WAF Security Architecture: As a pioneer in enterprise Application Management, I often hear people asking me why they should use “WAF Security Architecture” in the enterprise; Hack Protection virtual patching. One reason is that it is more secure than most other web services. Another reason is that it can reduce your costs because you do not need to purchase and manage the hardware and software. WAF also known as Virtual IP, allows you to create private networks for applications that require them. Private networks are much cheaper to set up and maintain, making WAF a highly recommended option for any company looking to protect its applications from outside threats.
What the reasons to use “WAF Security Architecture”? Here is the article deeply explain, and you may better understand.
The most important reason for using WAF is firewalling. A firewall is a program designed to stop unauthorized access to a computer system. While a WAF does not have the sophisticated abilities of a commercial firewall; it can still prevent attacks by limiting access to sensitive data and application code. Many web services that use web applications often rely on information security to provide an interactive user interface. If an attacker can access the information within a WAF; they would be able to gain access to the applications; which would allow them to compromise the application and the business itself.
WAF is very flexible when compared with traditional web application architectures. It has several advantages over the more common approaches to application firewall design. In WAF, there is only one point of connection between servers, which simplifies the task of maintaining security. Furthermore, there is only a single point of failure in WAF, compared to the multiple failures that occur in traditional web server firewalls. Lastly, there is very little complexity to the administration of WAF, making it easy to add new modules.
By requiring no extra hardware or software to run, WAF simplifies WAN configuration. This makes it highly compatible with virtual private networks (VPNs); which many companies use for their internal network. Virtual private networks are networks that allow users to set up their private connections that bypass ISP filters. However, many businesses have found that they can reduce their downtime and save money by using a WAF to protect sensitive data. A VPN is usually set up on a dedicated infrastructure that hosts multiple WAN interfaces; allowing for secure VPN connectivity between various locations. A WAF on the other hand can be set up on any WAN interface, saving significant costs and simplifying WAN configuration.
WAF AND REVERSE PROXY:
One WAF that exists widely used to prevent malicious Internet traffic is the reverse proxy. A reverse proxy is a web application firewall that filters and intercepts specific types of traffic. For instance, you may set up a reverse proxy to prevent Google search engines from indexing a particular URL. The Google search engine sends its request to a server that hosts a website that does not index the requested page. The reverse proxy then intercepts this request and delivers it to the search engine. By injecting an error code into the Google search request, the server is unable to index the page; effectively preventing the entry of malicious URLs and malicious intent.
Content Filtering:
Another popular type of WAF is content filtering WAF. This type of web security firewall uses to block content from being sent to a WAN server or a specific user’s browser. For instance, if you set up a web application firewall (WAF) that blocks all Google search engine traffic; you would prevent malicious Internet traffic from reaching your application. In effect, the web application firewall (WAF) prevents hackers from exploiting a security vulnerability or gaining access to a system.
Cross-site Scripting:
Cross-site scripting (CS) is another popular form of WAF. CS attacks occur when an attacker can create valid HTML or script code on a target website and then injects that HTML code into a web page. This “starts” the malicious code on the target browser, and allows for the code to display. Although these attacks are relatively easy to defend against using common techniques; there are still many WAFs that are vulnerable to CS attacks. To make these attacks more difficult, many WAFs include protective measures such as preventing CS from reaching the application.
With these three types of WAF, there are ways to prevent attackers from gaining access to your web application. By using these three different forms of WAF, you can create a layered approach that not only prevents attacks from happening; but also monitors for malicious activity to identify it and stop it. Each of these security rules will provide you with a higher level of visibility and defense against web exploits, ensuring that your website and data stay secure.
