F5 Networks said that it plans to integrate F5 BIG-IP access with Oracle Identity Management software to centralise web application authentication and authorisation services, streamline access management, and reduce infrastructure costs.

The company said the combined offering provides tight integration of the F5 BIG-IP system with Oracle Access Manager, enabling reduced TCO, lowered deployment risk, and streamlined operational efficiencies.

Other benefits of combined offering includes, integration with Oracle Access Manager Single Sign-On (SSO) to promote enhanced user productivity; and a unified point of enforcement to simplify auditing and control changes in configuring application access settings. The integration with Oracle Access Manager SSO enables organisations to adopt an access management and SSO strategy that allows rapid ROI.

Jason Needham, Sr. Director of product management at F5, said: “Close working relationships with key identity and access management vendors like Oracle are very important to F5. Together, we can deliver significant value to our joint customers by enabling them to centralise and unify application access control services across increasingly diverse network environments.

“F5 is committed to providing innovative access management solutions and edge services – such as SSL VPN, acceleration, and other managed services – to maximise IT agility and deliver enhanced functionality, security, and ROI to customers.”

The combined offering is expected to be available within the first half of calendar year 2010.