CACI Network Services’ Post

ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment) is a protocol that automates SSL/TLS certificate management. Instead of manually issuing, installing, and renewing certificates (which often leads to errors and outages), ACME lets your systems communicate directly with the Certificate Authority for: ✔ Issuance ✔ Installation ✔ Renewal ✔ Revocation / Replacement #DigitalSecurity #ACME #SSL #Automation"

A major enterprise struggled with too many tools and no visibility. OBSEC integrated their systems — now they track performance and security from a single pane of glass. That’s the power of intelligent integration. #SystemIntegration #BusinessContinuity #ManagedServices #OBSEC

🚀 Understanding nPath (Direct Server Return) in F5 BIG-IP In load balancing architecture, there is a unique method called nPath or Direct Server Return (DSR). This method allows inbound traffic to pass through F5, but outbound traffic flows directly from the server to the client. 🔑 Key Concept F5 receives the request from the client → then forwards it to the server. The server sends the response directly to the client, bypassing F5. The server uses the Virtual Server IP (VIP) as the source IP, instead of its own real IP. ⚡ Advantages High throughput → ideal for applications with heavy traffic (streaming, downloads, CDN). Reduced load on F5, since the return path doesn’t need to be processed. ⚠️ Limitations Cannot perform SSL offload or full inspection of return traffic. Some advanced F5 features (e.g., response-based iRules, HTTP profiles) cannot be used. Health monitoring is more limited (typically TCP/ICMP). 🛠️ Server Requirements For nPath to work properly, the server must: Add the VIP address as a loopback alias. Disable ARP & ICMP for the VIP to avoid conflicts with F5. Configure routing so return traffic goes directly to the client. #F5 #BIGIP #LoadBalancing #Networking #NetworkEngineering #ITInfrastructure #KnowledgeSharing

The SSL Certificate Monitoring extension (often called “SSL Certificate Check” or “SSL Certificate Monitoring Extension 2.0”) is a Dynatrace Hub extension that allows you to monitor SSL/TLS certificates directly, without needing synthetic tests. This method is ideal for: • Internal certificates (intranet, APIs, backend servers) • Certificates not exposed publicly • Bulk certificate monitoring (dozens/hundreds) • Agent-based or ActiveGate-based monitoring 1️⃣ Download and Install the Extension • Go to Dynatrace Hub • Search for “SSL Certificate Monitoring” (official Dynatrace extension) • Click Activate or Add to environment • Once installed, it becomes available under Extensions → Manage Extensions ⸻ 2️⃣ Choose the Monitoring Mode This extension can work in two ways: • ActiveGate-based (recommended): ActiveGate connects to the target URL/port. • OneAgent-based: Installed locally on servers (for certificates hosted internally). ⸻ 3️⃣ Create an Extension Configuration Go to: Dynatrace → Settings → Extensions → SSL Certificate Monitoring → Add Configuration

MCP - Ep5 ( Juniper - Bridge-domain Documentation ) 🚀 From generative config creation to intent validation, this is the future of self-healing, self-documenting, and self-configuring networks.💡 Build once. Scale everywhere. Audit in seconds. #NetDevOps #JUNOS #InfrastructureAsCode #Automation #MCP #JunosMCP #NetworkAutomation #IntentBasedNetworking #ServiceProvider #GenerativeAutomation John Capobianco Kweku Folson Edmond Yeboah Gyampoh Tariq A Sheikh Luca Gubler Jose Miguel Izquierdo Henry Baffour Asiamah

F5 have reported an incident confirming a compromise of its systems and data exfiltration. This data is reported to include a portion of its BIG-IP source code and vulnerability information. Successful exploitation of the impacted F5 products could enable a threat actor to access embedded credentials and Application Programming Interface (API) keys, move laterally within an organisation’s network, exfiltrate data, and establish persistent system access. We recommend that any F5 products to be updated as soon as possible. What is affected? Hardware: BIG-IP iSeries, rSeries, or any other F5 device that has reached end of support Software: All devices running BIG-IP (F5OS), BIG-IP (TMOS), Virtual Edition (VE), BIG IP Next, BIG- IQ, and BIG-IP Next for Kubernetes (BNK) / Cloud-Native Network Functions (CNF) Extra information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dCrhEJUE https://lnkd.in/eTdun4um

📢 We issued Emergency Directive (ED) 26-01: https://go.dhs.gov/isY ED 26-01 was issued in response to nation-state affiliated threat actors compromising F5’s systems & downloading portions of its BIG-IP source code—presenting an imminent threat to federal networks using F5 devices. 🛡️ Federal agencies are required to identify, analyze, and mitigate potential compromises immediately, especially if your agency utilizes any of the following F5 products: • Hardware: BIG-IP iSeries, rSeries, or any other F5 device that has reach EOL/EOS • Software: All devices running BIG-IP (F50S), BIG-IP (TMOS), Virtual Edition (VE), BIG-IP Next, BIG-IQ, BNK/CNF 📄 Read the directive: https://go.dhs.gov/isY

CISA has released Emergency Directive 26-01 following confirmation that nation-state actors compromised F5 systems and accessed BIG-IP source code, creating an imminent risk to federal networks and the financial sector. #CISA #F5 Full details: https://go.dhs.gov/isY

The F5 attack by UNC5221, a China-linked APT using BRICKSTORM malware, highlights the critical need for robust cybersecurity. Unlike SOC2 noncompliance issues I discussed https://lnkd.in/gJy7yBJs, this state-sponsored attack targeted BIG-IP source code, posing supply chain risks. As a former F5/ShapeSecurity employee, I saw firsthand their strong engineering-ops separation, likely limiting the breach’s scope. This underscores the value of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), which I worked on at Airgap Networks Inc. (Acquired by Zscaler) (now Zscaler ), and the NPA solution from Netskope. Enterprises must patch F5 products by 10/22/25 per CISA’s ED 26-01 https://go.dhs.gov/isY and adopt ZTNA to protect against such threats. #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth #ZeroTrust

CISA’s recent Emergency Directive 26-01, issued after a nation-state compromise of F5 Networks, represents far more than an isolated security event, it’s a pivotal reminder of how deeply interconnected our digital ecosystems have become. By gaining access to portions of F5’s BIG-IP source code, threat actors didn’t just breach a vendor, they penetrated a core component of federal and enterprise infrastructure. When a single supplier’s code underpins thousands of mission-critical systems, the line between a corporate incident and a national security risk disappears. This event underscores a hard truth: cybersecurity today is only as strong as the weakest vendor in the chain. Even with mature internal defenses, a compromise upstream can cascade across entire sectors. As cybersecurity professionals and leaders, we must evolve from reactive defense to proactive resilience: • Adopt Zero Trust principles • Strengthen supply chain visibility • Elevate vendor risk management • Plan for continuity The F5 incident is not just a technical crisis, I t’s a leadership challenge. It calls for transparency, collaboration, and foresight across both public and private sectors. In cybersecurity, trust is not static, it’s earned, verified, and maintained daily. Our collective resilience depends on it. #Cybersecurity #F5 #CISA #ED2601 #SupplyChainSecurity #ZeroTrust #CyberResilience #Consulting