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Best Web Application Firewalls (WAF)

Lauren Worth
LW
Researched and written by Lauren Worth

Web application firewalls (WAF) are designed to protect web applications by filtering and monitoring incoming traffic. These tools analyze the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) traffic as it comes in, identifying traffic anomalies and blocking potentially malicious traffic.

Companies use these tools in conjunction with additional application security software to protect operational web applications better. These tools differ from traditional firewall software, which controls traffic between servers by filtering traffic and content attempting to access a specific web-based application.

To qualify for inclusion in the Web Application Firewalls (WAF) category, a product must:

Inspect traffic flow at the application level
Filter HTTP traffic for web-based applications
Block attacks such as SQL injections and cross-site scripting (XSS)

Best Web Application Firewalls (WAF) At A Glance

Best for Small Businesses:
Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
Best for Mid-Market:
AWS WAF
AWS WAF
Best for Enterprise:
Radware Cloud WAF
Radware Cloud WAF
Highest User Satisfaction:
HAProxy
HAProxy
Best Free Software:
Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
Show LessShow More
Best for Enterprise:
Radware Cloud WAF
Radware Cloud WAF
Highest User Satisfaction:
HAProxy
HAProxy
Best Free Software:
Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
Cloudflare Application Security and Performance

G2 takes pride in showing unbiased reviews on user satisfaction in our ratings and reports. We do not allow paid placements in any of our ratings, rankings, or reports. Learn about our scoring methodologies.

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73 Listings in Web Application Firewall (WAF) Available
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AWS WAF
By Amazon Web Services (AWS)
(69)4.3 out of 5
12th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
View top Consulting Services for AWS WAF
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    AWS WAF is a web application firewall that helps protect web applications from common web exploits that could affect application availability, compromise security, or consume excessive resources.

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    • Computer Software
    Market Segment
    • 35% Enterprise
    • 33% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • AWS WAF Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    WAF (Web Application Firewall)
    8
    Custom Rules
    5
    Cybersecurity
    5
    Protection
    5
    Setup Ease
    4
    Cons
    Expensive
    6
    Complexity
    3
    Cloud Compatibility
    2
    Ineffective Blocking
    2
    Complex Configuration
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • AWS WAF features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.7
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    8.6
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    8.8
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    8.1
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Amazon Web Services (AWS)
    Year Founded
    2006
    HQ Location
    Seattle, WA
    Twitter
    @awscloud
    2,230,610 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    136,383 employees on LinkedIn®
    Ownership
    NASDAQ: AMZN
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

AWS WAF is a web application firewall that helps protect web applications from common web exploits that could affect application availability, compromise security, or consume excessive resources.

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
  • Computer Software
Market Segment
  • 35% Enterprise
  • 33% Mid-Market
AWS WAF Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
WAF (Web Application Firewall)
8
Custom Rules
5
Cybersecurity
5
Protection
5
Setup Ease
4
Cons
Expensive
6
Complexity
3
Cloud Compatibility
2
Ineffective Blocking
2
Complex Configuration
1
AWS WAF features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.7
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
8.6
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
8.8
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
8.1
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Year Founded
2006
HQ Location
Seattle, WA
Twitter
@awscloud
2,230,610 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
136,383 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NASDAQ: AMZN
Read AWS WAF Reviews
Radware Cloud WAF
By Radware
(39)4.4 out of 5
7th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Radware Cloud WAF is a fully managed Cloud Application Protection Service providing the industry's most comprehensive web application security solution. The service integrates Radware's Cloud WAF, API

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 44% Mid-Market
    • 31% Small-Business
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • Radware Cloud WAF Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Customer Support
    13
    Protection
    13
    Cybersecurity
    10
    WAF (Web Application Firewall)
    10
    Ease of Use
    9
    Cons
    Difficult Reporting
    5
    Expensive
    4
    Learning Difficulty
    4
    User Interface Issues
    4
    Complexity
    3
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Radware Cloud WAF features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.0
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    8.6
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    8.9
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    8.7
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Radware
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    1997
    HQ Location
    Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv
    Twitter
    @radware
    12,478 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    1,496 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Radware Cloud WAF is a fully managed Cloud Application Protection Service providing the industry's most comprehensive web application security solution. The service integrates Radware's Cloud WAF, API

