F5 (NASDAQ:FFIV) and Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) have announced plans to collaborate on integrating advanced application and API security technology into Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), as businesses face increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity threats associated with artificial intelligence.
The proposed partnership, outlined in a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU), would make F5’s web application and API protection technology available to organisations running workloads on Oracle’s cloud platform.
The companies aim to help customers strengthen security while reducing the operational complexity of managing protection across cloud-based applications and services.
Planned Integration Targets Application and API Security
Under the proposed arrangement, F5’s web application and API protection (WAAP) technology would be integrated into OCI, allowing customers to manage application security within their existing cloud environment.
The companies said the integration is intended to help organisations defend against advanced cyberattacks targeting web applications and application programming interfaces, which connect software systems and services.
The planned offering would also seek to reduce the need for specialist security expertise by simplifying the deployment and management of protection tools.
Oracle Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships kp Papamiltiadis said customers increasingly require security capabilities that can respond to changing threats without adding complexity.
“As cyber threats evolve, our customers need application and API protection that keeps pace without adding operational complexity,” Papamiltiadis said.
“Together, we plan to bring F5’s application security expertise into OCI, helping customers protect critical applications and APIs while simplifying security operations, backed by Oracle’s cloud infrastructure and support.”
Companies Focus on AI-Related Cybersecurity Risks
A central element of the proposed collaboration is addressing the speed at which artificial intelligence can be used to identify and exploit software vulnerabilities.
F5 and Oracle intend to support AI runtime defence capabilities, including virtual patching, which can provide temporary protection against vulnerabilities while organisations implement permanent software fixes.
The approach is designed to help security teams manage exposure to attacks during the period between identifying a vulnerability and completing remediation.
John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer at F5, said the increasing use of AI in cyberattacks is changing how organisations need to protect their applications.
“AI-powered attacks can find and exploit vulnerabilities faster than enterprises can patch them. Oracle and F5 see AI runtime defense as the answer for cloud teams, allowing for virtual patching that shields exposed systems while teams catch up on remediation,” Maddison said.
He added that the planned integration would provide security, application and platform teams with access to F5’s protection technology through Oracle’s cloud infrastructure.
Collaboration Remains at Planning Stage
The announcement represents a proposed collaboration rather than a completed technology integration or definitive commercial agreement.
The companies have not disclosed a timetable for introducing the planned security capabilities to OCI customers.
Financial terms, including potential revenue arrangements or investment commitments, were also not announced.
The non-binding MOU establishes the parties’ intention to explore the integration, with implementation details yet to be confirmed.
F5 and Oracle Outlook
The proposed collaboration would extend F5’s application security technology into Oracle’s cloud infrastructure, potentially giving OCI customers additional tools to protect applications and APIs.
For F5, the arrangement represents an opportunity to expand the availability of its security technology through an established cloud provider.
For Oracle, the planned integration would add application protection capabilities to its cloud services offering as businesses assess cybersecurity risks associated with AI-driven threats.
The commercial impact will depend on whether the companies finalise the arrangement and subsequently make the integrated services available to customers.