AWS WAF vs Azure Web Application Firewall vs Google Cloud Armor (WAF)
Overview
With web applications as primary targets for cyberattacks like SQL injection, XSS, bot attacks, and API abuse, enterprises need robust Web Application Firewalls (WAFs). Major cloud providers offer native WAF services integrated with their ecosystems:
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AWS WAF
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Azure Web Application Firewall
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Google Cloud Armor WAF
This guide compares them on deployment models, rule sets, L7 protection, automation, cost, performance, and compliance.
Core Capabilities
| Feature | AWS WAF | Azure Web Application Firewall | Google Cloud Armor (WAF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment | CloudFront, ALB, API Gateway | Azure Front Door, App Gateway, CDN | HTTPS Load Balancer, CDN |
| Protection Layers | L7 (HTTP/HTTPS) | L7 | L7 |
| Managed Rule Sets | AWS Managed Rules, third-party | Microsoft Default & OWASP CRS | Preconfigured WAF Rules, OWASP |
| Custom Rules | Yes (IP, header, URI, query, etc.) | Yes | Yes |
| Rate-based Rules | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Architecture & Integration
| Feature | AWS WAF | Azure WAF | Cloud Armor |
|---|---|---|---|
| API Security | Yes (Lambda + API Gateway) | Yes (APIM + WAF) | Yes (API security rules) |
| Real-time Analytics | CloudWatch Logs, Metrics | Azure Monitor + Sentinel | Cloud Logging + Monitoring |
| Bot Mitigation | Yes (AWS Bot Control) | Basic with custom rules | Advanced via ML-based detection |
| DevOps Integration | Terraform, CloudFormation, CDK | ARM/Bicep, Terraform, Azure DevOps | Terraform, gcloud CLI, GitOps |
| Geo-based Access Control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Advanced Features
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AWS WAF:
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Integrated with CloudFront, ALB, and API Gateway.
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Supports real-time traffic inspection with AWS Firewall Manager.
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AWS Bot Control module for advanced bot management.
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Supports versioned rule groups and rate-limiting per IP.
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Azure WAF:
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Deployable via App Gateway or Azure Front Door.
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Native OWASP 3.x rule sets.
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Threat intelligence integration from Microsoft Defender.
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Advanced logging via Azure Monitor, Log Analytics.
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Google Cloud Armor (WAF):
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Centralized protection for Cloud HTTPS Load Balancers.
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Adaptive Protection: ML-based DDoS detection.
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Layer 7 inspection and predefined rules for common exploits.
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Integration with Cloud CDN and IAM.
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Use Case Example
A retail e-commerce company hosting its website and APIs globally needs WAF policies against OWASP Top 10, bot control, rate limiting, and centralized logging:
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AWS: Uses AWS WAF with managed rule sets and custom rate limits on CloudFront + ALB. Bot Control and logging via CloudWatch.
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Azure: Deploys WAF on Azure Front Door with auto-tuned OWASP rules and Sentinel alerting.
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GCP: Enables Cloud Armor Adaptive Protection with predefined SQLi/XSS rules and exports logs to BigQuery for auditing.
Performance & Reliability
| Metric | AWS WAF | Azure WAF | Cloud Armor WAF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latency Impact | <1ms at edge | Minimal (~2ms) | ~1–3ms via Google Front End |
| SLA | 99.99% | 99.99% | 99.9% |
| Scalability | Auto-scaled | Auto-scaled | Auto-scaled |
Pricing Overview (as of 2025)
| Pricing Component | AWS WAF | Azure WAF | Google Cloud Armor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $5 per ACL/month | ~$20 per WAF policy/month | $0.75 per rule, per million evals |
| Rule Charges | $1 per rule/month | ~$0.60/rule | Pay-per-rule usage |
| Request Charge | $0.60 per million requests | $0.75 per million requests | Included in evaluation charge |
Compliance and Governance
| Compliance | AWS WAF | Azure WAF | Google Cloud Armor |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIPS, SOC, ISO, PCI | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IAM Integration | Yes | Yes (RBAC) | Yes |
| Logging Support | CloudWatch + Kinesis | Azure Monitor + Event Hub | Logging + BigQuery export |
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Disclaimer
This article is independently developed and not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). All service names, prices, and descriptions are based on publicly available sources as of June 2025 and may change.
