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The 10 best DDoS protection services (duplicate)
All WAF providers
at a glance
What makes a good WAF provider?
Comprehensive protection: Defense against OWASP Top 10 risks and zero-day exploits, as well as seamless upgrade options for bot management, API security, and DDoS protection.
24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC): Round-the-clock monitoring and expert support with fast response times when needed.
Compliance: Adherence to strict standards such as GDPR, NIS-2, DORA, and industry-specific requirements.
Comprehensive certifications: Certifications such as ISO 27001 (based on BSI IT-Grundschutz), BSI C5 Type 2, or PCI DSS.
Secure jurisdiction: Legal domicile and operations in the EU/Germany to avoid risks from third-country access (e.g., via CLOUD Act or FISA 702).
Flexible deployment models: Integration into existing infrastructure regardless of the hosting model (local data centers, third-party hosting infrastructures, private and public clouds) – without additional hardware or software and without changes to existing web applications.
Operating and support model: Self-service, supplementary managed WAF service for configuration, testing, and operation.
Cost model: Transparent pricing based on traffic, number of rules or requests, and service level.
Suitability for critical infrastructure: Specialization in the high requirements of critical infrastructures, for example in the finance, healthcare, and public sectors.
Transparency & reporting: Detailed insights into attack vectors and filter measures (e.g., via dashboard or SIEM integration).
The best WAF providers
Below you will find an overview of established WAF providers – from specialized European security providers to global cloud, CDN, and hyperscaler providers. The list of providers and features is a selection and does not claim to be exhaustive; all information has been compiled to the best of our knowledge and belief based on official manufacturer information, documentation, and relevant wikis, but without guarantee as to its timeliness, completeness, or accuracy.
Myra Security
Myra Security is a German specialist provider whose portfolio includes WAF, bot management, DDoS protection, and secure content delivery network (CDN). Its services are primarily aimed at highly regulated organizations in the critical infrastructure, finance, healthcare, and public sectors, which have the highest demands for security, performance, and compliance. The cloud-based Myra Application Security protects web applications and APIs from OWASP Top 10 risks, zero-day exploits, bot-based attacks, and complex Layer 7 attacks. The digitally sovereign solutions are legally compliant with GDPR and meet the strictest security and data protection standards.
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
Protection of web applications and APIs regardless of the hosting model of banks, insurers, public authorities, healthcare institutions, and critical infrastructures with the highest compliance requirements.
Special features:
Comprehensively certified: BSI-qualified, ISO 27001 (based on BSI IT-Grundschutz), BSI C5 Type 2, and PCI DSS certified
Optional fully managed WAF service with German 24/7 SOC and dedicated KRITIS focus – including customized rule maintenance and continuous tuning.
Integration of WAF, DDoS protection, bot management, and CDN in a sovereign platform for consistent protection of complex web and API landscapes.
Origin/Compliance:
Development, operation, and legal domicile in Germany
GDPR, NIS 2, and DORA compliant, optimized for highly regulated industries.
Not subject to any US jurisdiction (CLOUD Act/FISA 702) and supports digital sovereignty and data sovereignty.
Radware
Radware offers protection for web applications and APIs with Cloud WAF and Cloud WAAP, including bot management, client-side protection, and L7 DDoS mitigation. The Israeli-American provider specifically targets companies with complex multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Cloud WAF analyzes traffic, learns legitimate behavior, and blocks malicious activity. A managed service is also available.
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
Carriers, enterprise customers, hosting providers, and organizations with hybrid multi-cloud infrastructures and distributed application landscapes.
Special features:
Cloud WAF with OWASP Top 10 coverage and AI/ML-powered detection of zero-day exploits.
Cloud WAAP with centralized management of WAF, API security, bot management, and DDoS.
Managed service option for customers who want to outsource operation and tuning.
Origin/compliance:
Global provider based in Israel and the US.
GDPR compliance via adequacy decision (Israel) and EU-US Data Privacy Framework (US).
US division subject to CLOUD Act / FISA 702 (third-country risk).
Deutsche Telekom
In addition to Anti-DDoS, Deutsche Telekom offers a Web Application Firewall (WAF) in the Open Telekom Cloud that protects web applications in the provider's European cloud environment. The WAF service complements other security services such as Anti-DDoS and Identity & Access Management. The target group is companies that value European data sovereignty and operation in German data centers.
What sets the WAF provider apart
Use cases:
Cloud workloads in the Open Telekom Cloud, e.g., portals, e-commerce applications, corporate websites, and APIs with a focus on EU data.
