Implementation of Web Application Firewall

Background

Beta Online Retail Pvt. Ltd. is a medium-sized online retailer in India, catering to customers across the country. With a heavy reliance on its e-commerce platform, the company has been facing security challenges, including SQL injection attacks and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

Problem

These recurring cyber threats were causing interruptions in service, undermining customer trust, and threatening the confidentiality of customer data. The security lapses were not only affecting the reputation of the company but also its bottom line.

Solution and Implementation

To counter these issues, Beta Online Retail Pvt. Ltd. decided to engage with me to implement a web application firewall (WAF).

  1. Selection of WAF (ModSecurity):
    • Chose ModSecurity for its customizable protection against common web application threats.
    • Configured the WAF to specifically target and block SQL injections and XSS attacks.
  2. On-Premises Implementation:
    • ModSecurity was installed on the company’s existing web servers.
    • Provided flexibility and control over the configuration and rule sets.
  3. Regular Monitoring and Updating:
    • Set up monitoring to detect and respond to any new threats or abnormal patterns.
    • Ensured the WAF rules were kept up to date with the latest threat intelligence.
  4. Integration with Existing Security Measures:
    • Integrated ModSecurity with existing security infrastructure for a comprehensive defense strategy.

Results

The deployment of ModSecurity at Beta Online Retail Pvt. Ltd. yielded immediate positive outcomes:

  • A marked decrease in security incidents related to the website.
  • Restoration of customer trust and prevention of sensitive data breaches.
  • Continued high availability of the e-commerce platform, vital for the company’s success.
  • December 03, 2018