Why Web Application Firewall Is a Must In Your Security Arsenal

If your organization is cyber aware, you doubtless have procured some services and tools for your network security. As more and more organizations opt for high speed internet and wireless technology, it is that much more important to protect sensitive data from theft. If you have similar goals, a Web Application Firewall is a must.

But first, what is a firewall?

A firewall is a network security tool (it can be either software or hardware) that monitors your network traffic to look out for potential threats. Firewalls are governed by a set of rules. It is like a guard that sits by the compound wall of your house and stops or allows visitors inside. Whenever network data encounters a firewall, the firewall scans it. It then rejects / allows the data to pass through, based on its set of rules.

Typically, firewalls are set at the boundary of a network, so that it can secure the internal network against malicious packets from the external network.

Why go for a WAF?

Web Application Firewall is a tool that filters or blocks HTTP packet data flowing to and from a web service. WAF functioning is simple: if an HTTP request adheres to the ruleset defined for the WAF, the request is allowed to pass. Otherwise, it is blocked. In this way, the application firewall safeguards against vulnerabilities in your web application.

However, the WAF does not work only way. It also stops unauthorized data from within the network from leaking out, should the data request be inauthentic.

Web Application Firewall protects against advanced threats

Hackers are getting creative. As their familiarity with security systems increase, they come up with ways to combat the security fabric of your system.

One such problem is zero-day attacks. A zero-day attack is an attack that exploits intermediate security gaps in your application. This happens in the window of time when an update patch is required but hasn’t been installed yet. Until that time, whatever vulnerabilities that were fixed in the new patch are open for misuse.

But with advance features and multi-layer approach, WAF defends your web applications and APIs from zero-day threats and combats the OWASP Top 10 vulnerability concerns.

With machine learning, WAF performs analysis at high speed, provides robust protection, and adapts to the ever-changing dynamics of threats. The requirement of manual tunning is also eliminated with Machine Learning in place.

WAF prevents attacks through – SQL Injection (SQLi), Inclusion vulnerabilities, Cross-site scripting (XSS), Brute-force attacks and Distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS). WAF delivers advanced, next-generation protection that addresses today’s critical security concerns. WAFs are also designed to perform SSL termination.

1.2      So, what should you do?

You need an intuitive, potent firewall that can adjust to newer use cases and changing scenarios. A good WAF needs to have the ability to face previously unnoticed threats. Smart WAFs will quickly adjust to the web server and application environment and grasp the acceptable HTTP request inputs.

Are you looking for a total firewall solution? Our WAF Solution is robust and comes with deployments suited exactly for your needs.