Cloudflare WAF vs Wazuh: What are the differences?

<Cloudflare WAF and Wazuh are both popular cybersecurity solutions but have key differences in their functionality and features. Here are the top 6 differences between Cloudflare WAF and Wazuh:>

1. Deployment and Integration: Cloudflare WAF is a cloud-based web application firewall that operates at the edge of the network, providing protection to online assets through DNS-level integration. On the other hand, Wazuh is an open-source security monitoring platform that needs to be deployed on-premises or in a cloud environment, offering more flexibility in customization and integration with the existing infrastructure.

2. Focus on Web Applications vs. Multi-Purpose Security: Cloudflare WAF primarily focuses on protecting web applications from various cyber threats like SQL injection, XSS attacks, and bot traffic. In contrast, Wazuh offers a broader range of security capabilities beyond web applications, including log monitoring, intrusion detection, vulnerability assessment, and threat intelligence.

3. Pricing Model: Cloudflare WAF follows a subscription-based pricing model where users pay for the services and resources consumed, based on traffic volume and features used. Wazuh, being open-source, provides its core features for free, but users need to pay for additional support, enterprise features, and integration services.

4. Monitoring and Alerting Capabilities: Cloudflare WAF provides real-time monitoring and alerting for web application attacks, allowing organizations to detect and respond quickly to security incidents. In comparison, Wazuh offers continuous monitoring of the entire infrastructure, including servers, networks, and endpoints, providing a holistic view of the security posture.

5. Scalability and Performance: Cloudflare WAF is designed to handle massive amounts of web traffic efficiently, utilizing its globally distributed network to provide high availability and scalability. Wazuh, on the other hand, can be scaled horizontally by deploying additional agents and managers to handle growing data volumes and monitoring requirements.

6. Community Support and Enterprise Features: Wazuh benefits from a strong open-source community that contributes to its development and support, providing users with a wealth of resources and knowledge. Cloudflare WAF, being a commercial product, offers enterprise-grade features like DDoS protection, web acceleration, and bot management, backed by dedicated customer support and service level agreements (SLAs).

In Summary, Cloudflare WAF is a cloud-based solution focused on web application security, while Wazuh is an open-source platform offering comprehensive security monitoring across various layers of the infrastructure.