F5-402 study materials
F5-402 study resources

F5-402 key terms

F5-402 · Get comfortable with the vocabulary.

Declarative Onboarding

An F5 toolchain role for relevant initial system-level configuration under supported versions, distinct from AS3 application-service configuration on a prepared system.

AS3 declaration

A schema-governed representation of intended application-service configuration whose acceptance still requires operation completion and actual service verification.

Asynchronous operation

A processing workflow in which initial acceptance and final outcome occur at different times, requiring supported status, retry and concurrency handling.

Pool member

A BIG-IP backend address and service combination eligible under its actual pool and health configuration, distinct from the node address alone.

TLS bridging

Terminating one encrypted connection and establishing a separate encrypted connection under the selected model, with independently relevant certificate and trust requirements.

Wide IP

A BIG-IP DNS object associating a name and record type with configured DNS selection behavior, whose answer does not itself proxy the later application session.

Per-request policy

An APM policy evaluated for subsequent supported web requests in the configured model, distinct from initial session establishment and identity collection.

TMM

The Traffic Management Microkernel associated with BIG-IP traffic processing in the classic architecture, distinct from configuration and administrative management responsibilities.

Configuration synchronization

Propagation of eligible device-group configuration under supported rules, which does not universally include every runtime connection or external application dependency.

Diagnostic collection

A package of system observations for an approved support investigation that can contain sensitive operational information and needs controlled handling.

Full proxy

A traffic-processing arrangement with distinct client-side and server-side connection contexts, whose reuse and protocol behavior depend on the actual configuration.

Persistence key

The configured value used to associate later traffic with a destination, distinct from the application’s own stored user-session state.

Application-aware monitor

A controlled health check that tests relevant application behavior using defined requests and expected results, rather than only establishing a transport connection.

Least Privilege

The principle that users and systems should be granted only the minimum access rights necessary to perform their tasks, reducing the potential damage from accidents or malicious activity.

Related: Role-Based Access Control, Separation of Duties
Separation of Duties

A control that divides critical tasks among different individuals so that no single person can complete a sensitive action alone, helping to prevent fraud and errors.

Related: Least Privilege, Role-Based Access Control
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

An access control model where permissions are assigned to roles rather than individual users, and users are assigned to roles based on their job responsibilities.

Related: Least Privilege, Separation of Duties
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

An authentication method that requires two or more independent credentials from different categories (something you know, have, or are) to verify a user's identity.

Related: Authentication, Single Sign-On
Authentication

The process of verifying the identity of a user, device, or system, typically through credentials such as passwords, tokens, or biometrics.

Related: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Authorization
Authorization

The process of determining what actions or resources an authenticated entity is permitted to access, often enforced through access control policies.

Related: Authentication, Least Privilege
Single Sign-On (SSO)

A mechanism that allows a user to log in once and access multiple applications or systems without re-entering credentials, improving usability and centralizing access control.

Related: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Authentication
Encryption

The process of converting plaintext into ciphertext using an algorithm and a key, so that only authorized parties can read the original information.

Related: Symmetric Encryption, Asymmetric Encryption, Hash Function
Symmetric Encryption

An encryption method that uses the same secret key for both encryption and decryption, offering speed but requiring secure key distribution.

Related: Asymmetric Encryption, Encryption
Asymmetric Encryption

Encryption using a suitable public-key scheme and a corresponding private key for decryption. Authenticated key distribution and the specified padding/protocol remain essential; signatures and key agreement are distinct constructions.

Related: Symmetric Encryption, Encryption
Hash Function

A digest construction mapping input to an output under its defined algorithm, with cryptographic versions designed for appropriate resistance properties. Password storage needs a suitable salted password-hashing/KDF scheme rather than a bare fast digest.

Related: Encryption, Digital Signature
Digital Signature

An electronic signature that uses asymmetric cryptography to verify the authenticity and integrity of a message or document.

Related: Hash Function, Asymmetric Encryption
Access control

The policies and mechanisms that determine who can access which systems, data, or facilities and under what conditions.

Related: Authentication, Least privilege, Segregation of duties
Firewall

A network security device or software that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules, acting as a barrier between trusted and untrusted networks.

Related: Intrusion Detection System (IDS), Network Segmentation
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

A system that monitors network or system activities for malicious actions or policy violations and generates alerts, but does not typically take active blocking measures.

Related: Firewall, Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

A system that monitors network traffic for malicious activity and can actively block or prevent detected threats, unlike an IDS which only alerts.

Related: Intrusion Detection System (IDS), Firewall
Network Segmentation

The practice of dividing a computer network into smaller subnetworks or segments to improve security, limit lateral movement, and contain breaches.

Related: Firewall, Virtual Private Network (VPN)