Special features:
Protection against common web attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and malicious file execution.
Advanced features such as data masking, rate limiting, black/whitelisting, and web tamper protection.
Variants as shared/cloud WAF and dedicated WAF with predefined bandwidths and QPS limits.
Origin/compliance:
Developed, operated, and legally based in Germany.
GDPR, NIS 2, and DORA compliant, operated in European data centers.
Not subject to US jurisdiction (CLOUD Act/FISA 702).
Imperva
Imperva, a US subsidiary of the French Thales Group, offers a WAAP suite with Cloud WAF, on-prem WAF gateway, bot management, CDN, and DDoS protection. The application security products are particularly aimed at organizations with mixed cloud and on-prem environments. The Cloud WAF provides real-time protection against threats such as cross-site scripting, unauthorized resource access, and remote file inclusion. In addition, the WAAP solution detects and blocks automated traffic, differentiates legitimate users from malicious bots, and thus protects web applications and APIs from credential stuffing, scraping, click fraud, and other bot attacks.
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
Companies with complex web and API workloads that require deeply integrated WAAP and DDoS capabilities.
Special features:
Cloud WAF with coverage of typical web attacks (OWASP Top 10) and protection against zero-day exploits.
WAF gateway for on-premises deployment with ML-powered detection of automated attacks and bot traffic.
Integration with bot management and DDoS protection for a unified application security stack.
Origin/compliance:
US provider, subsidiary of the French Thales Group.
GDPR compliance via EU-US Data Privacy Framework and standard contractual clauses.
US operations subject to CLOUD Act / FISA 702 (third-country risk).
Akamai
Akamai combines its global CDN with WAAP features (WAF, bot management, API security) and DDoS services. The edge network, which is present in over 130 countries, checks traffic for threats at the network edge. Akamai App & API Protector protects web applications and APIs from OWASP Top 10 risks such as SQL injection, malicious bot activity, and DDoS attacks, among others.
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
Global e-commerce, media/streaming, SaaS, and financial platforms with a global presence.
Special features:
App & API Protector with protection against OWASP Top 10 risks, malicious bots, and L7 DDoS attacks.
Hybrid approach to securing various cloud environments and on-premises infrastructures.
Seamless integration with other Akamai security and performance solutions.
Origin/compliance:
US provider with legal domicile in the US and global infrastructure.
Extensive certifications (including PCI DSS, SOC 2) and SCC/EU-US Data Privacy Framework for GDPR compliance.
Subject to CLOUD Act and FISA 702, resulting in a GDPR risk profile for EU customers.
Azure
Azure WAF protects web applications deployed via Azure Application Gateway, Azure Front Door, or Azure CDN. The WAF solution requires no additional hardware and can be combined with Azure DDoS protection and monitoring. Azure customers can create their own rule sets or use managed rule sets to secure their web applications against OWASP risks and other threats.
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
Enterprise applications, APIs, and web services on Azure, usually in combination with Application Gateway and Azure Front Door.
Special features:
Managed rule sets with OWASP coverage, custom rules, and bot protection.
Native integration with Azure DDoS Protection and monitoring via Azure Monitor.
Activation without additional hardware, suitable for standardized enterprise setups.
Origin/compliance:
US hyperscaler with legal domicile in the US and global Azure regions.
GDPR compliance via EU-US Data Privacy Framework and standard contractual clauses.
Subject to CLOUD Act / FISA 702, relevant residual risks for highly sensitive data.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare combines a global anycast network with WAF, bot management, API security, CDN, DNS, DDoS protection, and zero-trust capabilities. Cloudflare WAF runs on the US provider's global network and sits in front of web applications to stop real-time attacks. To do this, the solution uses machine learning-based detection, among other things.
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
SaaS applications, websites, and APIs that need to be delivered with global performance and protection.
Special features:
WAF with managed rule sets for OWASP Top 10 risks, zero-day exploits, and protocol anomalies.
Extensive options for user-defined rules, API-based management, and integrated bot management.
High global network volume with hundreds of PoPs for fast delivery and mitigation.
Origin/compliance:
US company with legal domicile in the US (EU branches available).
GDPR compliance via EU-US Data Privacy Framework and standard contractual clauses.
Subject to CLOUD Act / FISA 702, thus third-country risk, especially for KRITIS and the public sector.
