Web Application Firewall (WAF) means firewall for web applications and refers to firewall programs that protect websites from cyber incidents . Sometimes the term “Web Shield” is also used for them.
In short, a web application firewall (WAF) monitors the exchange of data between a website and the rest of the Internet. To be more precise: between the server on which the website in question is stored and all incoming requests. On the Internet, data is exchanged via the HTTP protocol. A web application firewall (WAF) therefore monitors all HTTP data, filters it and blocks it if necessary.
A web application firewall operates according to rules that define dangerous and permitted requests. Many web application firewalls are “adaptive,” meaning they are able to recognize patterns. This allows them to identify previously unknown attacks as suspicious based on their unusual requests.
Web application firewalls work in real time, analyzing all incoming requests before they reach the server.
In principle, you often encounter it, because many websites have a web application firewall. However, you won’t notice these in everyday life – because your calls to the desired pages are allowed by the web application firewalls.
If you do not know whether your company website has a web application firewall, have this checked. To do this, contact your IT department or an external IT security service provider. Based on the exam results, you can then set up a web application firewall or have your existing one optimized.
