The Howdy Glossary

The Cloudflare Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a cloud-based service designed to protect web applications from common vulnerabilities and malicious attacks by filtering and monitoring HTTP traffic between users' browsers and web servers. It identifies and blocks threats such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other frequently exploited techniques. Working alongside other Cloudflare services like DDoS protection, CDN, caching options, load balancing, and SSL/TLS encryption, the WAF enhances both security and performance through its global network infrastructure.

Cloudflare is a well-known internet security company providing various services to safeguard websites from threats like DDoS attacks and web application vulnerabilities. The WAF is part of their extensive toolset aimed at enhancing the security of web applications worldwide. Its unique features include operating in the cloud for scalable protection without needing on-premises hardware or infrastructure. The rules-based system allows for customizable security policies tailored to specific applications while integrating seamlessly with other Cloudflare services to ensure comprehensive optimization for websites.

Competitors such as Akamai, Imperva Incapsula, Barracuda WAF, Fortinet FortiWeb, F5 Networks, and AWS WAF offer similar web application security solutions but differ in unique features that cater to varying market needs. Despite competition, Cloudflare's cloud-based nature offers advantages in scalability and deployment ease without requiring on-premises hardware. Its robust global network ensures low latency while maintaining high availability of protected sites. By integrating complementary services within its ecosystem—such as DDoS protection and CDN functionality—Cloudflare provides an all-encompassing solution that stands out by offering efficient performance optimization combined with comprehensive security measures suitable for organizations ranging from small businesses to large enterprises across different industries.