure global AI workloads
F5 and Equinix have expanded their partnership to provide organisations with enhanced capabilities for deploying and securing AI workloads and modern applications across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The collaboration brings together the F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP) and Equinix's Network Edge and Equinix Fabric, combining digital infrastructure delivery and security services to meet the increasing demands posed by the mainstream adoption of AI within enterprise IT environments. Addressing new infrastructure challenges Organisations navigating the transition to AI and advanced applications often face limitations with legacy infrastructure, such as increased security risks, compliance requirements, and operational costs. The strengthened partnership is positioned to address these concerns by enabling customers to deploy, scale, and secure digital resources globally without the challenges typically associated with physical hardware management. A key aspect of the expanded integration is the availability of F5 Distributed Cloud Customer Edge as a virtual network function (VNF) on Equinix Network Edge. This development allows for swift provisioning of F5's application delivery and security services, leveraging Equinix's global infrastructure and private interconnection options for a wide range of cloud providers. According to F5, the offering is particularly suited for environments demanding low latency and high performance, such as those for AI inference and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), while ensuring compliance with data sovereignty and privacy regulations. Industry perspectives "AI is putting massive new demands on infrastructure, especially at the edge, where latency, security, and control are critical," said John Maddison, Chief Product and Corporate Marketing Officer at F5. "Enterprises need faster, more secure ways to deploy and connect applications and AI workloads globally - without the complexity of managing physical infrastructure. Our expanded partnership with Equinix gives customers exactly that: a flexible, high-performance foundation to support AI-driven use cases and deliver exceptional digital experiences across any environment." Through the virtualised nature of the joint solution, enterprises can avoid long lead times and capital investments required by traditional infrastructure deployments, with instant availability of application security and connectivity services in new geographic markets. Maryam Zand, Vice President of Partnerships and Ecosystem Development at Equinix, drew attention to the pace of AI adoption and the associated risks. She said, "Organisations are racing to adopt AI, but legacy infrastructure can slow them down or expose them to unnecessary risk. By partnering with F5, we're giving our customers a seamless way to scale their AI applications and modern distributed workloads with built-in security, compliance, and performance. This solution can help businesses innovate faster, safeguard their operations, and maintain a competitive edge." Customer and partner benefits F5 and Equinix have outlined a number of benefits that their joint customers can expect. These include support for secure, high-speed connections for distributed AI workloads, the ability to deploy application services in new markets through virtual functions instead of physical hardware, and increased agility to react to changing demands. In addition, unified management tools allow security policies to be centrally enforced across multiple regions, assisting customers with regulatory compliance and streamlining operational efficiency. Customers of Equinix can now deploy F5's application delivery and security services directly using the Equinix Network Edge interface. Meanwhile, F5 customers gain simplified access to Equinix's global network and low-latency private connections to major cloud platforms. The companies emphasise that existing purchasing models can be used to access the new integrated solution, which could facilitate adoption among current clients. The companies have also highlighted new opportunities for F5 Unity+ partners, who can now deliver secure and scalable solutions for customers operating in complex hybrid environments, without the need to manage physical infrastructure themselves.
