WAFs protect web applications against threats such as:
Cross-site scripting
SQL injection
Session hijacking
Denial of service
Buffer overflows
WAFs generally present the following features:
Libraries of attack data based on known attacks to web applications
Monitoring, filtering and blocking of data and access to web applications
Automated attack detection, both identity-based (e.g. dynamic whitelisting, fingerprinting, risk scoring) and behavioral (e.g. risk scoring)
Advanced security techniques (e.g. deception/misdirection, virtual patch deployment, honeypot)
Zero-day attack prevention (related to the above)
A management interface with alert system
Reporting and analytics on threat and application usage
The cost of web application firewalls depends on deployment. There are three options:
A managed service or cloud-hosted WAF delivered as part of a subscription. This can be relatively low overhead as part of a larger subscription (e.g. part of a CDN). But it also may contain unneeded features.
A network-based appliance. This presents relatively high overhead but reduces latency because it is installed locally and close to the application.
A host-based WAF residing in the application’s code. This is rarer and may present less desirable computing costs and greater maintenance.
According to NGINX, a business unit of F5 Networks since the May 2019 acquisition, NGINX powers over 65% of the world's busiest websites and web applications. NGINX started out as an open source web server and reverse proxy, built to be faster and more efficient than Apache. Over the years, NGINX...
CloudFlare, from the company of the same name in San Francisco, provides DDoS security to business domains, as well as a content delivery network (CDN) and web application firewall (WAF).
F5 BIG-IP software from Seattle-based F5 Networks is a load balancing and application protection solution suite available on cloud or via virtual editions, on a subscription or perpetual licensing basis. The BIG-IP suite of products supports a wide range of security and application performance ne...
Oracle Dyn Web Application Security Platform extends beyond just typical Web Application Firewall (WAF) capabilities to offer Access Control, Bot Management, application DDoS protection and API security.
Amazon Web Services offers AWS WAF (web application firewall) to protect web applications from malicious behavior that might impede the applications functioning and performance, with customizable rules to prevent known harmful behaviors and an API for creating and deploying web security rules.
Barracuda Web Application Firewall, from Barracuda Networks in Campbell, California, protects web applications from bots, DDoS attacks, and other advanced threats to enterprise apps.
Alert Logic Web Security Manager (WSM) is a web application firewall and web application intruder detection system available in standard and premiere versions. Alert Logic's managed WAF is also part of the company's Enterprise level service.
The Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) is based on technology acquired with Incapsula and the former WebSphere WAF.
Comodo Cybersecurity headquartered in Clifton offers cWatch, a website malware and vulnerability scanner that provides content filtering as well at the free service level, and at paid premium subscription levels supplies WAF, DDoS protection, as well as load balancing and website performance prot...
The StackPath (formerly Highwinds) Content Delivery Network provides a scalable DNS with load balancing, traffic management, DDoS protection and Web Application Firewall (WAF) to support and protect enterprise websites and applications.
Founded on its data encryption technology, Penta Security Systems is an IT security company that provides platform solutions, hardware and virtual appliances, and security services. Latest innovations include solutions for IoT and blockchain-based environments. Founded in 1997 by Seokwoo Lee, the...
FortiWeb is Fortinet's web application security system (or web application firewall, WAF) featuring advanced vulnerability management and threat detection and prevention, available in deployment as an appliance or virtual appliance, also as a hosted or a cloud-based virtual solution.
F5 Networks offers the Advanced Web Application Firewall (WAF) to provide bot defense, advanced application protection, anti-bot SDK, and other features.
Positive Technologies headquartered in Framingham offers the PT Application Firewall (AF), a web application firewall (WAF) which uses advanced machine learning and correlative techniques to detecting and prevent zero-day attacks on enterprise apps.
Radware offers AppWall, a PCI compliant web application firewall (WAF) securing corporate networks and the cloud against web app attacks.
German company Rohde & Schwarz offers the R&S Web Application Firewall to protect enterprise apps against data leakage, disablement, identity theft and intrusion.
Founded on its data encryption technology, Penta Security Systems is an IT security company that provides platform solutions, hardware and virtual appliances, and security services. Latest innovations include solutions for IoT and blockchain-based environments. Founded in 1997 by Seokwoo Lee, the...
CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. The company provides broadband, voice, wireless and managed services to consumers and businesses across the country. It also offers advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLink® Prism™ TV and DIRECTV® brand...
Qualys offers their Web Application Firewall (WAF), available on its own or as part of the Qualys Cloud Platform network and application vulnerability management suite.
SonicWall offers their WAF Series, of web application firewalls.
Symantec helps consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. Symantec was founded in 1982 by visionary...
Bekchy is a cloud-based web application firewall, developed by Faydata Information Technologies Inc. Bekchy works in front of all web application servers. According to the vendor, Bekchy is used by finance, health, education, tourism and media sectors. It provides basic and advanced protection f...
Sangfor NGAF is a combined NGFW and Web Application Firewall. It provides a full core suite of firewall services scaled for enterprises.
Instart provides a complete set of cloud services for web application performance and security. Instart’s global CDN and performance optimization services accelerate dynamic content and images. Instart security services provide security at the browser through script protection, security at the or...
Limelight Cloud Security is a content access and permission management solution with web application firewall and DDoS protection, providing a digital rights management (DRM) solution for video content.