WAF (web application firewall) helps in protecting web applications by filtering suspicious and malicious HTTP traffic. WAF main role is to monitor and block malicious HTTP/S traffic. WAF works by adhering set of policies that helps to determine malicious traffic and secure traffic. WAF can be in any form such as – software, and appliance as-a-service. Many WAFs requires to update policies constantly to counter new vulnerabilities. WAF cover basic browser level attacks such as – cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection. Web application firewall can be implemented in three different ways: -
Network based firewall are hardware based. Network based firewall are installed locally. Minimizing latency but such firewall are expensive and they require storage and maintenance of physical component.
Host-based firewall is fully integrated into application software. Host-based firewall is less expensive than network-based firewall. Only downside of host-based firewall it consumes local server resources, maintenance costs and implementation complexity.
Cloud-based firewall offers affordable option. This firewall is easy to implement. Cloud-based firewall offers turnkey installation. Cloud-based firewall has minimal cost, as users have to pay monthly and yearly for security as a service. Cloud-based offers solution to protect potential threats without any additional work or cost. Downside of cloud-based firewall user’s handover responsibility to third-party.
Types of web application firewall: -
Blacklist Web Application Firewall: -
The blacklist web application firewall works by protecting known attacks. Blacklist WAF works specifically on specific signatures. This prevents known attacks that could exploit known vulnerabilities and issues.
Whitelist Web Application Firewall: -
Whitelist web application firewall uses signatures but also employs logical decision and permitting traffic. This firewall meets specific criteria; it means that requests allowed from precise URL. But whitelist requires maintenance every time. You will need to setup WAF core rules to match new applications behavior.
Hybrid Web Application Firewall: -
Hybrid WAF uses blacklist WAF and whitelist WAF.
Benefits of web application firewall: -
Web application firewall provides well-informed response to potential threats. WAF blocks suspicious and malicious web traffic. WAF also helps in zero-day threats, security vulnerabilities, cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injections and other types of malicious attacks. Web application firewall is special designed to mitigate automation script attacks.
Web application firewall protection on OSI (open system interconnection): -
WAF protects OSI layer 7 – application level. It includes attacks against like cookie manipulation, SQL injection and URL attacks. They also target web applications protocols HTTP and HTTPS that are used connect with web browser and servers. For example – Attacker sends DDOS attack to flood target IP address to server layer. On 7 layer, web pages are delivered and generated in reply to HTTP requests. WAF mitigates server by acting as a reverse proxy to block malicious web traffic.
Conclusion: -
Thus, cyber-attacks are increasing day-by-day. To stop such attacks you should implement firewall in your systems and in your web servers. This will help to mitigate malicious activities on your systems. To stay in the online market you need fully-secured servers. Connect with HTS Hosting best hosting company in India provides corporate web hosting, Linux dedicated server hosting and other hosting plans.
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