The Necessity of Web Application Firewalls in the Cloud: Introducing AIWAF-VE by MONITORAPP
Credit: MONITORAPP

The Necessity of Web Application Firewalls in the Cloud: Introducing AIWAF-VE by MONITORAPP


The Growing Need for Web Security

In today’s digital age, having a website is essential for running a successful business. However, with this necessity comes an inherent risk. By their very nature, websites are exposed to the public most of the time, making them prime targets for cyberattacks. A successful attack on your website can lead to several consequences, such as service interruptions, data breaches, and reputation or financial damage. The reality is stark: hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications and APIs.

The WhiteHat Security Website Security Statistics Report 2022 reveals that 60% of websites are perpetually vulnerable to attacks no matter where your servers are located, proving the prevalence of web-based threats is undeniable. Even more concerning is that 62% of these websites were compromised through known vulnerabilities. Despite this, only 56% of critical vulnerabilities are addressed, with an average resolution time of 196 days—far too long in the fast-paced world of cyber threats.

Another escalating threat is the surge in malicious bot traffic. While some bots serve legitimate purposes, such as helping companies gather useful consumer data, the volume of harmful bot traffic far exceeds that of beneficial bots. These malicious bots are often used for credential stuffing and vulnerability scanning, posing a significant risk to web applications. As these bot attacks become more frequent, intense, and sophisticated, the need for immediate and effective protection is clear.

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The Unique Value of WAFs in Modern Security

Existing security measures, such as Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW), often fall short when it comes to protecting against sophisticated web application attacks at the application layer (Layer 7), especially because they are unable to inspect encrypted traffic. This is where a dedicated Web Application Firewall (WAF) becomes indispensable. Gartner's analysis of key security technologies highlights a critical point: while IPS and NGFW offer some level of protection, only a Web Application Firewall (WAF) can effectively secure web applications against sophisticated Layer 7 attacks. A WAF is specifically designed to detect and block common types of attacks, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF), even when organizations are using encrypted traffic. This specialized protection is vital for safeguarding the increasingly complex and valuable data managed by modern enterprises. Modern WAFs, especially virtual appliances, can be seamlessly integrated into these environments, offering flexible and scalable protection. Virtual WAFs, in particular, offer a cost-effective solution that can be easily scaled as the business grows, without the need for significant upfront investment in hardware.

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Introducing AIWAF-VE: A Virtual Solution of WAF for Modern Web Security

In response to the growing demand for flexible and powerful web security solutions, MONITORAPP introduced the AIWAF-VE (APPLICATION INSIGHT Web Application Firewall - Virtual Edition) - a virtual version of the highly successful AIWAF appliance, which holds the top market share among web application firewall solutions in South Korea.

The AIWAF-VE is designed specifically for cloud environments, offering all security features of the physical AIWAF appliance in a software-based format. This virtual appliance is perfect for businesses transitioning to the cloud, as it provides the same level of protection without the need for traditional hardware appliances or initial costs. Moreover, the virtual nature of AIWAF-VE allows for easy scalability, making it an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes.


Some advantages of AIWAF-VE

  • Flexible Deployment: can be used as either a Reverse Proxy or Virtual In-Line Proxy, deployed as a stand-alone instance or Auto Scaling Group, or scaled up or down by choosing different EC2 instance types.
  • Cost-Efficiency: eliminates the need for physical hardware, reducing both initial setup costs and ongoing maintenance expenses.
  • Scalability: easily scalable to meet the growing needs of your business, protecting multiple web service domains within a single system.
  • Enhanced Performance: includes load balancing features; performs continuous HTTP health checks on protected web servers to ensure optimal performance.
  • Profiling Technology: utilizes sophisticated profiling technology to gather and analyze attack data through a self-learning engine, enhancing its ability to defend against emerging threats.
  • AI-Powered Cyber Threat Intelligence: receives security data from our CTI platform AILabs to defend against unknown attacks that cannot be blocked by firewalls alone


AIWAF-VE now available on AWS Marketplace

MONITORAPP has now made its products even easier for those on the AWS platform. By offering an AMI (Amazon Machine Image) of the AIWAF-VE through the AWS Marketplace, organizations can easily deploy the virtual appliance to rapidly improve their security posture. All clients need to do is choose the EC2 instance type they want the AIWAF-VE to run on when purchasing. Also, users can choose to use the AIWAF-VE as a stand-alone EC2 instance. Alternatively, they can create a template of the AIWAF-VE and deploy it as an Auto Scaling Group to leverage elasticity for efficient resource utilization.


There are two different payment methods users can choose from:

  1. PAYG (Pay-as-you-go): regular subscription to products provided by Cloud Service Provider. Users will pay hourly for both using the AIWAF-VE software and the EC2 it is running on.
  2. BYOL (Bring your own license): customers directly register and use the license they have already acquired from MONITORAPP.

On AWS, users will pay hourly for only the EC2 instance that the AIWAF-VE runs on.


Conclusion

In today’s digital landscape, where businesses are increasingly moving their operations to the cloud and web applications are a primary target for cybercriminals, the need for a robust, scalable, and cost-effective web security solution has become more critical. A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is an essential tool for protecting critical assets, providing powerful security against a wide range of threats. The AIWAF-VE from MONITORAPP is designed to meet this need, providing comprehensive protection against web-based threats in a flexible, virtual format and ensuring that enterprises’ digital assets remain safe and business operations are uninterrupted.




More information at:

Contact: [email protected]



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