Azure WAF: The Unsung Hero in Application Gateway, Front Door, and CDN Security
Introduction
Welcome back from ARTIFICALAB LTD Website Portal! Today, we will discuss and explore about Azure Cloud Security, especially on the Microsoft Azure's Web Application Firewall, or simply WAF.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, businesses now realized that protecting web applications has become more critical than ever. But don't worry! The good news is that Azure WAF still stands out as a robust solution, seamlessly integrating with Application Gateway, Front Door, and CDN to provide comprehensive security.
Now, let's get started to gain some Cloud Security Knowledge!
"If anyone asked me, what is the best arsenal to protect your web applications or web systems, I would definitely say the Azure WAF is the best choice for them. This is because unlike other Firewalls, the Azure Web Application Firewall is backed by Microsoft Cloud Defense Technologies, combined with the reputation of preventing major cyber attacks and preventing threats and intrusions!"
— Mr. Thu Ta Naing, Founder & CEO (ARTIFICALAB LTD)
So, what is Azure WAF?
Details of Azure WAF
So, first of all, we need to understand what is Azure WAF. Indeed, it stands for the Azure Web Application Firewall that gives a centralized protection of Web Apps from most exploits and vulnerabilities. This includes SQL injection and Cross-Site Scripting etc.
The need for Azure WAF comes from the challenge and difficulties on maintaining application code to prevent such cyberattacks. In reality, it is extremely uneconomical and not effective to do with constant maintenance, patching and monitoring on the application level.
Thereby, Microsoft Azure have to introduce the Web Application Firewall, that will ease and helps on security management in a better way for all the parties.
In fact, a WAF solution can react to a security threat faster by centrally patching a known vulnerability, instead of securing each individual web application.
How Azure WAF is used in 3 key Azure areas: Application Gateway, Front Door, and Content Delivery Network
We need to understand that Azure WAF, Web Application Firewall, doesn't exist and perform its operations alone. Instead, they are actually integrated with 3 Azure key components including: Application Gateway, Front Door, and Content Delivery Network.
Thus, Azure WAF plays a pivotal role in safeguarding web applications across various Azure services. Let’s explore its roles in Application Gateway, Front Door, and CDN:
1. Azure WAF integrated with Azure Application Gateway
Azure WAF on Application Gateway provides centralized protection to your web applications from common threats and vulnerabilities.
It offers features like OWASP core rule sets, custom rules, and bot protection. For instance, a retail company can use Azure WAF to protect their online store from SQL injection and cross-site scripting attacks, ensuring a secure shopping experience for customers.
In 2023, Azure WAF on Application Gateway processed over 1 billion requests daily, highlighting its extensive usage and reliability.
Figure: Azure Application Gateway, Image courtesy of Microsoft Azure
Here are some benefits your clients will get if Azure WAF is integrated into the Application Gateway.
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It definitely protect your web applications without ever need to do modification in back-end code.
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It can protect 40 multiple web applications at the same time.
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Create custom WAF policies are possible respecitvley for different sites behind the same WAF.
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You can protect your web applications from malicious bots with the IP Reputation ruleset.
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It can protect your application against DDoS attacks.
2. Azure WAF integrated with Azure Front Door
When integrated with Azure Front Door, Azure WAF enhances global load balancing and application acceleration with security. It helps in mitigating DDoS attacks and provides real-time threat intelligence.
A media streaming service, for example, can leverage Azure WAF to ensure uninterrupted and secure content delivery to users worldwide, even during traffic spikes. Azure Front Door WAF logs millions of security events each month, showcasing its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
Figure: Azure Front Door, Image courtesy of Microsoft Azure
The benefits on protection of Azure WAF in Azure Front Door are as follows:
- Web applications are constantly protected from web vulnerabilities and attacks while modifications are never needed in back-end code.
- Web applications are also protected from malicious bots with the IP Reputation Rule Set.
- DDoS attacks can be prevented with Azure WAF's innovative capabilities.
3. Azure WAF integrated with Azure Content Delivery Network
Azure WAF when integrated with Azure CDN will ensure that content is delivered securely and efficiently. It protects against threats like data breaches and unauthorized access. An e-learning platform can benefit from Azure WAF by securing educational content and user data, providing a safe learning environment for students. We could say that Azure WAF on CDN has been instrumental in reducing latency and improving security for thousands of global users.
