Introduction to Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)
Cyber-attacks and threats are evolving at an unprecedented rate which puts cyber security on top of the priority list of businesses. Web application firewalls (WAF) are one of the most effective security measures which protect web applications and filter any malicious traffic from entering. It prevents major cyber attacks including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. From big established businesses to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK, it is essential to implement a robust WAF to comply with data protection laws. This blog outlines everything you need to know about WAFs and provides a list of the top 5 Web Application Firewalls for 2025.
How Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) Protect Your Business
The web application firewalls monitor traffic passing through the web applications and detect and block any malicious traffic and activity. The primary activities performed by web application firewalls are as follows:
- Defending Against Common Threats: WAF acts as a defence mechanism against potential cyber-attacks and threats like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and DDoS attacks by monitoring and filtering out malicious traffic.
- Ensuring compliance: Businesses in the UK are required to comply with UK data protection laws including GDPR, and PCI DSS. A robust WAF helps businesses stay compliant with these laws and regulations by enhancing security and preventing data breaches
- Enhancing Website Performance: A malicious attack can disrupt business operations significantly affecting productivity and revenue. Robust web application firewalls ensure enhanced website uptime and performance by optimising server performance and providing a seamless user experience.
Key Features to Look for in a Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)
When choosing a WAF for your business, be sure to look for the following features:
- Real-time Threat Detection & Automated Responses: Evaluate the ability to detect threats in real-time and mitigate attacks like SQL injection, XSS etc. Advanced WAFs use AI-powered algorithms to initiate automated responses for any detected threats.
- Cloud-based vs. On-premises WAFs: Choose cloud-based vs. on-premise WAFs depending on which of them suits your business infrastructure the best. While cloud-based WAFs offer more scalability and ease of deployment, on-premise WAFs offer better control over security policies. You can also go for hybrid models if they cater to your business needs.
- Cost: Evaluate the cost involved in purchasing, setting up, subscription and any cost for additional features.
- Machine Learning Capabilities: The WAFs should offer scalability, adaptation to new threats, and improve capabilities with advancements in technology.
- Integration: with existing IT infrastructure. The ideal WAF should integrate seamlessly with existing IT infrastructure including security solutions firewalls, CDN and other security tools.
- Support: Choose a provider of WAF solutions that offers continuous support round-the-clock and instant resolutions.
Best 5 Web Application Firewalls for UK Businesses
1. Cloudflare WAF – Best for affordability and ease of use.
Key Features: The most unique features offered by Cloudflare WAF are as follows:
- Provides a cloud-based web application firewall services
- Offers fast DNS, a global Content Delivery Network (CDN), and robust DDoS protection
- Uses machine learning-based detection to automatically block emerging threats in real-time, including XSS attacks, SQL injection attacks, etc.
- Delivers real-time attack insights
Pros:
- Faster and easier implementation
- Allows building own security policies and customisation
- No hardware is required to buy
- Easy to configure
- An affordable option for SMBs
Cons:
- Higher tier membership is required to avail of advanced features
- Comparatively fewer customisation options
- Not much granular control over security policies
- Restrictive for complex applications
Pricing: There are three plans offered by Cloudflare WAF:
- Free Plan: No ticket support
- Pro Plan: Starts at $25/month
- Business Plan: Starts at $250/month with advanced features
2. AWS WAF – Ideal for businesses using Amazon Web Services.
Key Features: The best features offered by AWS WAF are as follows:
- Allows creating custom security rules
- Seamless integration with other AWS services
- Provides real-time metrics updates
- Easy to set-up
Pros:
- Best for medium to large-sized companies that use AWS web applications.
- Better compatibility with AWS services including Amazon CloudFront, Amazon API Gateway, and AWS AppSync.
- Provides scalability in accordance with the size of the application and traffic
- Offers pre-configured rules making it easy to deploy and configure.
Cons:
- May not allow customisation for highly complex web application environments
- May cost higher for extensive usage
Pricing: Pricing is based on the number of web access control lists (web ACLs) created, the number of rules that are added per web ACL, and the number of web requests received.
3. Imperva WAF – Advanced protection with analytics.
Key Features: The best features offered by Imperva WAF are as follows:
- It is a cloud-based security solution that defends online applications against cyber attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and remote file inclusion (RFI)
- No false positives
- Offers automated security policy creation
- Provides real-time threat detection
- Uses behavioural detection to identify zero-day attacks.
Pros:
- Since it is a cloud-based solution, no hardware is required.
- Provides round-the-clock support
- An affordable option for small businesses
- Lowers the risk of downtime
- Services and features are tailored to specific security requirements
Cons:
- May require higher technical expertise for deployment
- Some plans are expensive given the features.
- May require extensive training for usage
- Since intense customisation is involved, deployment time can be comparatively longer.
Pricing: Imperva WAF offers customised pricing based on business requirements.
4. Akamai Kona Site Defender – Best for large-scale businesses.
Key Features: The best features offered by Akamai Kona Site Defender are as follows:
- It is a cloud-based WAF suitable for large organisations
- Uses AI and machine learning methods for detecting and dealing with cyber-attacks
- Offers hybrid deployment options
- Provides real-time traffic insights
Pros:
- Offers adaptive defences
- Provides preventive self-tuning
- Offers advanced API discovery
- Integrated bot detection for enhanced security
Cons:
- May require complex configuration
- There can be a possibility of false positives
- May not be an affordable option for SMBs.