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 44% Mid-Market
  • 31% Small-Business
Radware Cloud WAF Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Customer Support
13
Protection
13
Cybersecurity
10
WAF (Web Application Firewall)
10
Ease of Use
9
Cons
Difficult Reporting
5
Expensive
4
Learning Difficulty
4
User Interface Issues
4
Complexity
3
Radware Cloud WAF features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.0
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
8.6
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
8.9
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
8.7
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Radware
Company Website
Year Founded
1997
HQ Location
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv
Twitter
@radware
12,478 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
1,496 employees on LinkedIn®
Get a quote

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Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
By Cloudflare, Inc.
(530)4.5 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
2nd Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
View top Consulting Services for Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:Free
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Cloudflare is the cloud for the “everywhere world”. At Cloudflare, we have our eyes set on an ambitious goal -- to help build a better Internet. Today, everything needs to be connected to everything

    Users
    • Web Developer
    • Software Engineer
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    • Computer Software
    Market Segment
    • 64% Small-Business
    • 26% Mid-Market
    User Sentiment
    How are these determined?Information
    These insights, currently in beta, are compiled from user reviews and grouped to display a high-level overview of the software.
    • Cloudflare is a DNS server provider that offers features like caching, load balancing, and Automatic Platform Optimization to improve website speed and reliability.
    • Users like the high level of security, fast response time on DNS queries, and the ease of deployment, dashboard and configurations for the WAF, Cache, and other features.
    • Reviewers noted issues with confusing naming of services, complex delegation of domain registrations, and problems with customer support and billing.
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • Cloudflare Application Security and Performance Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Security
    63
    Ease of Use
    62
    Speed
    46
    Speed Performance
    42
    Performance Speed
    40
    Cons
    Technical Issues
    19
    Expensive
    15
    Complex User Interface
    14
    Performance Issues
    14
    Pricing Issues
    13
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Cloudflare Application Security and Performance features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.8
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    8.8
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.0
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    8.5
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Cloudflare, Inc.
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2009
    HQ Location
    San Francisco, California
    Twitter
    @Cloudflare
    212,895 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    4,964 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Cloudflare is the cloud for the “everywhere world”. At Cloudflare, we have our eyes set on an ambitious goal -- to help build a better Internet. Today, everything needs to be connected to everything

Users
  • Web Developer
  • Software Engineer
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
  • Computer Software
Market Segment
  • 64% Small-Business
  • 26% Mid-Market
User Sentiment
How are these determined?Information
These insights, currently in beta, are compiled from user reviews and grouped to display a high-level overview of the software.
  • Cloudflare is a DNS server provider that offers features like caching, load balancing, and Automatic Platform Optimization to improve website speed and reliability.
  • Users like the high level of security, fast response time on DNS queries, and the ease of deployment, dashboard and configurations for the WAF, Cache, and other features.
  • Reviewers noted issues with confusing naming of services, complex delegation of domain registrations, and problems with customer support and billing.
Cloudflare Application Security and Performance Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Security
63
Ease of Use
62
Speed
46
Speed Performance
42
Performance Speed
40
Cons
Technical Issues
19
Expensive
15
Complex User Interface
14
Performance Issues
14
Pricing Issues
13
Cloudflare Application Security and Performance features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.8
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
8.8
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.0
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
8.5
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Cloudflare, Inc.
Company Website
Year Founded
2009
HQ Location
San Francisco, California
Twitter
@Cloudflare
212,895 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
4,964 employees on LinkedIn®
Get a quote
HAProxy
By HAProxy
(382)4.6 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
4th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:FREE Open Source
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    HAProxy Technologies is the company behind HAProxy, the world’s fastest and most widely used software load balancer. Rapidly deploy HAProxy products to deliver websites and applications with the u

