Web Application Firewall (WAF) helps guard web applications by monitoring and filtering HTTP traffic between web applications and the Internet. Web Application Firewalls exist in physical or virtual appliances form.

What is a Network firewall?

A network firewall is a security device that monitors the incoming and outgoing traffic and allows them based on the authenticity of the incoming request.

Learn how a Network Firewall and WAF differ from each other

From the above table, it is clear that a WAF provides security to the web-based application, whereas a network firewall acts similar to that of a traffic cop. A network firewall is present on the network layer by default with a low access and control limit, while a WAF has high access and high control limits.

A network firewall is a preliminary stage in protecting the data. Without a network firewall, one may leave himself open to accepting every connection in the network and end up being in a place with no chance of connecting incoming threats

 A WAF is necessary for any business that handles private customer data (PII). It keeps the destructive and disruptive forces out and controls the incoming and outgoing traffic based on the security parameter one can control and refine.

 A WAF works based on a set of rulesets, the most common type of ruleset used across any WAF is OWASP Top 10 ModSecurity rulesets. StrongBox IT’s Modshield SB works on the core ModSecurity rulesets, which can avert vulnerabilities during the time of the attack.

MODSHIELD SB WAF defends against a wide range of web-based instructions and attacks that targets applications hosted on the cloud and in web applications. MODSHIELD SB scans both inbound and outbound traffic, thereby protecting the user from any sort of attacks.