2.1. Module 1: F5 Multi-layer Firewall

This module has seven labs in configuring an Advanced Multi-layer firewall applicable to many data center environments.

In this module, you will build a perimeter firewall with advanced Layer 7 security mitigations.

Estimated completion time: 1 hour

Objective:

  • Inspect multiple internal pools and virtual servers for different applications within your data center. e.g. www, API, /downloads
  • Inspect external hosted virtual server that allows the same IP address to be shared with multiple SSL enabled applications.
  • Inspect and understand LTM policy to direct traffic to appropriate virtual server
  • Configure local logging; test
  • Create a network firewall policy to protect the internal application virtual servers; test
  • Configure the external virtual server to tranform traffic coming through CDN networks so that firewall policies can be applied to specific clients; test
  • Modify the network firewall policy to block based on XFF; test
  • Apply Layer 7 responses (403 Denied) for CDN clients to firewall drop rules
  • Configure HTTP protocol security; test
  • Configure SSL Visibility to external security devices e.g. IDS; test

Labs 1 & 2 highlight the flexibility of leveraging an application proxy such as the BIG-IP for your perimeter security utilizing common traffic management techniques and some additional features unique to the BIG-IP as an Application Delivery Controller.

Labs 3 & 4 Breaks out applying differing security policies to the multi-tiered application deployment.

Lab 5 Highlights the flexibility of the Multi-Layered Firewall to solve common problems for hosting providers.

Lab 6 Applies Layer 7 protocol validation and security for HTTP to the existing applications.

Lab 7 Provides a solution for sending decrypted traffic to other security devices.

Warning

IP addresses in screenshots are examples only. Please read the step-by-step lab instructions to ensure that you use the correct IP addresses.