Web applications are valuable tools for businesses of all sizes. These applications enable businesses to communicate with customers, potential customers, employees, partners, and other information technology (IT) systems. Network security technologies such as NGFWs or intrusion prevention systems (IPS) have very limited insight or control over Web traffic. As a result, Web applications are particularly vulnerable components in an IT infrastructure.

Most organizations have taken basic steps to protect their Web applications, including deploying WAF and testing and patching application vulnerabilities. WAF operates at the application layer and can analyze full sessions and application layer protocols that an IPS cannot see.