What Is a WAF? How Does a WAF Work?
Website application firewalls protect your web applications from attacks like cross-site forgery,
file inclusion, SQL injection, and more. In particular, WAFs use a protocol layer seven defense
method and are usually part of an arsenal of tools. These tools together create a complete
defense system against cyber threats.
When you deploy a WAF on a web application, it places a shield between web applications (like
online forms, shopping carts, word processors, and more) and the Internet. In other words,
clients must pass through the WAF before reaching the server.
A web application firewall abides by rules that determine which traffic passes through the
firewall and which is prevented. These policies filter out online malicious traffic flows into your
web applications. The ease of policy modification is what makes WAFs particularly desirable.
The Benefits of Using a Web Application Firewall
The lack of a firewall that filters out malicious traffic from the Internet could be detrimental to
your business. Learn why investing in a website firewall solution is essential for your business:
1. Protects You Against Known Threats
WAFs work to resolve threats before they are anywhere near your website. They do so by
blocking threats and seemingly malicious users. Blocking these illegitimate actors helps prevent
weak spots in your websites from being found and exploited.
2. Identifies and Screens Malicious Bots
Bots are typically screened through a CAPTCHA challenge. However, WAFs go a step further and
analyze internet usage behavior to find patterns that resemble bots. Once identified, the WAF blocks the bot users from access to your website and prevents them from further putting your business at risk.
3. Helps Control IP Blocking and Geo-Blocking
WAFs can identify if any IP addresses are repeatedly launching attacks on your site. You can
toggle which IP(s) to block using a web application firewall.
4. Helps Prevent DDoS Attacks
DDoS, or distributed denial-of-service, is one of the many cybercrimes websites are vulnerable
to. In a DDoS attack, the attacker floods the server with internet traffic to prevent you from
accessing connected websites applications, and sites. These attacks are executed to find
loopholes and vulnerabilities in your website’s security.
Well-equipped WAFs are capable enough to prevent DDoS attacks entirely. Moreover, they can
manage sudden spikes in user traffic without overwhelming the servers and provide stable,
multi-layered protection from malicious attackers.
Prevention Over Mitigation
The Internet is a hotspot of threats — and these threats are constantly looking to penetrate
websites just like yours. Your privacy and data are best protected if you start investing in WAF
solutions. Remember, the rule of thumb with website security is prevention over mitigation.