    Users
    • DevOps Engineer
    • Software Engineer
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    • Financial Services
    Market Segment
    • 44% Mid-Market
    • 33% Enterprise
    User Sentiment
    How are these determined?Information
    These insights, currently in beta, are compiled from user reviews and grouped to display a high-level overview of the software.
    • HAProxy is a load balancing and reverse proxy solution that handles high traffic efficiently and supports advanced features like SSL termination and health checks.
    • Reviewers appreciate the product's high performance, reliability, and flexibility, as well as its ability to efficiently handle traffic and support advanced features such as SSL termination and health checks.
    • Users experienced a steep learning curve due to the complexity of the configuration language, and some found the product's lack of built-in application logic limiting.
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • HAProxy Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    93
    Load Balancing
    54
    Reliability
    50
    Performance
    47
    Configuration Ease
    42
    Cons
    Learning Difficulty
    27
    Difficult Configuration
    25
    Complexity
    16
    Complex Setup
    15
    Limited Features
    13
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • HAProxy features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.1
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    9.1
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    8.2
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    8.2
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    HAProxy
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2013
    HQ Location
    Waltham, US
    Twitter
    @HAProxy
    21,782 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    115 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

HAProxy Technologies is the company behind HAProxy, the world’s fastest and most widely used software load balancer. Rapidly deploy HAProxy products to deliver websites and applications with the u

Users
  • DevOps Engineer
  • Software Engineer
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
  • Financial Services
Market Segment
  • 44% Mid-Market
  • 33% Enterprise
User Sentiment
How are these determined?Information
These insights, currently in beta, are compiled from user reviews and grouped to display a high-level overview of the software.
  • HAProxy is a load balancing and reverse proxy solution that handles high traffic efficiently and supports advanced features like SSL termination and health checks.
  • Reviewers appreciate the product's high performance, reliability, and flexibility, as well as its ability to efficiently handle traffic and support advanced features such as SSL termination and health checks.
  • Users experienced a steep learning curve due to the complexity of the configuration language, and some found the product's lack of built-in application logic limiting.
HAProxy Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
93
Load Balancing
54
Reliability
50
Performance
47
Configuration Ease
42
Cons
Learning Difficulty
27
Difficult Configuration
25
Complexity
16
Complex Setup
15
Limited Features
13
HAProxy features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.1
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
9.1
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
8.2
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
8.2
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
HAProxy
Company Website
Year Founded
2013
HQ Location
Waltham, US
Twitter
@HAProxy
21,782 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
115 employees on LinkedIn®
Get a quote
Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF)
By Imperva
(40)4.7 out of 5
3rd Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    As organizations increasingly rely on web applications to drive business, ensuring those applications are protected from cyber threats is essential. Imperva Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) provid

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    • Banking
    Market Segment
    • 40% Enterprise
    • 40% Small-Business
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Cybersecurity
    1
    Protection
    1
    Cons
    Ineffective Blocking
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.1
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    9.0
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.3
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    9.3
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Imperva
    Year Founded
    2002
    HQ Location
    Redwood Shores, CA
    Twitter
    @Imperva
    85,834 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    1,697 employees on LinkedIn®
    Ownership
    NASDAQ: IMPV
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

As organizations increasingly rely on web applications to drive business, ensuring those applications are protected from cyber threats is essential. Imperva Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) provid

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
  • Banking
Market Segment
  • 40% Enterprise
  • 40% Small-Business
Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Cybersecurity
1
Protection
1
Cons
Ineffective Blocking
1
Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.1
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
9.0
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.3
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
9.3
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Imperva
Year Founded
2002
HQ Location
Redwood Shores, CA
Twitter
@Imperva
85,834 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
1,697 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NASDAQ: IMPV
Read Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) Reviews
AppTrana
By Indusface
(31)4.8 out of 5
5th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:$99.00
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Indusface is a leading application security SaaS company that secures critical Web, Mobile, and API applications of 5000+ global customers using its award-winning fully managed platform that integrate

