Understanding What a WAF Is, as Well as Its Types and Benefits for Your Website

A Web Application Firewall, commonly abbreviated as WAF, is a technology widely used by companies that provide products or services via the internet, such as e-commerce, e-banking, and others. The primary function of a WAF is to provide security for a website to protect it from cyber threats that could harm the company.

So, what exactly is a WAF? How does it work? And what are its benefits for a company?

If you want to learn more about WAFs, please read this article in its entirety. Through this article, you’ll discover important information about WAFs—from their definition and types to how they work and their benefits for your website. With that in mind, read the full review below.

What Is a Web Application Firewall (WAF)?

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security system or firewall designed to protect websites from cyber attacks such as cross-site scripting (XSS), Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS), SQL injection, file inclusion, and other attacks.

The WAF’s ability to protect a website from cyber threats is undeniable. A WAF is a Layer 7 security system designed to monitor, detect, filter, and block malicious traffic that could potentially damage a website or web application.

In fact, a WAF’s protective capabilities can quickly detect and secure a website against highly dangerous cyberattacks. This makes WAFs far superior to traditional firewalls like IPSs and IDSs, which are unable to perform these functions.

What are the different types of WAFs?

WAFs are generally classified based on the underlying system they use. WAFs can be deployed using network-based, host-based, or cloud-based systems. However, WAFs can also sometimes be used via a reverse proxy within a website or web application.

1. Network-Based WAF

This type of WAF uses hardware installed locally near the application. Installing the hardware locally reduces latency, allowing the WAF security system to operate more stably and smoothly.

Most network-based WAF providers allow users to set up replication across all their devices, enabling large-scale deployment and configuration.

However, this type of network-based WAF has a drawback: cost. You’ll need to allocate a larger budget to use this service, as providers typically require an upfront payment as well as fees for operational maintenance.

2. Host-Based WAF

In terms of price, host-based WAFs are generally more affordable than network-based WAFs. This type of WAF can be fully integrated with the application’s own code. Additionally, the customization process for host-based WAFs is easier to tailor.

However, using a host-based WAF can be quite challenging because it requires application libraries and a local server to function effectively. If you want to use this type of WAF, you’ll need to hire more staff in various roles, ranging from system analysts and developers to DevOps engineers.

Therefore, in terms of operational costs, a host-based WAF will be more expensive, as you’ll need to pay more employees.

3. Cloud-Based WAF

Cloud-Based WAFs are available on a subscription or pay-as-you-go basis and are easier to deploy. Sometimes, all you need is a simple domain or a proxy configuration change to redirect application traffic.

This type of WAF is an excellent option for companies that lack the necessary personnel to manage a WAF. This is because the management of a cloud-based WAF is handled entirely by the WAF service provider.

This approach reduces costs and ensures your website or web application is protected across a wide range of hosting locations, with broader scalability and the latest security systems.

How does a WAF protect your website?

A WAF works by analyzing Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) requests to determine which parts are safe and which are suspicious. A WAF analyzes HTTP requests, specifically GET and POST requests. GET requests are used to retrieve data from the server, while POST requests are used to send data to the server.

There are at least three methods a WAF uses to filter and analyze HTTP content. Here’s an explanation.

1. Whitelisting

Whitelisting only allows requests that are already deemed safe and blocks all other requests by default. Typically, there are several pre-approved IP addresses that are considered safe. Whitelisting is a simpler method compared to blacklisting. However, this approach can sometimes be less accurate, potentially blocking traffic that is actually safe for your website.

2. Blacklisting

Blacklisting uses specific settings to filter and block malicious traffic from websites and allows data through by default. Simply put, blacklisting involves using specific settings or presets to detect harmful traffic. This method is considered highly suitable for public websites, as they often receive traffic from unknown and suspicious IP addresses.

However, blacklisting also has its drawbacks: it requires more effort to implement and needs more detailed information to filter data based on specific criteria.

3. Hybrid Security

As the name suggests, hybrid security combines two approaches: whitelisting and blacklisting. This approach allows the WAF to be more effective in securing a website or web application.

What Are the Benefits of Using a WAF for Your Website?

Generally, businesses use a WAF to protect their websites from cyberattacks. However, in addition to protecting websites, a WAF offers other benefits. Here are some additional benefits of a WAF that you should know.

1. Protecting Important Company Data

Many hackers carry out cybercrimes against corporate websites to steal important data. The data they manage to steal is usually misused to commit other crimes, such as fraud and extortion. In fact, it’s not uncommon for them to sell this data to unscrupulous parties.

That’s why you need to use a WAF on your website. A WAF can make it difficult—or even prevent—hackers from stealing critical data from your website, ensuring that your data remains securely protected.

2. Protecting Your Company’s Reputation

Losing critical data can be extremely damaging to a company because it can lead to a negative public image. Customers, clients, and business partners will find it hard to trust your company if this happens.

Therefore, website security systems are crucial for safeguarding your company’s reputation. Even a single data-related mistake can tarnish your company’s reputation and make it difficult to regain customer trust.

3. Avoiding Data Breach Lawsuits

In addition to damaging your company’s reputation, the loss of critical data can also lead to even bigger problems. It’s not unlikely that affected parties who feel they’ve been wronged will file a lawsuit against your company for security negligence that resulted in the loss of critical data.

You certainly don’t want that to happen, do you? That’s why you should always prioritize and use a robust security system to protect the data on your website.

That’s a comprehensive explanation of Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), covering their definition, types, how they work, and their benefits. A WAF is a security system you need to implement to keep your website protected from dangerous cyberattacks.

If you’re interested in using a WAF, you can try Cloudmatika’s Web Application Firewall (WAF) service. Cloudmatika’s Web Application Firewall (WAF) service can accurately and quickly block various types of web attacks using logic based on analysis and detection technology. It reduces and blocks DDoS attacks that attempt to overload resources and make your website inaccessible.

Starting at Rp300,000/month, you can enjoy a cloud-based WAF service with a traffic capacity of up to 50 GB. In addition, Cloudmatika also offers a 14-day free trial for those who want to try it out. Contact Cloudmatika today to place an order or for more information.