What is the main security function of a WAF?

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) primarily functions to protect web applications from various types of attacks, primarily those that exploit vulnerabilities in the application layer. This includes threats such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other common web application attacks that could potentially compromise sensitive data or lead to unauthorized access.

By analyzing HTTP/HTTPS traffic, a WAF can filter and monitor data packets exchanged between a web application and the internet. It applies predefined security rules and strategies to identify and mitigate potential threats. This active monitoring and filtering process enables a WAF to block malicious requests, thus securing the web application from exploitation.

While data encryption during transit and server upgrades are important aspects of web security and infrastructure management, they do not specifically characterize the main function of a WAF. Similarly, managing databases is not part of a WAF's core responsibilities; instead, that falls under the domain of database management systems or database security solutions. The WAF's focus is squarely on safeguarding the application's security against direct attacks.