Sophisticated Application Layer Attacks Driving $400 Million WAF Market

​Web application attacks driven by either ideological or financial motives are among the leading cause of modern security incidents, according to ABI Research. The deployment of web application firewalls (WAF) is one effective method of protecting critical web applications as it operates at the application layer, rather than at the network level. ABI Research calculates the worldwide WAF market revenues will reach US$404 million in 2014.

Large web applications provide numerous opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the system. Some of the most common attack methods use SQL injection and cross-site scripting flaws, but just as often access can be gained simply through common authorization and authentication errors. Phishing, dumpster diving, and malicious email attachments have evolved as an effective and widely used method by attackers to breach networks. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are also highly effective and prominent techniques used to target web-facing applications. In the past year attackers have been keenly leveraging sophisticated methods to bypass defenses.

The impact of a web application attack can be significant, and include costly service disruptions, down-time, lost productivity, stolen data, regulatory fines, and irate customers. Focus has pivoted increasingly towards protecting those vulnerable web-facing resources, leading to the development of numerous solutions and services targeted at protecting organization such attacks. “A web application firewall has the ability to dynamically learn and adjust its protection and can be integrated with other security technology, such as vulnerability scanners, DDoS protection appliances, and database security solutions,” comments Monolina Sen, ABI Research’s senior analyst in cybersecurity.

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Cybersecurity Technologies Market Research.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.