Tools / Cyber Security Interview Questions
When should you use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)?
A Web Application Firewall should be deployed in front of any internet-facing web application, especially one that handles user input, authentication, or sensitive data, because it filters HTTP traffic specifically for attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting that a standard network firewall doesn't understand.
- Applications processing payments or personal data, where compliance often mandates one, such as PCI-DSS
- Public APIs exposed to unauthenticated internet traffic
- Legacy applications that can't be patched quickly, where a WAF can virtually patch known vulnerabilities
- Sites frequently targeted by bots or credential-stuffing attempts
A WAF isn't a replacement for secure coding practices, it's a compensating control that buys time and reduces exposure while the application itself is hardened.
What does a WAF filter that a standard network firewall typically misses?
Is a WAF a replacement for secure coding practices?
More Related questions...
