F5 Networks has acquired Fletch, an agentic AI and threat management startup, to enhance its new Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP). This platform aims to integrate F5’s load balancing and traffic management technology with comprehensive application and API security, thus streamlining operations while ensuring the security of various enterprise applications.
F5’s ADSP represents the next step in the evolution of its application delivery controllers (ADC), offering intelligent traffic management and security features tailored to modern demands, such as the rise of APIs and microservices. The platform is designed to support multiple security technologies, including web application firewalls and DDoS mitigation.
By incorporating Fletch’s technology, which utilizes a suite of agents for threat intelligence gathering and analytics, F5 anticipates improved operational efficiency and deeper security insights. Fletch’s offerings are already woven into Microsoft’s Security CoPilot ecosystem, underscoring their credibility in the cybersecurity landscape.
F5’s Chief Innovation Officer, Kunal Anand, noted that security teams today are overwhelmed with data and alerts. The integration of Fletch’s agentic AI will provide contextualized, actionable insights, equipping security professionals to manage the deluge of alerts more effectively. The technology can prioritize threats by analyzing data and correlating it with both internal and external sources.
Fletch’s CEO, Grant Wernick, emphasized the proactive nature of agentic AI, stating that it can filter noise and direct teams to critical threats before they escalate, facilitating a more focused response effort. This enhancement positions F5 to empower security teams, allowing them to concentrate on defensive measures rather than sifting through excessive information.