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Computer Software
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 55% Mid-Market
    • 26% Small-Business
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • AppTrana Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Protection
    11
    Cybersecurity
    7
    WAF (Web Application Firewall)
    6
    Bot Detection
    5
    DDoS Protection
    5
    Cons
    Complex Setup
    1
    Difficult Reporting
    1
    Expensive
    1
    Learning Difficulty
    1
    Performance Issues
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • AppTrana features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.6
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    9.6
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.8
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    9.5
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Indusface
    Year Founded
    2012
    HQ Location
    Vadodara
    Twitter
    @Indusface
    3,548 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    161 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Indusface is a leading application security SaaS company that secures critical Web, Mobile, and API applications of 5000+ global customers using its award-winning fully managed platform that integrate

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Computer Software
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 55% Mid-Market
  • 26% Small-Business
AppTrana Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Protection
11
Cybersecurity
7
WAF (Web Application Firewall)
6
Bot Detection
5
DDoS Protection
5
Cons
Complex Setup
1
Difficult Reporting
1
Expensive
1
Learning Difficulty
1
Performance Issues
1
AppTrana features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.6
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
9.6
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.8
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
9.5
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Indusface
Year Founded
2012
HQ Location
Vadodara
Twitter
@Indusface
3,548 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
161 employees on LinkedIn®
Read AppTrana Reviews
Azure Application Gateway
By Microsoft
(198)4.4 out of 5
14th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Azure Application Gateway gives you application-level routing and load balancing services that let you build a scalable and highly-available web front end in Azure.

    Users
    • Software Engineer
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    • Computer Software
    Market Segment
    • 33% Enterprise
    • 20% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • Azure Application Gateway Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Load Balancing
    8
    Security
    6
    WAF (Web Application Firewall)
    6
    High Availability
    4
    Reliability
    4
    Cons
    Expensive
    4
    Limited Customization
    4
    Complexity
    3
    Difficult Setup
    3
    Performance Issues
    3
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Azure Application Gateway features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.9
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    9.2
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.4
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    8.6
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Microsoft
    Year Founded
    1975
    HQ Location
    Redmond, Washington
    Twitter
    @microsoft
    14,031,499 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    238,990 employees on LinkedIn®
    Ownership
    MSFT
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Azure Application Gateway gives you application-level routing and load balancing services that let you build a scalable and highly-available web front end in Azure.

Users
  • Software Engineer
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
  • Computer Software
Market Segment
  • 33% Enterprise
  • 20% Mid-Market
Azure Application Gateway Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Load Balancing
8
Security
6
WAF (Web Application Firewall)
6
High Availability
4
Reliability
4
Cons
Expensive
4
Limited Customization
4
Complexity
3
Difficult Setup
3
Performance Issues
3
Azure Application Gateway features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.9
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
9.2
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.4
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
8.6
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Microsoft
Year Founded
1975
HQ Location
Redmond, Washington
Twitter
@microsoft
14,031,499 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
238,990 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
MSFT
Read Azure Application Gateway Reviews
Azure Web Application Firewall
By Microsoft
(33)4.5 out of 5
15th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    • Computer Software
    Market Segment
    • 39% Enterprise
    • 39% Mid-Market
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Azure Web Application Firewall features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.2
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    8.5
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    7.9
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Microsoft
    Year Founded
    1975
    HQ Location
    Redmond, Washington
    Twitter
    @microsoft
    14,031,499 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    238,990 employees on LinkedIn®
    Ownership
    MSFT
Users
No information available
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
  • Computer Software
Market Segment
  • 39% Enterprise
  • 39% Mid-Market
Azure Web Application Firewall features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.2
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
8.1
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
8.5
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
7.9
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Microsoft
Year Founded
1975
HQ Location
Redmond, Washington
Twitter
@microsoft
14,031,499 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
238,990 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
MSFT
Read Azure Web Application Firewall Reviews
Wallarm API Security Platform
By Wallarm
(95)4.7 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
8th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Protect any API. In any environment. Against any threats. Wallarm is the platform security teams choose to protect cloud-native APIs. The Wallarm platform gives teams the ability to detect and bloc

