10 things to try during your ADC Portal free trial

The Portal is built on zero trust foundations and Identity and Access Management (IAM) plays a key role in that approach.

Single Sign-on

Single Sign-on (SSO) allows a user to access multiple applications or services with a single set of login credentials. Meaning users don’t have to remember multiple passwords, reducing the risks associated with credential compromise and breaches.

ADC Portal users can utilize the following SSO protocols, Google SSO, Azure AD (Azure Active Directory) and SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language).

Two-factor authentication

Additionally, if users do opt for a direct password approach to log-in, then the Portal also offers the option of Two-factor authentication (2FA).

The Portal’s 2FA login requires a unique code in addition to the user’s password. This code is supplied to the user via an SMS (text) message or via an authenticator app (such as Google or MS Authenticator).

In order to connect your ADC to the Portal you will first need to install a ‘Shuttle’, the Portal’s communications agent. 

The Shuttle is available as a standalone agent or built-in to any Loadbalancer Enterprise ADC (v8.11 or newer). If using an Enterprise ADC you also have the choice of using the appliance as a dedicated Shuttle or in combined mode (i.e. as both a load balancer and Shuttle).

Once the Shuttle is set up, you are then ready to connect your ADCs to the Portal.

Get a clearer picture of your ADC infrastructure by grouping your appliances using custom Namespaces and Tags.

Namespaces can be thought of as folders or categories to enable you to manage multiple ADC instances within the Portal. They are entirely customizable and you can easily add or delete Namespaces as your needs dictate. Each ADC appliance can be assigned to only one Namespace, but again it is super quick to reassign an appliance to a new or alternative Namespace.

Complementing Namespaces are Tags. Multiple Tags can be applied to an ADC and again they are fully customizable. Set up multiple Tags and quickly assign them to your ADC fleet to help manage your infrastructure. 

By combing Namespaces and Tags together you can easily locate any specific ADC quickly no matter how many load balancers you have in the Portal.

For example, you could create Namespaces based on the location of your ADC appliance and the Tag them by application, additional Tags could indicate which ‘Team’ is responsible for the ADC.

Clear status signalling, visible in your ADC List, saves you time, preventing you from having to click through to individual records to establish their status.

The ADC List gives you a complete overview of all your connected ADCs. You can immediately see whether a load balancer is operational, and just as easily see the HA status of the device via a traffic light system.

Instantly and securely connect to any ADC on the Portal using ‘Warp’ Remote Access or with Direct Access.

Warp Remote Access will be the best way to connect to your load balancer’s WebUI unless you are physically browsing from inside the same network as your ADCs. Or unless of course you are using a VPN or jump box.

So how does Warp work, it is as simple as selecting the ADC you wish to connect with and then clicking on the Warp button. You will instantly be taken to the appliances WebUI using a secure proxy connection.

Easily back up your ADC appliances, and securely store them for future roll-back or restoration. Back ups are an essential part of any IT risk management strategy. The more regularly these can be done, the better, and they should always be carried out before any major change to your appliance such as an update. 

With the ADC Portal you can choose to carry out an instance back up or schedule back ups as part of an automated process.

Creating an instant backup is as simple as selecting the relevant ADC and hitting ‘backup now’ from the menu. 

Automate routine tasks with the Portal’s easy to use Scheduler tool. Currently you can schedule back ups and updates/patches (Loadbalancer appliances only). But in future Portal releases further automation will be available including Pipelines, allowing enhanced automation using workflows.

To get going with automation, simply set up the actions you require and the cadence needed, for example, daily, weekly, monthly, etc. and apply the schedule to the appliances you want automated.

Common Vulnerabilities and Errors (CVEs) can be incredibly hard to keep track of, especially when dealing with multiple appliances and vendors. Having an easy alert system in the Portal means the data comes to you, rather than having to go hunting for it. 

Instantly see new CVEs for your deployed load balancers in the Insights section of the Portal, and get tailored advice on how to remediate these CVEs. 

From your Portal Dashboard: Any security alerts will be highlighted in your dashboard, together with the severity of the issue. One click from the Dashboard will instantly take you to a list of alerts, where more information is provided.

From the ADC List: ADCs connect to the Portal that has been issued with a security alert will be flagged. Clicking on this flag will direct you to specific details about the issue.

Staying up to date is effortless with the ADC Portal. ADC software evolves constantly to combat security threats and enhance functionality. Managing updates across multiple ADC appliances is complex and challenging. Ease the pain with centralized visibility and updates.

From the ADC List: Any ADC requiring a software update or patch will be flagged (see image). Hovering over the flag will provide further information.

Don't forget to share your Portal experience with your colleagues, by adding them as a user to the Organization account you’ve created during the free trial.

From the Organization section of the Portal you can add multiple users to your account and also determine the Access rights that those user have within your Portal account.

Alternatively, if you think your wider team might benefit from a live demo from one of our experts, showing them what the Portal can do, they can also book a Portal demo.