Web application security through WAF is a great way to protect a company's web applications from hacking attempts. It provides comprehensive security for the server's web applications, allowing the company to protect the data stored in back-end databases. While a WAF cannot provide the same level of protection as a dedicated firewall, it can prevent data leakage in a secure manner.
First-Generation WAF
Although first-generation WAFs scanned web traffic without detecting malicious content, these models did not offer the highest level of security. They weren't flexible enough to handle constant software updates, and a stateless WAF could not prevent attackers from devising new attack behaviors. Additionally, they were too expensive, offered false positives, and required dedicated IT expertise to maintain.