    Users
    • CTO
    • CEO
    Industries
    • Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 44% Mid-Market
    • 42% Small-Business
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • Wallarm API Security Platform Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Protection
    3
    Security
    3
    Threat Detection
    3
    Cloud Integration
    2
    Comprehensive Security
    2
    Cons
    API Issues
    1
    Complexity
    1
    Expensive
    1
    Learning Curve
    1
    Limited Features
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Wallarm API Security Platform features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.6
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    9.1
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.4
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    8.8
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Wallarm
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2016
    HQ Location
    San Francisco, California
    Twitter
    @wallarm
    3,177 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    143 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Protect any API. In any environment. Against any threats. Wallarm is the platform security teams choose to protect cloud-native APIs. The Wallarm platform gives teams the ability to detect and bloc

Users
  • CTO
  • CEO
Industries
  • Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 44% Mid-Market
  • 42% Small-Business
Wallarm API Security Platform Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Protection
3
Security
3
Threat Detection
3
Cloud Integration
2
Comprehensive Security
2
Cons
API Issues
1
Complexity
1
Expensive
1
Learning Curve
1
Limited Features
1
Wallarm API Security Platform features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.6
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
9.1
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.4
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
8.8
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Wallarm
Company Website
Year Founded
2016
HQ Location
San Francisco, California
Twitter
@wallarm
3,177 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
143 employees on LinkedIn®
F5 NGINX
By F5
(107)4.6 out of 5
6th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:Starting at $2500 per ...
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    NGINX, Inc. is the company behind NGINX, the popular open source project trusted by more than 400 million sites. We offer a suite of technologies for developing and delivering modern applications. The

    Users
    • Software Engineer
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    • Computer Software
    Market Segment
    • 42% Small-Business
    • 40% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • F5 NGINX Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Performance
    6
    Configuration Ease
    5
    Customization
    5
    Load Balancing
    5
    Easy Setup
    4
    Cons
    Learning Difficulty
    4
    Expensive
    3
    Poor Customer Support
    3
    Poor Documentation
    3
    Complexity
    2
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • F5 NGINX features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.1
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    9.0
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.1
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    8.9
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    F5
    HQ Location
    Seattle, Washington
    Twitter
    @F5Networks
    1,450 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    6,292 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

NGINX, Inc. is the company behind NGINX, the popular open source project trusted by more than 400 million sites. We offer a suite of technologies for developing and delivering modern applications. The

Users
  • Software Engineer
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
  • Computer Software
Market Segment
  • 42% Small-Business
  • 40% Mid-Market
F5 NGINX Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Performance
6
Configuration Ease
5
Customization
5
Load Balancing
5
Easy Setup
4
Cons
Learning Difficulty
4
Expensive
3
Poor Customer Support
3
Poor Documentation
3
Complexity
2
F5 NGINX features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.1
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
9.0
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.1
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
8.9
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
F5
HQ Location
Seattle, Washington
Twitter
@F5Networks
1,450 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
6,292 employees on LinkedIn®
Read F5 NGINX Reviews
Sucuri
By GoDaddy
(45)3.4 out of 5
10th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
View top Consulting Services for Sucuri
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Entry Level Price:$9.99 - $69.93 Per mon...
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Sucuri is a managed security service provider for websites. Our cloud-based tools provide complete website security solution, including performance optimization via a CDN, mitigation of external attac

    Users
    • Owner
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 84% Small-Business
    • 7% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • Sucuri Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Customer Support
    1
    Ease of Use
    1
    Easy Integrations
    1
    Easy Setup
    1
    Implementation Ease
    1
    Cons
    Ineffective Blocking
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Sucuri features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    7.1
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    6.0
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    6.7
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    5.8
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    GoDaddy
    Year Founded
    1997
    HQ Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Twitter
    @GoDaddy
    282,788 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    8,241 employees on LinkedIn®
    Ownership
    NYSE:GDDY
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Sucuri is a managed security service provider for websites. Our cloud-based tools provide complete website security solution, including performance optimization via a CDN, mitigation of external attac