Figure: Azure Content Delivery Network, Image courtesy of Microsoft Azure
Moreover, WAF on Azure CDN is regarded as a global and centralized solution. This is because Azure network edge locations exist all around the globe and the WAF is deployed on every edge the Web App resides.
Moreover, WAF stops malicious attacks close to the attack sources, before they reach your origin. Global protection is achieved without sacrificing performance.
A WAF policy easily links to any CDN endpoint in your subscription. New rules can be deployed within minutes, so you can respond quickly to changing threat patterns.
Some Real-World Case Studies of Azure WAF
Contoso Retail:
Contoso, a global retail company, implemented Azure WAF on their Application Gateway to protect their e-commerce platform. By leveraging custom rules and OWASP core rule sets, they successfully mitigated SQL injection and cross-site scripting attacks, ensuring a secure shopping experience for millions of customers.
Fabrikam Media:
Fabrikam, a leading media streaming service, integrated Azure WAF with Azure Front Door to enhance their global content delivery. During a major live event, they faced a significant DDoS attack. Azure WAF’s real-time threat intelligence and mitigation capabilities ensured uninterrupted streaming for their audience, maintaining service reliability and user trust.
Northwind Traders:
Northwind Traders, an e-learning platform, utilized Azure WAF on their CDN to secure educational content and user data. By implementing bot protection and SSL termination, they provided a safe and efficient learning environment for students worldwide, reducing latency and enhancing security
Common Misconceptions you should know about Azure WAF
1. “Azure WAF is only for large enterprises”:
While Azure WAF is indeed powerful enough for large enterprises, it is also highly scalable and suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. Its customizable rules and flexible deployment options make it accessible for organizations of all sizes.
2. “WAFs are set-and-forget solutions”:
A common misconception is that once a WAF is deployed, it requires no further attention. In reality, regular tuning and monitoring are essential to ensure optimal performance and to adapt to evolving threats.
3. “WAFs cause significant latency”:
Some believe that implementing a WAF will slow down their applications. However, Azure WAF is designed to minimize latency while providing robust security. Proper configuration and tuning can ensure that performance impacts are negligible.
Best Practices for Azure WAF Configuration
There are some best practices you should follow if you decide to use Azure Web Application Firewall in your Web Apps. Here are some tips we have attached according to the Microsoft Reference!
1. Enable the WAF:
For internet-facing applications, always enable a web application firewall and configure it to use managed rules.
2. Use WAF Policies:
Manage your WAF configurations using WAF policies instead of older WAF configuration resources to take advantage of the latest features.
3. Tune Your WAF:
Regularly tune the rules in your WAF to reduce false positives and ensure they are tailored to your specific workload.
4. Use Prevention Mode:
After tuning, configure your WAF to run in prevention mode to actively block malicious requests.
5. Define Configuration as Code:
Use tools like Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, Bicep, or Terraform to define your WAF configurations as code, making updates easier and less error-prone.
Some Limitations in Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Azure WAF on Azure Application Gateway
Two Limitations we can say for Azure WAF on the Application Gateway are as follows:
Limitation 1: Request Size Limits:
Azure WAF on Application Gateway has configurable request size limits, but these can sometimes be restrictive for applications requiring large file uploads.
Limitation 2: Complexity in Custom Rules:
Creating and managing custom rules can be complex and may require significant expertise.
Azure WAF on Azure Front Door
Two Limitations we can say for Azure WAF on the Front Door are as follows:
Limitation 1: Rate Limiting:
Azure Front Door WAF lacks a unified rate limiting feature, which is crucial for defending against brute-force attacks.
Limitation 2: Limited Managed Rules:
Only Azure Front Door Premium and Azure Front Door (classic) support managed rules, which may limit protection for some users.
Azure WAF on Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Two Limitations we can say for Azure WAF on the CDN are as follows:
Limitation 1: Latency Concerns:
While Azure WAF on CDN aims to minimize latency, improper configuration can still lead to performance issues.
Limitation 2: Geographical Limitations:
The effectiveness of Azure WAF on CDN can vary based on the geographical distribution of users and the CDN endpoints.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, there is no deniable fact that Azure WAF is the essential tool in the arsenal of modern cloud security. By integrating with Application Gateway, Front Door, and CDN, we could achieve a multi-layered defense against a myriad of cyber threats.
Whether you’re running an e-commerce site, a media service, or an educational platform, Azure WAF ensures your web applications remain secure and resilient. Stay tuned to ARTIFICALAB LTD Website Portal for more insights into cloud security and other cutting-edge technologies!!
