F5's FirePass® Controller Singled Out as 'Product of the Year' in Enterprise VPN Category by Premier IT Networking Publication

F5's SSL VPN solution wins prestigious Gold Award from TechTarget; Judges praised the FirePass product's full network access support to any IP application, integrated application-layer security and powerful end-point security

See the following page to learn about the various certifications and awards that Firepass has received.

SEATTLE JANUARY 25, 2005 - F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in Application Traffic Management, today announced that FirePass Controller version 5.2 has been honored by SearchNetworking.com as 'The Product of the Year' in the Enterprise VPN category. The next-generation Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network (SSL VPN) solution won a Gold Award in SearchNetworking.com's '2004 Products of the Year' competition, topping entries from approximately 20 other equipment vendors. SearchNetworking.com is a channel of TechTarget.

In announcing the award, SearchNetworking.com lauded the FirePass product for its easy integration with Web hosts, terminal servers, client-server applications, legacy hosts, mobile devices and Windows desktops, without pre-installed client software or application updates. The judges also were impressed by the FirePass solution's full network access support to any IP application across multiple platforms, as well as its robust integrated application-layer security.

"We're very gratified to receive this well-respected award that recognizes FirePass as the best in its class," said Marty Jost, Director of Product Management at F5 Networks. "FirePass has vaulted over the competition, becoming the industry's most powerful remote access solution with the broadest application support, best usability and superior control over user-to-application security policies."

For this competition, SearchNetworking.com editors solicited nominations from equipment vendors, selected nominees themselves, and recruited a panel of industry experts and networking professionals to judge entries. Panelists evaluated 122 products in six major categories based on:

Innovation

Performance

Ease of integration into environment

Ease of use and manageability

Functionality

Value

Service and support

To read the full article describing SearchNetworking.com's evaluation of the FirePass product, go to http://www.f5.com/f5/news/articles/article011205a.html". For more information on the FirePass product, go to http://www.f5.com/f5products/products/FirePass/.

About FirePass Controller

The FirePass Controller is the industry's first SSL VPN solution that provides complete cross-platform support and the broadest application access, including web hosts, client-server applications, and legacy hosts. Unlike IPSec VPN products that require the installation of special client software, the FirePass solution offers a clientless SSL VPN service that leverages any standard browser interface. It also offers the only open API (Application Programming Interface) and SDK (Software Developer's Kit) that enables 3rd party application vendors to build seamless, secure remote access into their client applications.

About SearchNetworking.com

SearchNetworking.com is a leading online resource for more than 330,000 enterprise IT professionals who seek information on the latest networking technologies and issues so they can make decisions, research products and set strategies. SearchNetworking.com provides original news stories, expert advice and interactive features for the networking community, and is the largest online source of networking e-newsletters, white papers and Web casts. More information can be found at www.searchNetworking.com.

About F5 Networks

F5 enables organizations to successfully deliver business-critical applications and gives them the greatest level of agility to stay ahead of growing business demands. As the pioneer and global leader in Application Traffic Management, F5 continues to lead the industry by driving more intelligence into the network to deliver advanced application agility. F5 products ensure the secure and optimized delivery of applications to any user - anywhere. Through its flexible and cohesive architecture, F5 delivers unmatched value by dramatically improving the way organizations serve their employees, customers and constituents, while lowering operational costs. Over 6,000 organizations and service providers worldwide trust F5 to keep their businesses running. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington with offices worldwide. For more information go to www.f5.com. All brands, names, or trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.