Users
  • Owner
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 84% Small-Business
  • 7% Mid-Market
Sucuri Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Customer Support
1
Ease of Use
1
Easy Integrations
1
Easy Setup
1
Implementation Ease
1
Cons
Ineffective Blocking
1
Sucuri features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
7.1
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
6.0
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
6.7
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
5.8
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
GoDaddy
Year Founded
1997
HQ Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Twitter
@GoDaddy
282,788 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
8,241 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NYSE:GDDY
Read Sucuri Reviews
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Web Application Firewall (Advanced WAF)
By F5
(24)4.6 out of 5
11th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    F5 BIG-IP Advanced Web Application Firewall (Advanced WAF) is built on proven F5 technology to proactively detect and mitigate bots, secure credentials and sensitive data, and defend against applicati

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Banking
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 54% Enterprise
    • 33% Mid-Market
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • F5 BIG-IP Advanced Web Application Firewall (Advanced WAF) features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.7
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    8.6
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.0
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    7.8
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    F5
    HQ Location
    Seattle, Washington
    Twitter
    @F5Networks
    1,450 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    6,292 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

F5 BIG-IP Advanced Web Application Firewall (Advanced WAF) is built on proven F5 technology to proactively detect and mitigate bots, secure credentials and sensitive data, and defend against applicati

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Banking
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 54% Enterprise
  • 33% Mid-Market
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Web Application Firewall (Advanced WAF) features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.7
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
8.6
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.0
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
7.8
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
F5
HQ Location
Seattle, Washington
Twitter
@F5Networks
1,450 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
6,292 employees on LinkedIn®
Read F5 BIG-IP Advanced Web Application Firewall (Advanced WAF) Reviews
FortiWeb
By Fortinet
(15)4.5 out of 5
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    FortiWeb WAF is a comprehensive, high-performance web application security service.

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    No information available
    Market Segment
    • 73% Mid-Market
    • 20% Enterprise
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • FortiWeb features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.3
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    7.9
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.3
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    7.6
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Fortinet
    Year Founded
    2000
    HQ Location
    Sunnyvale, CA
    Twitter
    @Fortinet
    152,064 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    14,397 employees on LinkedIn®
    Ownership
    NASDAQ: FTNT
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

FortiWeb WAF is a comprehensive, high-performance web application security service.

Users
No information available
Industries
No information available
Market Segment
  • 73% Mid-Market
  • 20% Enterprise
FortiWeb features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.3
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
7.9
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.3
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
7.6
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Fortinet
Year Founded
2000
HQ Location
Sunnyvale, CA
Twitter
@Fortinet
152,064 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
14,397 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NASDAQ: FTNT
Read FortiWeb Reviews
Webscale One
By Webscale
(16)4.2 out of 5
13th Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Overview Webscale is the Cloud Platform for Modern Commerce, offering security, scalability, performance and automation for global brands. The Webscale SaaS platform leverages automation and DevOps pr

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 56% Small-Business
    • 38% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • Webscale One Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    8
    Features
    8
    Helpful
    5
    Cloud Services
    4
    Efficiency
    4
    Cons
    Expensive
    5
    Pricing Issues
    4
    Complexity
    2
    Installation Issues
    2
    Lacking Features
    2
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Webscale One features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.1
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    9.3
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    8.9
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    9.1
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Webscale
    Year Founded
    2013
    HQ Location
    Santa Clara, US
    Twitter
    @WebscaleNet
    1,371 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    76 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Overview Webscale is the Cloud Platform for Modern Commerce, offering security, scalability, performance and automation for global brands. The Webscale SaaS platform leverages automation and DevOps pr

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 56% Small-Business
  • 38% Mid-Market
Webscale One Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
8
Features
8
Helpful
5
Cloud Services
4
Efficiency
4
Cons
Expensive
5
Pricing Issues
4
Complexity
2
Installation Issues
2
Lacking Features
2
Webscale One features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.1
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
9.3
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
8.9
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
9.1
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Webscale
Year Founded
2013
HQ Location
Santa Clara, US
Twitter
@WebscaleNet
1,371 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
76 employees on LinkedIn®
Read Webscale One Reviews
Reblaze
By Link11
(30)4.7 out of 5
1st Easiest To Use in Web Application Firewall (WAF) software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
    • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Reblaze is a cloud-native, fully managed security solution for sites, web apps, and APIs. Reblaze is an all-in-one web security solution; it includes next-gen WAF, DoS/DDoS protection, API security,

