AWS WAF
A web application firewall that protects web applications and APIs from common web exploits.
| Category | Threat Detection & Response |
|---|---|
| Last page update | 18 days ago |
| Pricing Details | Pricing is based on the number of web ACLs and rules deployed, as well as the amount of web traffic processed. |
| Target Audience | Web application developers, security teams, and organizations looking to protect their web applications. |
AWS WAF is designed to protect web applications and APIs from common web exploits, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other malicious activities that can compromise security, affect availability, or consume excessive resources.
Technically, AWS WAF operates by allowing you to configure a set of rules known as a web access control list (web ACL) that can allow, block, or count web requests based on customizable conditions. These conditions can include IP addresses, HTTP headers and body, or custom URIs. The architecture integrates with AWS services like Amazon CloudFront, API Gateway, and Application Load Balancers, enabling you to protect your web applications at the edge or closer to the origin servers.
Operationally, AWS WAF offers managed rules that save time and effort, allowing you to leverage pre-configured rules managed by security experts. This includes protections against the OWASP Top 10 security risks and other specific threats. You can also use one-click protection in the CloudFront console, which automatically configures rules to protect against common web threats. However, it's important to note that while these managed rules simplify the process, they may not cover all custom security needs, and additional rules may need to be defined manually.
From a technical details perspective, AWS WAF supports granular control over metrics emission, enhancing web traffic visibility. It also allows for the monitoring, blocking, or rate-limiting of bots and other malicious traffic. When using AWS WAF with CloudFront, enabling the service is necessary to view security metrics in the CloudFront Security dashboard. The service supports real-time rule updates and can handle a high volume of requests, though the complexity of rules and the number of web ACLs can impact performance and costs.