Web Application Firewall (WAF) for Protection Against Cyber Attacks on Websites

The digital service disruption incident in Indonesia in 2024 serves as a reminder that web applications are one of the main targets of cyber attacks. Vulnerabilities in the application layer can be exploited to launch attacks that impact service availability and business operations.

Traditional network firewalls do not have sufficient visibility into HTTP/HTTPS traffic at the application level. Therefore, organizations need a Web Application Firewall (WAF) as a specialized security solution to protect web applications from Layer 7 DDoS attacks and various types of injection attacks such as SQL Injection.
Traditional network firewalls are unable to detect and block these attacks. The solution must be specific, intelligent, and modern WAF.

Cloudmatika WAF, built on cloud-native technology with superior intelligence, serves as a specific, easy-to-implement, and highly effective digital defense to protect your business from the top 10 threats identified by the OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project).

This article discusses why Cloudmatika WAF is a strategic choice in protecting web applications and services from cyber threats, while maintaining service availability (uptime) and the reliability of digital systems that support your business reputation.
 

Getting to Know Web Application Firewall (WAF) as a Layer of Web Application Security

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) protects your web applications from digital threats.
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security system designed to protect web applications and services by deeply analyzing HTTP and HTTPS traffic. WAFs are placed in front of web applications to identify, filter, and stop malicious requests before they can disrupt the functionality or stability of the application.
 

How Does Cloudmatika WAF Work Optimally?

Cloudmatika WAF operates as an intelligent reverse proxy. It analyzes the payload of every request and response. However, unlike many older WAFs that rely solely on blacklists that are easily bypassed by hackers, Cloudmatika WAF uses an Intelligent Cloud WAF:

1. Advanced Blacklisting: Block traffic from IPs or attack patterns that are verified as dangerous.
2. Precision Whitelisting: Allows only verified safe traffic.
3. Our engine is powered by Penta Security's, one of the best in its class, which proactively learns anomaly patterns. This enables it to detect and block zero-day attacks or modified attacks without sacrificing legitimate user traffic.

 

Why Cloudmatika WAF is a Strategic Solution for Business Web Application Security

Cloudmatika WAF services provide immediate value by addressing modern business security and operational challenges.

Critical Need for Layer 7 Protection

WAF specifically protects you from the most destructive attacks, such as:
 

7 Layers of Attacks	Impact Without WAF	Cloudmatika WAF Protection
SQL Injection (SQLi) & XSS	Customer data theft, data modification, or website display corruption.	Blocking malicious queries and scripts in real time at the payload level.
DDoS (Layer 7)	Overloading servers with fake requests, resulting in losses of X per hour of downtime.	Smart traffic filter that distinguishes malicious bots from real users.
Zero-Day Attacks	Exploited by hackers before vendors release official patches.	Intelligent logic-based detection that recognizes anomalous behavior,  providing instant virtual patching.

Cloudmatika Web Application Firewall: Practical Implementation & Adaptive Scalability
Cloudmatika WAF is designed as a practical and easy-to-implement website security solution without additional infrastructure complexity. Compared to traditional WAF approaches that require the procurement and management of special devices, this service allows businesses to activate website protection with a much simpler and more efficient process.
 

Fast and Cost-Efficient Implementation

Cloudmatika WAF is provided as a SaaS-based service, so it can be used immediately without the need for additional infrastructure procurement on the user's side. Protection activation is done through DNS settings or integrated directly with Cloudmatika's hosting service, enabling fast web application protection without disrupting ongoing website operations.
 

Traffic-Based Protection Scalability

Cloudmatika Web Application Firewall thoroughly checks all web application traffic, both normal and malicious traffic. However, the usage scheme only counts detected attack traffic as part of the service quota. With this approach, businesses still get optimal protection without being burdened by the volume of legitimate user traffic, even if there are fluctuations in access to the website or web application.
 

Integrated SSL Protection

Cloudmatika WAF supports the use of SSL certificates, including free certificate options such as Let’s Encrypt, to ensure that data communication is properly encrypted and meets modern security and SEO standards.
 

Key Features of Cloudmatika WAF: Transparency and Full Control

Our WAF doesn't just work behind the scenes; it gives you total control and visibility.

1. Real-Time Visibility (Intuitive Dashboard)
Your team gets access to a dashboard that provides information on:

• Attack Map: View the geographical origin of attacks.
• Traffic and Threat Reports: Easy-to-understand data on the types of attacks blocked, helping security teams prioritize vulnerabilities that need to be addressed in the source code.

2. Bot Protection and Threat Intelligence
Cloudmatika WAF intelligently identifies and blocks malicious bots used for web scraping, spamming, or credential stuffing, maintaining the integrity of your data and server performance. The WAF engine is continuously updated with the latest global threat intelligence, ensuring your defenses are always relevant.

3. Industry Standard Compliance
WAF helps organizations meet strict compliance requirements such as PCI DSS (for credit card transactions) and local data regulations by providing the layered protection needed to secure user data.
 

PDN 2024 Case Study: The Impact of Ransomware Attacks and the Urgency of Implementing WAF

National Security Scenario: The ransomware attack that crippled the national centralized data infrastructure in June 2024 revealed two things: vulnerabilities in the application/service layer and failures in the initial prevention mechanisms. This crippling also indirectly disrupted government web services in various regions.
 

The Role of Cloudmatika WAF as a Website Security Solution:

1. Preventing Initial Attack Vectors: Many ransomware attacks begin with the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web interfaces that can be addressed by WAF (such as injection or gaps in third-party services). Cloudmatika WAF serves as the front line to block these entry vectors.
2. Ensuring Front-End Availability: When the back-end (main server) is struggling or recovering, Layer 7 DDoS attacks are often launched to maximize panic. Our WAF ensures that the front-end of the website remains stable and accessible, giving the IT team time to resolve internal issues.
3. Instant Virtual Patching: In the event of new vulnerabilities (zero-day) that are often exploited for large-scale attacks, Cloudmatika WAF can apply virtual patches within hours, protecting your applications from exploitation without the need to modify source code or wait for official patches.

With Cloudmatika WAF, you build layered cyber resilience, shifting your mindset from "hope for recovery" to "guaranteed and intelligent prevention."
 

The Essential Digital Defense Wall for Your Business

Don't let your website fall victim to costly modern cyberattacks. Adopting Cloudmatika WAF is a strategic investment in business continuity. You get intelligent protection against OWASP Top 10 attacks, high uptime guarantees, and data compliance, all with ease of implementation and low operational costs.
Choose a WAF solution that is not only passive but proactive, intelligent, and ready for zero-day threats.
 

Secure Your Website Now, Don't Wait for the Next Ransomware Attack.

Stop relying on outdated firewalls. Protect your reputation, data, and revenue with Cloudmatika's leading Web Application Firewall solution.

Cloudmatika WAF offers affordable solutions starting from IDR 500,000/month. Contact us for a free consultation and get a 14-day free trial to experience the benefits.