F5 Network leaps into software for cloud-based applications
F5 Networks, a company that specializes in application services and application delivery networking has acquired NGINX, an open-source web server for multi-cloud architecture. The acquisition of Nginx switches F5 Networks from a hardware company into software for cloud-based applications. This enables F5 to gain a broader reach in the market. Moreover, Nginx CEO Gus Robertson and Founders Igor Sysoev and Maxim Konovalov will also join F5 and maintain operations in San Francisco. Additionally, F5 Networks plans to keep the Nginx brand alive and fuel further investment in software application delivery and API management. The deal is expected to close during the second quarter of this year.
Securing apps across platforms.
According to the deal, the combined company will enable each customer, app developer, network engineer, security specialist with the tools that are required by them. These tools would help them ensure their apps are available and secure across every platform, from the enterprise data center to private and public clouds. F5 Networks CEO Francois Locoh-Donou stated, “We believe every organization can benefit from the agility and flexibility enabled by modern technologies without compromising on security, manageability, and reliability.”
According to Zeus Kerravala, an Analyst at ZK Research, most enterprises will eventually operate hybrid, multi-cloud environments to bring modern and traditional IT together, DevOps and traditional IT still aren’t fam: clear with how the other works. Further, he added, “By bringing them under one roof, F5 will now own the whole application experience, from the app server to the user and can expose its audience to Nginx.”
Bridging divides between NetOps and DevOps
F5’s commitment to progress the open-source technology powered by Nginx and the addition of F5’s security solutions to the combination will enable Nginx get more opportuinties in the enterprise. This will help Nginx get opportunities in the enterprise.
F5 Networks CEO Francois Locoh-Donou described the collaboration of F5 and Nginx as an opportunity to bridge the divide between NetOps and DevOps with consistent application services across an enterprise’s multi-cloud environment. He added that the business model of Nginx is not purely services. “It’s not just services on top of open-source technology. The commercial part of their business includes significant software addition beyond open source,” he said.