Google Cloud
In addition to L7 DDoS protection, Google Cloud Armor (GCP) also offers WAF functions for services delivered via Google Cloud's HTTP/S load balancing. The US hyperscaler primarily addresses GCP-based SaaS and web platforms with a global user base. GCP customers have the option of creating custom WAF rules or using and customizing preconfigured rule sets (for OWASP risks).
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
GCP-based web and API workloads as well as globally scalable SaaS offerings with high traffic.
Special features:
Policy-based WAF rules covering typical web attacks and optional ML-supported adaptive protection.
Tight integration with GCP load balancing, identity services, and Cloud CDN.
Granular control via IP lists, geo-blocking, and user-defined rules.
Origin/compliance:
US hyperscaler with legal domicile in the US and global network.
GDPR compliance via EU-US Data Privacy Framework and standard contractual clauses.
Subject to CLOUD Act / FISA 702; residual data protection risks for EU companies remain.
Link11
In addition to always-on DDoS protection and secure CDN, Link11 offers a WAAP platform with WAF, bot management, and API protection, which is provided as a cloud service from European data centers. The solutions are particularly aimed at e-commerce and SaaS platforms as well as business-critical web portals.
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
Protection of web applications and APIs for hosting providers, SaaS platforms, high-traffic portals, e-commerce, and critical online services in Germany and the EU.
Special features:
Next-gen WAF with protection against OWASP Top 10 risks such as code injection, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting.
Cloud-based WAAP architecture with reverse proxy approach, traffic analysis, and automatic scaling, supplemented by a secure CDN.
AI-powered detection and fast response times via a 24/7 SOC.
Origin/compliance:
German provider with data storage in the EU and a focus on European customers.
GDPR-compliant; suitable for regulated industries in the EU.
Not directly affected by US jurisdiction with regard to the CLOUD Act / FISA 702.
AWS
AWS WAF protects web applications and APIs delivered via Amazon CloudFront, Application Load Balancer, or API Gateway. The US hyperscaler's WAF solution is suitable for cloud-native workloads on AWS and can be combined with AWS Shield DDoS protection—without additional infrastructure. AWS customers can use it to create their own rule sets and easily apply them to multiple websites and web applications. Preconfigured rule groups are also available.
What sets this WAF provider apart
Use cases:
Cloud-native applications, microservices, SaaS, and APIs that are run entirely or predominantly on AWS.
Special features:
Rule-based WAF with managed rule groups (e.g., OWASP Top 10) and user-defined rule sets.
Close integration with AWS Shield, CloudFront, Route 53, and infrastructure-as-code approaches.
High scalability and automation for dynamic cloud environments.
Origin/compliance:
US hyperscaler with legal domicile in the US and globally distributed data centers.
GDPR compliance via EU-US Data Privacy Framework and standard contractual clauses.
Subject to CLOUD Act / FISA 702, increased third-country risk for sensitive EU workloads.
When Myra is the right choice
Choosing the right WAF provider depends largely on the protection requirements of the applications, the infrastructure stack used, and the regulatory framework. For globally operating platforms with relatively non-critical workloads, US hyperscalers and international CDN/WAAP providers can offer a pragmatic, scalable solution. However, as soon as highly sensitive data (such as health data, payment transactions, official registers), critical infrastructures (KRITIS), or public administration tasks are involved, the priorities shift significantly: digital sovereignty, guaranteed data storage in the EU, and independence from US government access (CLOUD Act/FISA 702) become strict selection criteria. In these scenarios, Myra positions itself as one of the most secure approaches: Development, operation, and legal domicile in Germany, a 24/7 SOC geared toward KRITIS requirements, and certifications such as ISO 27001 based on BSI IT-Grundschutz, BSI C5 Type 2, and PCI DSS enable a level of compliance and protection that US providers can only offer to a limited extent due to structural reasons.
Third-country risk argues against non-European providers
Banks, insurance companies, healthcare organizations, and the public sector in particular rely on WAF providers who process personal and particularly sensitive data in compliance with the GDPR, meet strict regulatory requirements, and also provide reliable evidence in audits. In addition, a European provider not subject to US jurisdiction reduces third-country risk and thus potential conflicts between the GDPR and US surveillance laws – an aspect that is increasingly being demanded by supervisory authorities and auditors in the context of NIS-2, DORA, and industry-specific requirements.
Based on criteria such as data location, jurisdiction, compliance capability, operating model (self-service vs. managed service), and integration effort, the right WAF provider can be found for almost any application scenario. For particularly sensitive, regulated, and critical infrastructure environments, Myra offers an approach that is consistently focused on security, resilience, and regulatory compliance.