Cloud Web Application Firewall vs Traditional Firewall

Firewalls have been crucial in keeping networks safe from various cyber threats for the longest time. A traditional firewall protects networks by using a set of pre-determined rules that are static in nature. However, with the advent of cloud computing, there is a notable shift in how networks are protected. A newer approach to implement firewalls is to use cloud web application firewalls. In this blog post, we will analyze the differences between these two types of firewalls.

Both cloud web application firewalls and traditional firewalls are designed to protect networks by regulating traffic and ensuring secure communication over the internet. However, they have significant differences in terms of functionality, visibility, and scalability.

Functionality

Traditional firewalls have the capability to block traffic at the network level. They work by inspecting packets and blocking traffic deemed suspicious or malicious. In contrast, cloud web application firewalls analyze traffic at the application layer. They work by identifying and blocking the traffic that appears malicious or potentially harmful.

Because web application firewalls target traffic at the application layer, they can offer protection to web applications from various types of attacks, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and remote file inclusions.

Visibility

One of the significant advantages of using a cloud web application firewall is the visibility they provide, which is often missing in traditional firewalls. With traditional firewalls, it's difficult to track and analyze traffic once it’s past the perimeter. As a result, malicious traffic often goes undetected.

However, cloud web application firewalls can provide real-time traffic monitoring, analysis, and reporting. Cloud web application firewalls can track traffic from multiple sources, which can provide a comprehensive overview of the entire network.

Scalability

Cloud web application firewalls can be more scalable than traditional firewalls for a variety of reasons. One key factor is that they can handle more traffic than traditional firewalls, which means they can handle higher volumes of data and more complex applications.

Cloud web application firewalls can also scale horizontally, which means that they can add new servers to the cloud infrastructure and scale up or down as needed. This ensures that the cloud web application firewall can handle the increase in demand as the network grows.

Cost-effectiveness

Another critical factor to consider when comparing cloud web application firewalls and traditional firewalls is cost-effectiveness. Traditional firewalls can be expensive because of the upfront hardware costs, installation, and maintenance. Additionally, they require an on-site IT team to manage and maintain.

In contrast, cloud web application firewalls offer cost savings because they are cloud-based and require no additional hardware. Furthermore, they can be managed remotely, reducing the requirement for an on-site IT team.

Conclusion

When it comes to deciding between cloud web application firewalls and traditional firewalls, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each type of firewall offers unique features and benefits that are suitable for different types of businesses or organizations. Traditional firewalls are effective at protecting networks from basic attacks, while cloud web application firewalls can offer more robust security against advanced threats.

However, when it comes to scalability, visibility, and cost-effectiveness, cloud web application firewalls tend to shine. They offer real-time traffic monitoring, analysis, and reporting along with the ability to scale horizontally. Additionally, they can help organizations reduce their upfront hardware costs and maintenance expenses.

References

• OWASP. (2021). Web Application Firewall (WAF) Page.
• Forbes. (2021). Next-Gen Firewalls: What Are They and What Do They Bring to the Table?.