Have you ever noticed a website unexpectedly go down or appear with a "security warning"? That's what happens when hackers attack or steal information. Losing customer faith or private information is a big deal. Thankfully, the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) protects your website and hosting from issues like that.
A WAF protects your site against some of the more common attacks:
• SQL injection – Hackers attempt to gain access to your database.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS) – Hackers insert bad code to your site.
• DDoS attacks – Hackers overwhelm your website with fake traffic until it crashes.
So, think of a WAF as the door bouncer that only lets in good visitors to your website, and keeps all the bad ones out.
• Cloud WAFs: The simplest to implement, these WAFs are controlled by companies like Cloudflare or AWS. They automatically receive updates and are useful for the average user.
• Local (On-Premise) WAFs: These WAFs are installed on your own service. You have all of the power and control but will require more technical experience to manage them.
For the average user, a cloud-based WAF is the easier and preferable choice.
A WAF can also be bundled with a number of web hosts free of charge or for a nominal fee — it's a no brainer.
If your website handles any form of data (most do), using a WAF is not only a good idea, but is actually essential. Why take a chance when you can have a digital bodyguard watching your website?!
What is a Web Application Firewall (WAF)?
The WAF (Web Application Firewall) applies an additional security layer to protect your website. It is like a bouncer out front of your website. The WAF sits between your website and the Internet. After the WAF is set up, every time someone visits your website, it will check to see if the visitor is safe. If it sees something potentially harmful, it can shut it down automatically.A WAF protects your site against some of the more common attacks:
• SQL injection – Hackers attempt to gain access to your database.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS) – Hackers insert bad code to your site.
• DDoS attacks – Hackers overwhelm your website with fake traffic until it crashes.
So, think of a WAF as the door bouncer that only lets in good visitors to your website, and keeps all the bad ones out.
Reasons Hosting Companies Use WAFs
If you have a website, or if you run dozens or hundreds of them, then consider a WAF to keep all of these properties safe. Here’s how a WAF helps:- It can block hackers early. It can stop the attack before it gets to your server.
- It protects data. Passwords, payment information, and user data are protected.
- It prevents downtime. All of your sites can be online even while under attack
- It helps with legal compliance. Many businesses must abide by data protection laws, and WAFs help with compliance.
Cloud WAF versus Local WAF
There are two predominant variations of WAFs:• Cloud WAFs: The simplest to implement, these WAFs are controlled by companies like Cloudflare or AWS. They automatically receive updates and are useful for the average user.
• Local (On-Premise) WAFs: These WAFs are installed on your own service. You have all of the power and control but will require more technical experience to manage them.
For the average user, a cloud-based WAF is the easier and preferable choice.
Do You Really Need a WAF?
Yes — definitely! Even small websites can encountered attacks. Attackers use bots that are designed to find the weakest websites at all times. A WAF helps ensure your website isn't one of them.A WAF can also be bundled with a number of web hosts free of charge or for a nominal fee — it's a no brainer.
Final Thoughts
A Web Application Firewall is one of the great ways to keep your website protected from attackers and data leaks. It does its job quietly and without you even noticing by filtering out bad traffic to your website.If your website handles any form of data (most do), using a WAF is not only a good idea, but is actually essential. Why take a chance when you can have a digital bodyguard watching your website?!