Challenge: The Growing Threat of Cyber-Attacks

Cyber-attacks have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, posing significant risks to organizations. Traditional firewalls and intrusion prevention systems are no longer enough to address the evolving threat landscape. Recognizing this, Flisk implemented a Web Application Firewall to protect its websites and public-facing online assets.

Solution: Deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF is a specialized firewall that monitors, filters, and blocks HTTP traffic to and from web applications. Unlike traditional firewalls, which secure network traffic between servers, a WAF focuses on the security of specific web applications. This allows Flisk to protect its applications at a granular level, learning and adapting to the specific behaviors of each app.

By deploying the WAF, Flisk was able to:

• Protect networks and services exposed to the Internet
• Safeguard high-value applications and assets in both virtual and physical data centers
• Continuously adapt to emerging threats, minimizing security risks

Key Objective: Integrated Security for Flisk’s Web Platform

The primary goal was to secure Flisk’s web platform, which serves as the entry point to the company’s most valuable assets. Websites are frequent targets for hackers and malicious actors, so adding an additional layer of automated protection was critical to defending against large-scale, technically sophisticated attacks.

Key Benefits of WAF Deployment

• Real-Time Web Attack Mitigation: Automatic policy generation to defend against evolving threats.
• Immediate Attack Response: Mitigate attacks without disrupting legitimate user traffic.
• Ongoing Vulnerability Updates: Web defenses are continually updated based on the latest research into current threats.
• Virtual Patching: Address application vulnerabilities quickly to reduce exposure.

Since implementing the WAF, Flisk has successfully protected its databases and web servers from external cyber-attacks. The WAF has prevented information theft, neutralized fraud attempts, reduced overall risk, and streamlined regulatory compliance.

Tools and Services Utilized

• Elastic Beanstalk: For seamless deployment and scaling of the web application.
• Aurora DB: To manage the relational database.
• Amazon Route 53: Ensured reliable connections between user requests and AWS infrastructure.
• Amazon S3: Provided scalable object storage via a web service interface.
• Amazon CloudFront: Enhanced the platform’s speed through a content delivery network (CDN).

Achievements

WAF Ensures Continuous Access: Maintained uninterrupted platform access, even during maintenance.

WAF Disaster Recovery: Implemented a replication system to ensure disaster recovery capability.

With the implementation of the Web Application Firewall, Flisk has significantly strengthened its cybersecurity posture, ensuring that its platform remains secure and resilient in the face of modern cyber threats. The solution has allowed the company to protect sensitive data, maintain user trust, and continue delivering value to its customers.