F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV) is offering enterprise organizations free security assessments through application security testing providers Cenzic and WhiteHat Security. The goal of the vulnerability assessment program is to reduce exposure to security breaches by making it easy for organizations to sample security services, F5 officials said.

For channel partners, F5’s no-cost security assessment serves as a door opener to the vendor’s new BIG-IP Application Security Manager (ASM) Vulnerability Migration Assessment professional service. In fact, F5 intends for its channel partners in North America to leverage the freebie to resell the professional service to business customers.

Earlier this year, F5 initiated its Vault incentives, rewards and training program for partners focusing on security solutions. The no-cost vulnerability assessments and BIG-IP ASM professional service are designed to complement the Vault program, said an F5 spokesperson.

Manny Rivelo, F5 executive vice president, Security and Strategic solutions, noted many enterprises lack an application security strategy because they don’t believe their applications are vulnerable. “With this offering of free vulnerability scans, F5 is making it easier to build the business case for enterprises to adopt a web application security plan and ensure their applications are safe and their brand is protected,” he said.

According to F5, its new professional services offering, backed by vulnerabilities identified by Cenzic or WhiteHat, provides customers with an assessment report with recommendations to remediate vulnerabilities.

John Weinschenk, Cenzic CEO, said his company’s application testing solution can be initiated directly from the BIG-IP ASM interface. “This empowers customers to patch vulnerabilities almost instantaneously without waiting for days,” he said.

As part of the security offering, F5 is holding a series of forums in select cities. The forums, “Is it Time to Rethink Security?” include F5 security experts and representatives from Cenzic and WhiteHat to discuss security challenges and ways to address them. The sessions are open to F5 customers, prospects and partners.