

AWS WAF and Akamai App and API Protector compete in the web application security category. While AWS WAF offers strong integration with AWS services and cost-efficiency, Akamai provides richer security features and better protection for complex environments.
Features: AWS WAF is known for its scalability, effortless integration with AWS services, and flexible rule configuration. It provides cost-effective, on-demand cloud protection with customizable rules. Akamai App and API Protector is strong in sophisticated threat protection, scalability, and DDoS defenses, making it suitable for high-traffic sites. Its comprehensive security features offer a holistic approach to threat management.
Room for Improvement: AWS WAF can improve automation and documentation clarity, and some users note that its customer support could be better. Akamai users have suggested improvements in bot protection and deeper integrations with third-party tools. Additionally, understanding the pricing structure and documentation remains a challenge for AWS WAF customers, whereas Akamai's complexity requires better integration support to handle advanced attack vectors.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: AWS WAF is easily deployed within AWS environments, with a user-friendly setup process, though users desire improved customer support. Akamai offers high scalability but poses some deployment challenges and could benefit from more straightforward interactions with customer service. While AWS ensures integration within public cloud infrastructures, Akamai remains effective across hybrid environments.
Pricing and ROI: AWS WAF's pay-as-you-go model is viewed as affordable for businesses using AWS services, providing flexibility but with potential high costs for extensive security needs. Akamai, perceived as expensive, justifies its price with comprehensive security features valued by large enterprises. AWS WAF attracts cost-conscious users with dynamic usage pricing, whereas Akamai's bundled services are appreciated despite their complexity and cost.
With AWS WAF, it is easier for us to block unwanted malicious DDoS attacks and threats from coming into our web application.
They reach out when you send them a ticket, and within 24 hours or less, someone is able to get back to you to solve your problem.
Resolving issues can take time because the support personnel may lack product expertise, leading to delays.
AWS WAF does scale in the sense that it is fully managed and has automatic scaling.
Since it protects web applications from common attacks such as SQL injection and XSS, it is very stable.
Sometimes the rules didn't work, so we need to go back and ensure we have a proper rule set to make sure our AWS WAF rule does what it's supposed to do.
In terms of reliability, I would rate AWS WAF about six out of ten due to the need for improved signature sets.
One of the things that should be improved in AWS WAF is the monitoring; we need to identify the requests and where they are coming from.
Compared to firewalls, WAFs generally provide limited stateful analysis capabilities.
I think it should be better if they improve their capabilities in reducing the attack surface and also have better visibility for OWASP top 10 web applications and the API.
The licensing cost for AWS WAF is just pay-as-you-go; it is a service-based model.
Due to our status as an AWS shop, AWS WAF is cost-effective for us, and we benefit from discounts due to our extensive use of AWS services.
The area in which Akamai excels compared to other competitors with a WAF is in threat intelligence, as threats continually evolve, requiring ongoing updates to backend algorithms to effectively capture smart bots.
The biggest benefit of AWS WAF for us is to filter malicious requests, so we can protect our environment and application from malicious actors.
The specific outcomes showing how AWS WAF has helped our organization include improving our security posture by reducing the attack surface and reducing malicious attacks.
It has also helped to improve the posture of our application, prevent all DDoS attacks, and unnecessary traffic and SQL injection that is reducing the performance of our application.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| AWS WAF | 3.9% |
| Akamai App and API Protector | 3.0% |
| Other | 93.1% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 4 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 7 |
| Large Enterprise | 18 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 22 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 12 |
| Large Enterprise | 28 |
Akamai App and API Protector provides website security by preventing DDoS attacks, acting as an application firewall, managing content delivery, and monitoring APIs. It adapts to threat profiles and is used for fast media delivery and identifying malicious activities.
Akamai App and API Protector offers strong protection, adaptable security features, and efficient traffic management. Its WAF blocks IP addresses and country-specific threats while preventing SQL injections. Companies utilize it for scalable CDN services and comprehensive traffic analysis. Known for its cost-effectiveness and user-friendly dashboard, this protector stands out for its customizable rules and technical support. Users also highlight the ease of integration and detailed attack insights available through its advanced dashboard.
What are the key features of Akamai App and API Protector?In media, Akamai App and API Protector ensures smooth streaming by handling high bandwidth demands. E-commerce companies use it to guard against fraud and data breaches. Financial sectors rely on its ability to protect sensitive transactions. Implementations in healthcare focus on safeguarding patient data while maintaining compliance with regulations.
AWS WAF provides configurable rules, integration with AWS services, and scalable protection against web threats like SQL injections and DDoS attacks. Its automation and reliable performance are highly valued by users.
AWS WAF is a web application firewall offering significant security features like geo-restriction, custom rules, and IP filtering. Designed for seamless orchestration within AWS environments, it facilitates easy configuration and threat automation. Users benefit from its security policies, enhancing application performance by protecting against threats such as cross-site scripting. Despite its strengths, there is a call for enhanced user interfaces, better documentation, flexible pricing, and improved support. Expanding features like real-time analysis, bot protection, and AI integration can further elevate its utility.
What are the key features of AWS WAF?AWS WAF is extensively used in industries hosting applications on AWS, protecting sensitive data, and monitoring for unauthorized access. Custom and managed rules help cater to infrastructure needs, serving a vital role in maintaining application security across various sectors.
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