Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security tool that protects web applications by filtering and monitoring HTTP traffic to prevent attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting.

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security solution specifically designed to protect web applications from a variety of threats and vulnerabilities. By filtering, monitoring, and analyzing HTTP traffic between a web application and the internet, a WAF can block malicious traffic that seeks to exploit weaknesses in the application.

WAFs operate by applying a set of rules, often known as policies, to incoming traffic. These rules are designed to detect and mitigate common attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). When a potential threat is identified, the WAF can block the traffic before it reaches the application, log the activity, and alert administrators to the threat.

WAFs can be deployed in various ways, including as a hardware appliance, software solution, or cloud-based service. Cloud-based WAFs are particularly popular due to their scalability and ease of deployment, making them a suitable choice for businesses of all sizes.

In summary, a Web Application Firewall is a critical component of web application security, providing an essential layer of defense against cyber threats that target web applications.