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Computer Software
    Market Segment
    • 50% Mid-Market
    • 30% Small-Business
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
    • Reblaze Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Traffic Management
    2
    API Management
    1
    Captcha Features
    1
    Cloud Integration
    1
    Customer Support
    1
    Cons
    Complex Rule Management
    1
    Difficult Learning Curve
    1
    Learning Difficulty
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
    • Reblaze features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.7
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 8.5
    9.5
    Traffic Controls
    Average: 8.8
    9.5
    Security Monitoring
    Average: 8.8
    8.9
    Issue Tracking
    Average: 8.4
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
    • Seller Details
    Seller
    Link11
    HQ Location
    Frankfurt, Germany
    Twitter
    @Link11GmbH
    1,060 Twitter followers
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Reblaze is a cloud-native, fully managed security solution for sites, web apps, and APIs. Reblaze is an all-in-one web security solution; it includes next-gen WAF, DoS/DDoS protection, API security,

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Computer Software
Market Segment
  • 50% Mid-Market
  • 30% Small-Business
Reblaze Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Traffic Management
2
API Management
1
Captcha Features
1
Cloud Integration
1
Customer Support
1
Cons
Complex Rule Management
1
Difficult Learning Curve
1
Learning Difficulty
1
Reblaze features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.7
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 8.5
9.5
Traffic Controls
Average: 8.8
9.5
Security Monitoring
Average: 8.8
8.9
Issue Tracking
Average: 8.4
Seller Details
Seller
Link11
HQ Location
Frankfurt, Germany
Twitter
@Link11GmbH
1,060 Twitter followers
Read Reblaze Reviews
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Web Application Firewall (WAF) Topics

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Learn More About Web Application Firewalls (WAF)


What is Web Application Firewall (WAF) Software?

WAF software products are used to protect web applications and websites from threats or attacks. The firewall monitors traffic between users, applications, and other internet sources. They're effective in defending against cross-site forgery, cross-site scripting (XSS attacks), SQL injection, DDoS attacks, and many other kinds of attacks.

These software solutions provide automatic defense and allow administrative control over rule sets and customization since some applications may have unique traffic trends, zero-day threats, or web application vulnerabilities. These tools also provide logging features to document and analyze attacks, incidents, and normal application behaviors.

Companies with web applications should use WAF tools to ensure all weak spots in the application itself are filled. Without WAF, many threats may go undetected, and data leakage may occur. They have truly become an obligatory component of any business-critical web application containing sensitive information.

Key Benefits of Web Application Firewall (WAF) Software

  • Protection against web-based threats
  • Historical documentation of incidents and events
  • Elastic, scalable web application protection

Why Use Web Application Firewall (WAF) Software?

There are a variety of benefits associated with WAF tools and ways they can boost security of applications deployed online. Most of the reasoning behind WAF usage is the generally accepted belief that web-based threats should be a concern for all businesses. Therefore, all businesses deploying web-based applications should be sure they are doing all they can to defend against the myriad cyberthreats that exist today.

Some of the numerous threats WAF products can help defend against include:

