What are the differences between a Secure Web Gateway and WAF? And why should I choose one over another?
Web gateways provide security, but some are more secure than others. They also come at various prices and features. How do you pick the right web gateway? What makes them safe?
What are Web Gateways?
Web gateways provide access control and security services to the web. These services include intrusion detection, connection logging and traffic shaping. Some web gateways also include firewalls or VPN services.
Web gateways are for a wide variety of purposes, including:
Ensuring information is transmitted through secure channels
Providing access control to internal networks, including blocking unauthorized users and content.
Web gateways can also manage traffic, improve performance and reduce costs.
What makes a gateway secure? A gateway can be as secure if it provides secure web access, protects against data loss and maintains security compliance.
Web Gateways Vs Firewall Routers
A firewall router is simply an additional firewall device that can be alongside the existing firewall in an enterprise network architecture. It is usually either a hardware or software firewall that sits on the edge of a network. Further, to provide additional protection against external threats and internal threats like malware.
As far as cost goes, it’s up to you whether you prefer to add another layer of protection using a separate firewall router. Or one that’s already in your existing firewall (including hardware or software).
Hardware vs Software
A hardware firewall consists of dedicated hardware appliances that are in line between two points on your network. These devices filter traffic both coming from your network and going out through it. Means your entire network is safe from cyber attacks by default.
Software firewalls, on the other hand, run on the same computers as your business applications and filter traffic at the application level. This means they aren’t protecting all the devices in your network. But only the applications that they are already in.
Hardware firewalls are preferred by many businesses because they don’t add any overhead or load to the existing IT resources. They also tend to be more secure than software solutions.
Hardware firewalls are also less expensive than hardware vs software solutions. If your business has a large hardware footprint, you may find that it is not practical to install additional hardware firewalls to protect your network. In this case, software solutions may be worth considering.
Comparing Secure Web Gateway Vs WAF
The main difference between a web gateway vs WAF is that a web gateway provides additional security to the network other than just protecting against web-based threats. A WAF only protects against web threats. Web application firewalls are less expensive than full-scale firewalls, which is why they are often used as the first line of defense for networks with restricted budgets.
They are mainly used by small businesses with fewer resources that can’t afford to invest in proper firewall solutions. However, even large enterprises use them as an additional layer of security or as a temporary solution until they are in a position to upgrade their infrastructure further.
Conclusion: Comparing Secure Web Gateway Vs WAF
So, when it comes to choosing a gateway vs WAF, it is important to consider the system that you are protecting. If you have a network with numerous applications running on different devices and you are looking for a full-scale security solution that will protect all these applications, then a web gateway is probably a better option than an application firewall.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a cheaper solution that can protect your web applications from common attacks, then an application firewall is a good option.