Why applications are an organisation’s most valuable asset in the digital age

With online assets becoming more and more complex and multifaceted in their architecture, they are increasingly difficult to protect from ill-intentioned attacks, exposing them to downtime and losses for their businesses. iGamingCapital.mt caught up with Brian Zarb Adami, Chief Executive Officer at CyberSift, who revealed that a game changer is on the horizon, that is set to put minds at rest, once and for all.

“In the early days of the internet, web applications were typically monolithic, meaning they were self-contained and lived in one place, typically on a server somewhere. That meant that they were relatively easy to protect by means of traditional firewalls that could be conveniently be placed in front of them,” explains Brian as he provides some context to the ever-evolving landscape of online applications.

“However, nowadays, monolithic applications have evolved into more flexible, distributed structures. We now have the ability to break applications into smaller, more manageable chunks of code that can reside in different data centres and even across multiple cloud environments.”

This is where F5 Distributed Cloud Services come into play. F5 are SaaS-based security, networking, and application management services that can be deployed across multi-cloud, on-premises, and edge locations. Owned by a Seattle-based, American tech company, this platform provides the ability to build, deploy, secure, and operate applications and data across multi-cloud or edge. It specialises in application security, multi-cloud management, online fraud prevention, application delivery networking (ADN), application availability & performance, network security, and access & authorisation.

“By way of an example, one can think of an online ferry booking service, popular with tourists, which would make use of code and elements from a variety of different locations and providers, strategically distributed to optimise user experience.” F5 provides the optimal environment for this to happen.

“This seamless orchestration of microservices working together cohesively has proven to be especially useful for users. Content delivery can be optimised by bringing data closer to users, authentication can be outsourced to third parties, and both public and private cloud environments can be leveraged for greater efficiency,” Brian continues.

While convenient, this new way of designing online assets, however, offers its own series of challenges, as Brian explains. “Given the complexity of modern applications, a comprehensive solution is necessary to manage all these aspects efficiently, and that is how F5 can help bring peace of mind to businesses who rely on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of complex online assets. In fact, F5 Distributed Cloud allows organisations to tailor security and performance solutions to their specific needs. This guarantees control over their distributed applications, ensuring both security and efficiency while preventing attacks,” Brian adds.

“From the beginning, F5 has been all about apps, as we sought to protect, deliver, and optimise applications for the world’s largest organisations for more than 25 years,” says Motti Ben-Shoshan, Director at F5.

“This has given us a deep understanding of how apps work, and how to make them work better. F5 simplifies deployment, security, and maintenance of applications and APIs across hybrid, multi-cloud, and edge environments, in any environment apps are deployed,” Motti furthers.

Serving the world’s largest enterprises, service providers, financial and educational institutions, government entities, and consumer brands, F5 has always been guided by one overarching goal – hyper-focus on innovation.

“Fuelled by automation and AI-driven insights, these self-learning applications naturally adapt based on their changing environment, so companies can focus on their core business, boost speed to market, improve operations, and build trust with their customers.”

“For over two decades, as the infrastructural needs of our customers have evolved to span data centres, multi-cloud, and edge environments, so has the nature of the challenges and threats they face. Likewise, our services and solutions have evolved into a portfolio of AI-powered products that enable organisations to effectively deliver, manage, and secure the apps and APIs that keep their businesses moving forward,” Motti adds.

F5’s strategy as a leader in multi-cloud application delivery and security is founded in the belief that, in the digital age, applications are an organisation’s most valuable asset.

“At CyberSift, we are especially proud to be collaborating with F5, as we will be providing a world class solution for a very real challenge being faced by businesses across several sectors. In the modern economy, companies are increasingly reliant on their online infrastructures, as more of their business is derived from the digital sphere. This makes them essentially IT companies, with a specialisation in their field of operation. Our responsibility is to provide them with the protection and support to put their minds at rest, that their online assets will remain safe and running, and their customers will be able to find them whenever they are needed,” Brian concludes.

F5 will be launching on 3rd April 2025. For more information on how you can protect your business and online assets with F5, click here.