Why WAFs Fail
Most WAF deployments fail not because the technology is bad, but because they run in detection-only mode forever, rules are never updated, and no one reviews the logs. A WAF requires active management.
Tuning Your WAF
- Detection Mode First: Run in detection mode for 2-4 weeks. Log all triggered rules without blocking.
- Baseline Analysis: Identify and whitelist legitimate traffic patterns that trigger false positives.
- Block Mode: Enable blocking for high-confidence rules (SQLi, XSS, LFI).
- OWASP CRS: Apply the OWASP Core Rule Set as your foundation, then customise for your application.