Web Application Firewall

What Does Web Application Firewall Mean?

A web application firewall (WAF) protects web application servers and infrastructure from attacks and breaches originating from the Internet and external networks.

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It is a purpose-built firewall that can be customized to accept and reject HTTP requests and sessions using predefined rules.

Techopedia Explains Web Application Firewall

A web application firewall is usually deployed between the web servers and the Internet. It is typically a standalone device having a pre-installed vendor-provided firewall application. It filters each incoming and outgoing message. Once configured with known malicious HTTP-based attacks, the web application firewall scans and stops such messages and requests. For example, it can protect an application/server from Internet-based threats such as:

  • SQL injection attacks
  • XML injection
  • DDoS

A web application firewall can be a standalone hardware device, and also a cloud/software based solution.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…