Channel Post MEA
21-07-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Most Enterprises Fall Short In AI Readiness: F5
F5 has unveiled its 2025 State of AI Application Strategy Report, revealing that only 2% of global organizations are highly ready to scale AI securely across operations. The report compiles insights from 650 global IT leaders and additional research with 150 AI strategists, representing organizations with at least $200 million in annual revenue. The report unveils stark truths about the state of AI readiness for enterprises today and their ability to adapt at sufficient speeds to keep pace with new innovations. The most notable findings of the report reveal that while 77% of companies demonstrate moderate AI readiness, most lack robust governance and cross-cloud security, exposing them to risks. Meanwhile, 21% of companies fall into the low-readiness category, limiting their competitive edge as AI transforms industries. F5's research reveals trends illustrating the rapid expansion of AI use by today's enterprises. All told, 70% of moderately ready organizations have generative AI in active use, and virtually everyone else is working on it. Additionally, 25% of apps, on average, use AI. Highly ready organizations typically use AI in a much higher percentage, with portfolio-wide saturation expected. Low-readiness organizations use AI in less than one-quarter of their apps, typically in siloed or experimental settings. Moderately ready organizations currently have AI present in about one-third of applications. The report provides a snapshot of the latest trends in enterprises grappling with embracing AI. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents (65%) use two or more paid models and at least one open-source model. The average organization uses three models, and the use of multiple models correlates with deployment in more than one environment or location. The majority of models in use today are paid models such as GPT-4, but open-source alternatives are also popular. The top open-source models cited are Meta's Llama variants, Mistral AI variants, and Google's Gemma. 'As AI becomes core to business strategy, readiness requires more than experimentation—it demands security, scalability, and alignment,' said John Maddison, Chief Product and Corporate Marketing Officer at F5. 'This report highlights actionable steps for organizations to operationalize AI with confidence. AI is already transforming security operations, but without mature governance and purpose-built protections, enterprises risk amplifying threats.' Cybersecurity Challenges in AI Adoption The report highlights critical cybersecurity issues as organizations scale AI capabilities, revealing concerning trends about enterprises' ability to tackle the complexity of securing AI workloads. Key cybersecurity trends identified in the report include: Organizations see AI as a viable cybersecurity asset: 71% of all respondents already use AI to augment security. 71% of all respondents already use AI to augment security. AI-specific protections are lacking: Only 18% of moderately ready organizations have deployed an AI firewall, with 47% aiming to have done so within a year. Only 18% of moderately ready organizations have deployed an AI firewall, with 47% aiming to have done so within a year. Data governance weaknesses: Just 24% of organizations practice continuous data labeling, indicating reduced transparency and increased risks of adversarial attacks. Just 24% of organizations practice continuous data labeling, indicating reduced transparency and increased risks of adversarial attacks. Cross-cloud inconsistencies: Hybrid environments create governance gaps, leaving workflows and data exposed to vulnerabilities. Hybrid environments create governance gaps, leaving workflows and data exposed to vulnerabilities. Expanded attack surface: The use of diverse AI models exacerbates risks without proper control frameworks for open-source tools. Recommendations to Improve AI Readiness The report introduces the AI Readiness Index, a framework measuring six factors of operational maturity, including security and infrastructure alignment. F5 outlines key actions for enterprises to enhance AI scalability and security, including: Diversify AI models: Use both paid and open-source AI tools while improving governance to mitigate risks. Expand AI use across workflows: Move beyond pilots and embed AI in operations, analytics, and security for enterprise-wide transformation. Integrate AI-specific security: Deploy protections like AI firewalls and formalize data governance processes, including data labeling, to safeguard workflows. Organizations with high AI readiness can scale effectively, mitigate risks, and leverage innovation strategically. Those without maturity frameworks face operational bottlenecks, compliance challenges, and stifled growth. The AI Readiness Index serves as a roadmap for enterprises to benchmark progress and implement actionable changes for secure scalability. Download the 2025 State of AI Application Strategy Report to benchmark your readiness, identify gaps, and accelerate secure AI scaling. 'The research in the State of AI Application Strategy Report aligns with what we're observing across the Middle East, where many organisations are increasingly integrating AI into their operations, often without all the necessary levels of governance or safeguards in place,' said Mohammed Abukhater, RVP for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa at F5. 'While most companies demonstrate moderate AI readiness, they still need to ensure robust governance and comprehensive cross-cloud security to avoid exposure to significant risks. In line with the report's AI Readiness Index, we are committed to empowering our customers to embed AI in their operations for seamless application delivery and security.'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
