Web Application Firewall
If you’re a company whose primary product is a client-facing web application such as an online store, social media platform, an app, or an SAAS vendor, then you are in dire need of a WAF solution to keep your network and business safe.Web applications are often the face of most companies, and sadly, are also the most vulnerable when it comes to malicious attacks because of the sheer traffic an application may be dealing with. Even having to deal with such intrusions can greatly impact a network’s efficiency.
In such cases, adding an additional layer of protection to block both large-scale and singular attacks on your network. This is where a Web Application Firewall will come in handy.
Effective Web Application Firewall to Protect Your Online Presence!
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is specifically designed to stop certain kinds of attacks at once per layer. A web application firewall at default prevents cross-site forgery, Xss, and injection attacks, which are standard methods of intrusion. The parameters of a WAP are defined by the policies put in place for their operation, making them customizable to prevent unwanted intrusion into the server by bad actors.
However, a WAF is wildly different from a firewall in terms of use and purpose. A firewall is meant to surround your entire network, creating a border between trusted and untrusted network, keeping out threats based on the set parameters across the network while allowing the right IP addresses and ports to proceed. NGFWs also incorporate traditional firewalls into their framework, using them to monitor access through web applications that face a user’s side. These firewalls enact policies that can be modified on-the-go, based on the needs of the network administrator.
However, there are ways to spoof an IP address to gain access, a risk that comes with the territory of setting up a network.These attacks in particular aren’t aimed at the network itself, but the web applications within. Depending on the number of applications you have, they could all be affected by the attack, leading to massive losses in time, resources, and revenue while they’re fixed.
WAFs are specifically tailored to protect the 7th layer of the OSI, which happens to be the web applications itself. They have certain parameters to scan for as each new user enters the network to use the web application. The WAF is responsible for stopping things like DDOS attacks as well.However, it is also important to take note of the ever-changing landscape of the internet. There are many networks and web applications that are out there that are incredibly vulnerable to attacks. This is simply because a lot of practices and security protocols are outdated and cannot effectively protect older networks.
Even the HTTPS protocol that was created to provide a secure online environment is no longer adequate due to how complex networks and web applications have become over time.In such cases, its important to look into one’s own network and ensure that its security features are all up to date. Any single protocol or piece of security software will not be enough to keep a network safe. However, a holistic security approach from the ground up will do wonders to prevent unwanted intrusions into the network.WAFs can also be set to block or allow certain IP addresses and access ports.
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall to Protect Your Software with High-Tech Security
For example, it would be possible to set up the WAF to disallow certain addresses based on an existing blocklist, this can be set up and edited at any time. This is often used to prevent known troublesome elements from causing more trouble in the network.
Another way the WAF could function is to only ever allow specific addresses from a pre-arranged list that would require special permissions to edit. This helps when you set up a web application that only certain people should have access to.
At the end of the day, its important to keep track of how secure your network is, as these days, networks tend to be the backbone of any company, organisation, or individual enterprise. Feel free to reach out to us at Sensoft Solutions, and we will give you the best we have to offer.