The OWASP Top 10, explained simply
The OWASP Top 10 is a widely referenced list of the most critical web application security risks. You don't need to memorize it, but knowing the categories helps you understand what a WAF defends against.
The recurring themes
The list covers risks like broken access control, injection (including SQL injection), security misconfiguration, vulnerable components, and identification/authentication failures. Many real-world breaches trace back to one of these.
Some are code-level issues only your developers can fix. Others — injection, many misconfigurations, and automated attacks against authentication — can be blocked at the edge by a WAF before they ever reach your application.
Where a WAF fits
AWS WAF managed rule groups directly target injection, cross-site scripting, and known bad inputs. Bot control and account-fraud rules address credential stuffing and account takeover. Rate-based rules blunt brute-force attempts.
A WAF is not a substitute for secure code, patching, and good access control — it's a strong, always-on layer that buys you time and stops the most common automated attacks.
A practical baseline
For most sites, a sensibly tuned managed WAF plus HTTPS, current software, and good passwords covers an enormous share of real-world risk. That's exactly the baseline we set up and maintain for you.