Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A Web Application Firewall, or WAF, protects web applications and web-based services by analysing incoming and outgoing HTTP and HTTPS traffic and filtering it according to defined security rules. It can identify and block suspicious or unwanted requests before they reach the protected application. WAFs are particularly relevant for defending against web-based attacks such as SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting and other manipulation attempts. Deployment options include hardware appliances, virtual solutions, cloud services and integrated application delivery platforms. Modern WAF solutions often provide additional capabilities such as bot management, rate limiting, logging and integration with SIEM systems. A WAF complements other security controls but does not replace secure application development, regular updates or comprehensive Vulnerability Management.