# F5 tackles AI costs with token tracking and security

> F5's upgraded AI Gateway now monitors token usage by model, user, and team while enforcing security policies in real time.
- Title: F5 tackles AI costs with token tracking and security
- Summary: F5's upgraded AI Gateway now monitors token usage by model, user, and team while enforcing security policies in real time. F5's AI Gateway now tracks token…
- Keywords: ai gateway, tokenomics, ai security platform, token usage, inference costs, nirav shah, portkey, helicone, langfuse, cloudflare ai gateway, model gateway, tackles
- Source: Futuriom — https://futuriom.com/articles/news/f5-combines-tokenomics-with-ai-security/2026/08
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: f5, ai gateway, tokenomics, ai security platform, token usage, inference costs, nirav shah, portkey, helicone, langfuse, cloudflare ai gateway, model gateway
## F5 adds token tracking
F5 upgraded its AI Gateway to report token usage by model, user, and team. This marks a major step into tokenomics, the management of AI costs.
## Security meets cost control
The AI Gateway now integrates with F5's AI Security Platform. It provides real-time policy enforcement at the token level.
## What AI gateways do
AI gateways act as middleware between applications and AI models. They provide security, load balancing, data orchestration, and inference cost management.
## The fragmented AI governance problem
Enterprises are juggling multiple products to avoid security risks, cost overruns, and GPU lags. The current landscape is fragmented by design.

> Enterprises are stitching together bespoke proxies, provider-specific SDKs, standalone guardrails, and separate observability tools
## Competing in tokenomics
Other vendors like PortKey, Helicone, Langfuse, and Cloudflare AI Gateway offer similar token control. Tracking tokens is key to realizing ROI from AI projects.
## F5's competitive advantage
F5's longstanding presence in application delivery and security, especially in multicloud environments, gives it an edge in this market.
## Model Gateway routes smartly
Model Gateway abstracts LLM complexity and routes tasks to the best model. It caches prompts and tracks token spend by date, model, user, and team.
## MCP Gateway controls agents
MCP Gateway shows every MCP server an organization uses. Access controls prevent agents from using unauthorized tools that could rack up costs.

> A single autonomous loop can consume thousands of dollars in tokens before anyone notices
## AI Guardrails protect data
F5 AI Guardrails tracks and redacts personally identifiable information and prompt injections. It enforces custom compliance and regulatory rules.
## Tool sprawl will consolidate
As inference spreads in enterprises, the need for AI traffic controls grows. Products like F5's will address the current trend toward tool sprawl.
## Key takeaway

F5's AI Gateway now tracks token costs by model, user, and team while enforcing security policies to prevent AI cost overruns and security risks.