F5 Research Finds Most Enterprises Still Fall Short in AI Readiness, Face Security and Governance Issues Blocking Scalability
F5's 2025 State of AI Application Strategy Report reveals 25% of apps on average use AI, yet only 2% of enterprises qualify as being highly AI-ready. 77% of companies are moderately ready for AI but still face significant security and governance hurdles. 71% of organizations use AI to boost security, while only 31% have deployed AI firewalls. SEATTLE, July 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in delivering and securing every app and API, today unveiled its 2025 State of AI Application Strategy Report, revealing that only 2% of global organizations are highly ready to scale AI securely across operations. The report compiles insights from 650 global IT leaders and additional research with 150 AI strategists, representing organizations with at least $200 million in annual revenue. The report unveils stark truths about the state of AI readiness for enterprises today and their ability to adapt at sufficient speeds to keep pace with new innovations. The most notable findings of the report reveal that while 77% of companies demonstrate moderate AI readiness, most lack robust governance and cross-cloud security, exposing them to risks. Meanwhile, 21% of companies fall into the low-readiness category, limiting their competitive edge as AI transforms industries. F5's research reveals trends illustrating the rapid expansion of AI use by today's enterprises. All told, 70% of moderately ready organizations have generative AI in active use, and virtually everyone else is working on it. Additionally, 25% of apps, on average, use AI. Highly ready organizations typically use AI in a much higher percentage, with portfolio-wide saturation expected. Low-readiness organizations use AI in less than one-quarter of their apps, typically in siloed or experimental settings. Moderately ready organizations currently have AI present in about one-third of applications. The report provides a snapshot of the latest trends in enterprises grappling with embracing AI. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents (65%) use two or more paid models and at least one open-source model. The average organization uses three models, and the use of multiple models correlates with deployment in more than one environment or location. The majority of models in use today are paid models such as GPT-4, but open-source alternatives are also popular. The top open-source models cited are Meta's Llama variants, Mistral AI variants, and Google's Gemma. "As AI becomes core to business strategy, readiness requires more than experimentation—it demands security, scalability, and alignment," said John Maddison, Chief Product and Corporate Marketing Officer at F5. "This report highlights actionable steps for organizations to operationalize AI with confidence. AI is already transforming security operations, but without mature governance and purpose-built protections, enterprises risk amplifying threats." Cybersecurity Challenges in AI Adoption The report highlights critical cybersecurity issues as organizations scale AI capabilities, revealing concerning trends about enterprises' ability to tackle the complexity of securing AI workloads. Key cybersecurity trends identified in the report include: Organizations see AI as a viable cybersecurity asset: 71% of all respondents already use AI to augment security. AI-specific protections are lacking: Only 18% of moderately ready organizations have deployed an AI firewall, with 47% aiming to have done so within a year. Data governance weaknesses: Just 24% of organizations practice continuous data labeling, indicating reduced transparency and increased risks of adversarial attacks. Cross-cloud inconsistencies: Hybrid environments create governance gaps, leaving workflows and data exposed to vulnerabilities. Expanded attack surface: The use of diverse AI models exacerbates risks without proper control frameworks for open-source tools. Recommendations to Improve AI Readiness The report introduces the AI Readiness Index, a framework measuring six factors of operational maturity, including security and infrastructure alignment. F5 outlines key actions for enterprises to enhance AI scalability and security, including: Diversify AI models: Use both paid and open-source AI tools while improving governance to mitigate risks. Expand AI use across workflows: Move beyond pilots and embed AI in operations, analytics, and security for enterprise-wide transformation. Integrate AI-specific security: Deploy protections like AI firewalls and formalize data governance processes, including data labeling, to safeguard workflows. Organizations with high AI readiness can scale effectively, mitigate risks, and leverage innovation strategically. Those without maturity frameworks face operational bottlenecks, compliance challenges, and stifled growth. The AI Readiness Index serves as a roadmap for enterprises to benchmark progress and implement actionable changes for secure scalability. Download the 2025 State of AI Application Strategy Report to benchmark your readiness, identify gaps, and accelerate secure AI scaling. Supporting Materials Blog: The State of AI Readiness: Moving from Ambition to Architecture Blog: Accelerate AI: An In-Depth Look at Industry-Leading AI Innovation from F5 Resource: Accelerate AI Details 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. For more information visit Explore F5 Labs threat research at Follow to learn more about F5, our partners, and technologies: Blog | LinkedIn | X | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook F5 is a trademark, service mark, or tradename of F5, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Source: F5, Inc. View source version on Contacts Dan SorensenF5(650) Holly LancasterWe. Communications(415) 547-7054hlancaster@
