Managing a successful website takes a lot of work. Some of the most important tasks are maintenance and security. They are necessary for keeping your site running optimally and protected from malicious actors. However, if you’re not utilizing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) in WordPress, you’re missing a key element in your upkeep toolbox.
A WAF is a powerful asset that can help you safeguard your website. It does a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Crucially, it streamlines a handful of security-related tasks to help save you time, energy, and money in the long run.
In this post, we’ll start by explaining what a WAF is and why it’s essential for your website security. Then, we’ll provide four steps to implement one in WordPress. Let’s jump in!
An introduction to Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) and why they’re important
WAFs are essential parts of WordPress security. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a WAF is a program that can filter and monitor your website or application traffic. By doing this, it can help identify and prevent malicious agents from infiltrating and attacking your site.
Essentially, the WAF acts as a shield between the internet and your WordPress site. Instead of accessing your server directly, the WAF will require users (legitimate or otherwise) to pass through it first.
A WAF is important because it acts as a line of defense. It can help protect and prevent a wide range of attacks, such as:
A WAF can’t defend against all types of attacks. It’s also not an all-in-one security solution. Instead, it is a critical component of a broader suite of website security tactics and tools.
4 steps for adding a WAF in WordPress
Now that we understand more about what WAFs are and why they’re important, it’s time to choose and use one. Below are four steps for selecting and adding a WAF in WordPress.
Step 1: Understand the different types of WAFs available
Before you decide which kind of WAF tool is right for you, it might be helpful to familiarize yourself with the available types. There are three main categories:
- Network-based (or hardware-based)
- Software-based
- Cloud-based
Network-based WAFs are usually installed in local area networks (LANs) and deployed through physical hardware. They are typically located close to the web and application servers, meaning they offer fast speed and performance.
However, network-based WAFs also tend to be on the pricier side. Consequently, they’re mainly only suitable for large businesses and organizations with high levels of daily traffic.
Software-based WAFs are located within Virtual Machines (VMs) rather than physical appliances. However, their components function similarly to network-based WAFs. They are incredibly flexible and can be deployed on both physical locations as well as in the cloud.
Software-based WAFs also tend to be more affordable. Therefore, they are popular choices among small and medium-sized
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This article was written by Will Morris and originally published on ManageWP.