AWS WAF vs AWS Shield: Choosing the Best Web Protection

There are many services available to help you improve the overall security of your AWS environment. Because most AWS services are very simple to use and don’t require management by a team of specialized employees, companies of all sizes can easily benefit from their use. This article will look at two of these services AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF), AWS Shield.

AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security service that protects web applications from common exploits and attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). It allows users to define custom rules to filter and monitor HTTP/HTTPS requests based on specified conditions.

The main functions as to why someone should utilize web applications are as follows:

• Customizable rules that help to filter web traffic.
• Increase in online bots combined with malicious attacks.
• DDoS attacks are easily mitigated with the aid of rate-based rules.
• Top 10 threats from OWASP are dealt with.

1. Create a Web ACL (Access Control List).
2. Define rules and conditions (e.g., block requests from certain IPs, inspect headers, body or cookies).
3. Attach the Web ACL to AWS resources (ALB, CloudFront, API Gateway etc.).
4. Monitor traffic using AWS WAF logs and fine tune rules.

AWS Shield is a tool for large-scale DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks that can destroy any application on the AWS network. Security is divided into two tiers.

• AWS Shield Standard There is no charge for these services. Automatic protection is offered against DDoS attacks and it is available for everyone to use.
• AWS Shield Advanced Attack cost protection is provided, along with detection of attacks in real-time. Additionally, 24x7 support is available from AWS.

• Configuration is not needed at all to enable DDoS attack mitigation.
• Reduces interruptions to a service caused because of DDoS attacks.
• Integrated with AWS products like Firewall Manager and WAF.
• AWS Shield Standard assists in basic protection with little to no cost.
• Everlasting support plus advanced protection from attacks is provided through AWS Shield Advanced.

1. Shield Standard Activation: Enable AWS Shield Standard (automatically turns on for any AWS assets).
2. Strategic Application Protection: For assets that need enhanced security, subscribe to AWS Shield Advanced.
3. Create preferred security rules: Use WAF in combination with Shield for setting up preferred security parameters.
4. Audience engagement monitoring: Use CloudWatch for monitoring threats via AWS Shield metrics.

Type Protection

• AWS WAF: Web application layer (L7)
• AWS Shield Standard: Network & Transport Layer (L3/L4)
• AWS Shield Advanced: Advanced DDoS mitigation (L3-L7)

Charge

• AWS WAF: Pay-as-you-go
• AWS Shield Standard: Free
• AWS Shield Advanced: Paid subscription

Tailored Policies

• AWS WAF: Yes
• AWS Shield Standard: No
• AWS Shield Advanced: No (automated protection)

Rate-based Policies

• AWS WAF: Yes
• AWS Shield Standard: No
• AWS Shield Advanced: No

Attack Visibility

• AWS WAF: No
• AWS Shield Standard: No
• AWS Shield Advanced: Yes

Assistance Provided

• AWS WAF: No
• AWS Shield Standard: No
• AWS Shield Advanced: 24 hours a day

Protection Cost

• AWS WAF: No
• AWS Shield Standard: No
• AWS Shield Advanced: Yes

• AWS WAF should be used with:

• Users who need protection against application-layer (L7) threats.

• Users who need tailored rules and filtering processes.

• Users who want to defend API Gateway, CloudFront or ALB against malicious attacks.

• AWS Shield Standard should be used with:

• Users looking for an easy way to set up basic DDoS protection.

• Users who have an application hosted on the AWS platform and it does not require intricate safety measures.

• AWS Shield Advanced should be used with:

• Users running very important applications that require DDoS cost mitigation.

• It's essential to have AWS help desk support and real-time measures in place.

• There is a need for sophisticated and automatic DDoS mitigation.

   

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