As application architectures become more distributed, securing web applications and APIs requires a proactive, adaptable approach that goes beyond traditional web application firewalls (WAFs). When deployed at the edge, web application and API protection (WAAP) solutions improve security by placing protections closer to end users and possible threats. This strategic positioning reduces latency, resulting in quicker reaction times and a more seamless user experience. Edge-based WAAP lowers the risk of downtime and safeguards vital assets by catching threats like DDoS attacks, bot traffic, and API misuse before they reach core infrastructure.
Edge-based WAAP provides dynamic scalability and enhanced speed, efficiently handling large traffic volumes and unexpected demand spikes. Spread among numerous global points of presence, it offers robust, flexible security that adapts to threats and attacks in real time, making it perfect for protecting apps in complex, multi-cloud environments.
Why WAAP at the edge?
Centralized WAAP solutions typically involve a single security appliance or software instance between the internet and the application. While effective in specific scenarios, centralized WAAP has limitations, especially when dealing with global applications and distributed infrastructure. Some of the drawbacks include:
- Latency: traffic routed through a centralized point can introduce latency, impacting application performance.
- Single point of failure: compromising the centralized security appliance can severely impact the entire application.
- Scalability: scaling centralized solutions to accommodate increasing traffic and evolving threat landscapes can be challenging.
Edge WAAP, on the other hand, distributes security functions across multiple points within the network, often closer to the edge. This approach offers several advantages: reduced latency, improved performance, enhanced security, and greater flexibility. Let’s look at each in turn.
Reduced latency
By harnessing the power of CDN to bring security close to the end user, edge WAAP significantly reduces latency by processing traffic nearer to its source. Latency increases as the physical distance between users and data centers grows, so reducing this distance is key to improving response times. Gcore’s extensive network of PoPs worldwide allows data to be handled close to end users no matter where they’re located, minimizing the distance information must travel and enabling faster response times when mitigating attacks. In traditional setups, centralizing security functions means that all requests (including potentially malicious ones) pass through a single point, which can create a bottleneck and slow down the service. Edge WAAP avoids this issue by handling security functions closer to the request’s origin.
This translates to smoother, high-speed customer interactions, even during peak usage. For example, a global e-commerce platform could leverage edge WAAP to deliver a seamless shopping experience across regions with minimal delays. By keeping latency low, edge WAAP enhances overall application performance and provides the scalability needed to manage fluctuating traffic demands. This structure allows businesses to maintain responsive, reliable services as they grow, supporting both current and future scalability requirements.
Enhanced security
The combination of low latency and global network distribution makes edge WAAP more secure than standard WAAP solutions. By processing traffic closer to its source, edge WAAP can detect and mitigate threats in real time, minimizing the delay between identifying malicious activity and taking action. This low-latency approach reduces the window of opportunity for attackers, guaranteeing threats like DDoS attacks, bot activity, and API abuse are neutralized before reaching core infrastructure.
Additionally, edge WAAP leverages a globally distributed network to monitor suspicious traffic patterns across regions, enhancing visibility and enabling security measures to be applied based on the geographic origin of threats. This approach primarily benefits businesses handling sensitive data or meeting compliance requirements across multiple regions. By combining low latency with comprehensive, global threat monitoring, edge WAAP provides proactive, adaptable protection that can respond swiftly to emerging threats.
Greater flexibility
Edge WAAP allows organizations to adapt to evolving network topologies and application architectures. By deploying WAAP at the edge, security functions can be distributed and adjusted as the network environment changes, whether due to growth, shifting traffic patterns, or new deployment needs. This flexibility allows WAAP to support a range of architectures, from multi-cloud and hybrid environments to more complex, region-specific configurations.
Gcore’s edge-based approach seamlessly integrates with multi-cloud and hybrid environments, making it easier for organizations to scale and adapt security configurations as they grow. This flexibility is particularly valuable for businesses expanding into new regions or adopting new technologies, as Edge WAAP can adjust to meet their unique infrastructure needs.
Guaranteed security and performance with edge-based WAAP
Edge-based WAAP is a powerful solution for securing modern applications and APIs. Gcore WAAP brings security closer to customers for quicker, more efficient protection thanks to our vast global network of more than 180 points of presence (PoPs) in more than 95 countries.
Gcore WAAP operates at the edge to provide a comprehensive defense against DDoS attacks, malicious bots, and API vulnerabilities. It also scales easily to accommodate high traffic demands in distributed, multi-cloud systems. Learn how Gcore WAAP offers unmatched speed globally, allowing your apps robust security in a low-latency environment.
