WAAP
Web Application and API Protection
A unified security solution that protects websites and APIs from cyberattacks.
In Simple Terms
WAAP is a system that monitors traffic to websites and apps to block malicious attacks. Built on top of a traditional WAF, it also brings together API protection, bot mitigation, and DDoS protection into a single solution. It's used to prevent unauthorized access in systems that frequently exchange data externally, like online stores and cloud services.
Behind the Name
WAAP stands for Web Application and API Protection. It's not a single technology, but a security concept that brings together a WAF, API protection, bot mitigation, and DDoS protection under one umbrella.
Take a Closer Look!
WAAP is a comprehensive security capability that protects websites, apps, and the APIs they use to exchange data externally from cyberattacks.
In short, it's like posting guards at various entrances on the internet to block suspicious traffic.
Traditionally, a WAF was the main tool for protecting traffic headed to web apps.
But as mobile apps and external integrations grew, threats diversified — API-targeted attacks, excessive bot access, and large-scale DDoS attacks.
WAAP grew out of the WAF by adding integrated API protection, bot mitigation, and DDoS protection.
WAAP combines the WAF, bot mitigation, DDoS protection, and API protection, each watching traffic from a different angle.
The WAF inspects request contents for attack strings. Bot mitigation checks whether the sender is human or an automated program based on browser characteristics and behavior patterns, even when the content looks normal.
DDoS protection watches whether the volume and growth of incoming traffic, or how concentrated access is on specific pages, matches known attack patterns, and blocks the excessive load meant to take a service offline.
API protection watches for unauthorized access aimed directly at APIs — some products can even discover APIs an organization hasn't fully tracked, then continuously watch for activity that strays from normal traffic patterns.
Combining these different vantage points strengthens the overall security of websites and APIs.
It's also often delivered as a cloud service, which can help reduce the burden of deployment and operation.