Pricing: Akamai Kona Site Defender offers custom pricing based on business requirements.
5. Barracuda WAF – Strong security for SMBs with managed services.
Key Features: The best features offered by Barracuda WAF are as follows:
- Able to stop malicious bots in their tracks
- Offers cloud, on-premises, and hybrid deployment options
- Provides APIs and mobile apps protection
- Offers granular access restriction and secure app distribution
- Real-time detailed insights into attacks and traffic patterns
Pros:
- Easy to configure and deploy
- Detects and prevents attacks hidden within encrypted traffic
- Uses machine learning for advanced threat detection
- Offers centralised management and reporting for multiple applications
Cons:
- Comparatively costlier than other web applications firewalls
- An extra cost is required for additional features
- Offer limited advanced customisation options
- Pricing: Barracuda WAF offers customised pricing based on included features and business needs.
Choosing the Right WAF for Your Business Needs
It is important to choose just the right web application firewall for your business that aligns with your business requirements. The following factors merit consideration while choosing the right WAF for your business needs:
- Budget: Choose an affordable WAF for your business that suffices your requirements rather than going for expensive options with features that your business doesn’t require.
- Scalability: Choose a WAF that offers scalability like cloud-based web application firewalls that are ideal for growing businesses.
- Integration: The WAF you pick should seamlessly integrate with your existing IT infrastructure and enhance security.
- Managed Vs. Self-Managed: Based on your business’s in-house capabilities, choose a managed or a self-managed WAF.
How Tristar Tech Solutions Helps SMBs with WAF Implementation
Tristar Tech Solutions is a leading provider of managed services. Our team can help you with:
- Custom WAF Deployment: Our team assesses your business size, security needs and risk profile and identifies the WAF solution that is best for your business.
- 24/7 IT Security Monitoring: Our services do not stop at implementation. We provide 24/7 IT security monitoring and protection against cyber threats.
- Expert Consultation: We ensure that your business is compliant with data protection laws, GDPR and other industry standards.
- Seamless Integration: Our web application firewalls integrate seamlessly with your existing infrastructure for enhanced security.
- Cost-effective Solution: Tritsar offers affordable security solutions for SMBs in the UK.
Need help securing your web applications? Contact Tristar Tech Solutions today for a free consultation on the best WAF solutions for your business.
Conclusion
As explained in this blog, a robust web application firewall is essential for safeguarding your business against hefty cyber-attacks that can damage your business reputation and cause loss of sensitive business information. Whether you’re an established business or a small and medium-sized business, implementing WAF can protect your business. It is recommended to associate with a reliable managed service provider like Tristar Tech Solutions that can understand your business requirements and suggest and implement web application firewall solutions for your web applications.
Looking for expert IT support 💻, web solutions 🌐, or reliable hosting services ⏩ in North London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton, or nearby areas? At TriStar Tech Solutions, we provide tailored technology services to help your business thrive 🚀. Whether you need managed IT support, custom website design, or secure hosting solutions, our experienced team is ready to assist 💡.
Contact us today 📞 01707 378455 to learn how we can support your business’s digital needs!
Also Read:
- The Benefits of Outsourcing Your IT Support for SMEs
- IT Maintenance: What is it and Why is it Important
- 10 Essential IT Support Services Every Business Needs On An Ongoing Basis
- 10 Reasons to Use Professional IT Support Services for Small Businesses!
- What is Proactive IT Support and How Can It Help Your Business?
- Types of Businesses That Require IT Services
- What is the Cloud and How Can It Help?
FAQs: Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)
Q: What is a Web Application Firewall (WAF) and how does it work?
Ans – Web Application Firewalls are implemented to monitor and filter traffic that passes through the web applications and protect these applications against any cyber-attacks or threats.
Q: Why do small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK need a WAF?
Ans – SMBs in the UK require web application firewalls to combat increasing cyber-attacks and to stay compliant with data protection laws and regulations.
Q: How does a WAF protect against cyber threats like SQL injection and DDoS attacks?
Ans – The WAF actively monitors and blocks malicious traffic that matches the security rules that are pre-defined and denies access from the source IP.
Q: What is the difference between a network firewall and a web application firewall?
Ans – A network firewall safeguards the entire network by filtering traffic and blocking unauthorised access. It performs based on IP addresses, ports, protocols, etc. A web application firewall protects web applications at the application level from malware attacks including cross-site scripting, SQL injection and DDoS attacks.
Q: How does a WAF help businesses stay compliant with GDPR and PCI DSS?
Ans – A WAF protects web applications and prevents data breaches and unauthorised access by monitoring and filtering traffic and thus helps businesses stay compliant with GDPR and PCI DSS.
Q: How do cloud-based and on-premises WAFs differ? Which one is better for my business?
Ans – On-premise WAF provides greater control and offers more customisation options while cloud-based WAF offers more scalability, flexibility, ease of deployment and more coverage.
Q: Is a managed WAF solution better than a self-managed one for SMBs?
Ans – A managed WAF solution can be a better solution for SMBs since it provides stronger security, ease of compliance and more resilience against advanced cyber-attacks and threats.
Q: Can a WAF prevent all cyberattacks, or do I need additional security measures?
Ans – Web Application Firewalls are important for protection against web and cyber-attacks but it is also recommended to implement additional security measures for the comprehensive protection of your business and sensitive information.