Business Wire
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
F5 Research Finds Most Enterprises Still Fall Short in AI Readiness, Face Security and Governance Issues Blocking Scalability
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in delivering and securing every app and API, today unveiled its 2025 State of AI Application Strategy Report, revealing that only 2% of global organizations are highly ready to scale AI securely across operations. The report compiles insights from 650 global IT leaders and additional research with 150 AI strategists, representing organizations with at least $200 million in annual revenue. The report unveils stark truths about the state of AI readiness for enterprises today and their ability to adapt at sufficient speeds to keep pace with new innovations. The most notable findings of the report reveal that while 77% of companies demonstrate moderate AI readiness, most lack robust governance and cross-cloud security, exposing them to risks. Meanwhile, 21% of companies fall into the low-readiness category, limiting their competitive edge as AI transforms industries. F5's research reveals trends illustrating the rapid expansion of AI use by today's enterprises. All told, 70% of moderately ready organizations have generative AI in active use, and virtually everyone else is working on it. Additionally, 25% of apps, on average, use AI. Highly ready organizations typically use AI in a much higher percentage, with portfolio-wide saturation expected. Low-readiness organizations use AI in less than one-quarter of their apps, typically in siloed or experimental settings. Moderately ready organizations currently have AI present in about one-third of applications. The report provides a snapshot of the latest trends in enterprises grappling with embracing AI. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents (65%) use two or more paid models and at least one open-source model. The average organization uses three models, and the use of multiple models correlates with deployment in more than one environment or location. The majority of models in use today are paid models such as GPT-4, but open-source alternatives are also popular. The top open-source models cited are Meta's Llama variants, Mistral AI variants, and Google's Gemma. 'As AI becomes core to business strategy, readiness requires more than experimentation—it demands security, scalability, and alignment,' said John Maddison, Chief Product and Corporate Marketing Officer at F5. 'This report highlights actionable steps for organizations to operationalize AI with confidence. AI is already transforming security operations, but without mature governance and purpose-built protections, enterprises risk amplifying threats.' Cybersecurity Challenges in AI Adoption The report highlights critical cybersecurity issues as organizations scale AI capabilities, revealing concerning trends about enterprises' ability to tackle the complexity of securing AI workloads. Key cybersecurity trends identified in the report include: Organizations see AI as a viable cybersecurity asset: 71% of all respondents already use AI to augment security. AI-specific protections are lacking: Only 18% of moderately ready organizations have deployed an AI firewall, with 47% aiming to have done so within a year. Data governance weaknesses: Just 24% of organizations practice continuous data labeling, indicating reduced transparency and increased risks of adversarial attacks. Cross-cloud inconsistencies: Hybrid environments create governance gaps, leaving workflows and data exposed to vulnerabilities. Expanded attack surface: The use of diverse AI models exacerbates risks without proper control frameworks for open-source tools. Recommendations to Improve AI Readiness The report introduces the AI Readiness Index, a framework measuring six factors of operational maturity, including security and infrastructure alignment. F5 outlines key actions for enterprises to enhance AI scalability and security, including: Diversify AI models: Use both paid and open-source AI tools while improving governance to mitigate risks. Expand AI use across workflows: Move beyond pilots and embed AI in operations, analytics, and security for enterprise-wide transformation. Integrate AI-specific security: Deploy protections like AI firewalls and formalize data governance processes, including data labeling, to safeguard workflows. Organizations with high AI readiness can scale effectively, mitigate risks, and leverage innovation strategically. Those without maturity frameworks face operational bottlenecks, compliance challenges, and stifled growth. The AI Readiness Index serves as a roadmap for enterprises to benchmark progress and implement actionable changes for secure scalability. Download the 2025 State of AI Application Strategy Report to benchmark your readiness, identify gaps, and accelerate secure AI scaling. Supporting Materials 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. F5 is a trademark, service mark, or tradename of F5, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Source: F5, Inc.