  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) — Cross-site scripting (XSS) is an attack where a malicious script is injected into websites using a web application to send malicious code. Malicious scripts can be used to access information such as cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive data collected by web browsers.
  • Injection Flaws — Injection flaws are vulnerabilities which allow attackers to send code through an application to another system. The most common type is a SQL injection. In this scenario, an attacker finds a point in which the web application passes through a database, executes their code, and can begin querying whatever information they want.
  • Malicious File Execution — Malicious file execution is accomplished when an attacker is able to input malicious files that are uploaded to the web server or application server. These files can be executed upon upload and completely compromise an application server.
  • Insecure Direct Object Reference — Insecure direct object reference occurs when user input can directly access an application's internal components. These vulnerabilities can allow attackers to bypass security protocols and access resources, files, and data directly.
  • Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) — CSRF attacks force users to execute actions on a web application the user has permission to access. These actions can force users to unwillingly submit requests that may damage the web application or change their credentials to something the attacker can reuse to gain access to an application at a future date.
  • Information Leakage — Information leakage can occur when unauthorized parties are able to access databases or visit URLs that are not linked from the site. Attackers may be capable of accessing sensitive files such as password backups or unpublished documents.
  • Improper Error Handling — Error handling refers to preprogrammed measures that allow applications to dismiss unexpected events without exposing sensitive information. Improper error handling leads to a number of various issues, including the release of data, vulnerability exposure, and application failure.
  • Broken Authentication — Broken authentication is the result of improper credential management functions. If authentication measures fail to function, attackers can walk by security measures without the valid identification. This can lead to attackers gaining direct access to entire networks, servers, and applications.
  • Session Management — Session management errors occur when attackers manipulate or capture the tokenized ID provided to authenticated visitors. Attackers can impersonate generic users or target privileged users to gain access control and hijack an application.
  • Insecure Cryptographic Storage — Cryptographic storage is used to authenticate and protect communications online. Attackers may identify and obtain unencrypted or poorly encrypted resources that may contain sensitive information. Proper encryption typically protects against this, but poor key storage, weak algorithms, and flawed key generation may put sensitive data at risk.
  • Insecure Communications — Insecure communications occur when messages exchanged between clients and servers becomes visible. Poor network firewalls and network security policies can lead to easy access for attackers by gaining access to a local network or carrier device or installing malware on a device. Once applications are exploited, individual user information and other sensitive data becomes extremely vulnerable.
  • Failure to Restrict URL Access — Applications may fail to restrict URL access to unauthorized parties who attempt to visit unlinked URLs or files without permission. Attackers may bypass security by directly accessing URLs containing sensitive information or data files. URL restriction can be accomplished by utilizing page tokens or encrypting URLs to restrict access unless they visit restricted pages through approved navigational paths.

Who Uses Web Application Firewall (WAF) Software?

The actual individuals using application firewalls are software developers and security professionals. The developer will typically build and implement the firewall, while it is maintained and monitored by security operations teams. Still, there are a few industries that may be more inclined to use WAF tools for various purposes.

Internet Businesses — Internet businesses are a natural fit for WAF tools. They often have one or multiple public-facing web applications and various internal web apps for employee use. Both of these kinds of applications should be guarded by some kind of firewall, as well as additional layers of security. While nearly all modern businesses use web applications in some capacity, internet-centric businesses are more susceptible to attacks simply because they likely possess more web apps.

E-Commerce Professionals — E-commerce professionals and e-commerce businesses that build their own online tools should be using WAF technology. Many e-commerce applications are managed by some kind of SaaS provider, but custom-built tools are incredibly vulnerable without an application firewall. E-commerce businesses who fail to protect their applications put the data of their visitors, customers, and business on the line.

Compliant-Required Industries — Industries that require a higher level of compliance for data security should use a web application firewall for any application that communicates with a server or network with access to sensitive information. The most common business types with increased compliance requirements include health care, insurance, and energy industries. But many countries and localities have expanded IT compliance requirements across industries to prevent data breaches and the release of sensitive information.

Web Application Firewall (WAF) Software Features

Some WAF products may be geared toward specific applications, but most share a similar set of core security features and capabilities. The following are a handful of common features to look for when considering the adoption of WAF tools.

Logging and Reporting — Provides required reports to manage the business. Provides adequate logging to troubleshoot and support auditing.

Issue Tracking — Tracks security issues as they arise and manages various aspects of the mitigation process.

Security Monitoring — Detects anomalies in functionality, user accessibility, traffic flows, and tampering.

Reporting and Analytics — Provides documentation and analytical capabilities for data gathered by the WAF product.

Application-Layer Control — Gives user-configurable WAF rules, such as application control requests, management protocols, and authentication policies, to increase security.

Traffic Control — Limits access to suspicious visitors and monitors for traffic spikes to prevent overloads like DDoS attacks.

Network Control — Lets users provision networks, deliver content, balance loads, and manage traffic.