Global vs Regional WAF Architecture

Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) protects web applications from common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. The first architectural decision is selecting the hosting model based on network topology and traffic patterns. Application Gateway WAF provides regional, dedicated protection within a specific Azure region, making it suitable for applications that need low-latency inspection close to the backend. Front Door WAF operates at the global edge, inspecting traffic closer to the attacker before it reaches the origin, which is ideal for multi-region deployments and global user bases. A CDN with WAF combines content acceleration with security at edge locations, benefiting static content delivery while applying the same rule sets. Evaluate expected latency, geographic distribution of users, and whether the application is regional or global to match the right model.