Installation Of Web App Firewalls On A Rise In APAC: Frost & Sullivan

The increasing use of web applications in enterprises, along with the rise in cyber attacks and regulatory requirements, has lent momentum to the web application firewall (WAF) market in Asia-Pacific. While standalone WAF dominates the market, the integration of WAF with other platforms will become popular as well.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Asia-Pacific Web Application Firewall Market, finds that the market earned revenues of more than US$103.1 million in 2012 and estimates this to reach US$747.1 million in 2019 at a compound annual growth rate of 32.7 percent. China is expected to surpass South Korea and become the largest WAF market, even as the markets in Indonesia and Australia grow significantly. The proliferation of mobile devices and cloud computing technology in the workplace has heightened enterprise reliance on web applications to drive business processes.

“Hence, the need to secure web infrastructure, avoid website downtime issues and, thereby, reduce costs and ensure business continuity has encouraged the installation of WAF systems in companies in the Asia-Pacific,” said Frost & Sullivan Information and Communication Technologies Industry Manager Cathy Huang. “The vulnerability of web applications to sophisticated cyber attacks has further prompted organisations across verticals, including in government and financial institutions, to turn to WAF solutions for security.”

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Regulations have contributed to the development of the WAF market in Asia-Pacific. Moreover, local policies regarding the protection of personal information have made it necessary for firms to adopt WAF, particularly in Japan and South Korea.

However, these mandates have also given rise to the perception that WAF is merely an obligation for compliance and not a necessary tool to protect web applications against attacks. As a result, several companies prefer WAF technology as a minor feature rather than a dedicated application.

The impression among organisations that WAF solutions are technically inadequate to protect from cyber attacks, along with the complexity involved in the management of WAF, has slowed down uptake too. Insufficient budgets hinder sales in less mature markets such as India. Therefore, educating businesses on the role of WAF in mitigating attacks is crucial for market expansion.

“The ability of vendors to provide cost-effective WAF solutions as well as WAF-as-a-service will be a critical differentiator for success in the Asia-Pacific market,” remarked Huang. “Managed WAF services will become prominent in the coming years, offering added opportunities for security vendors and service providers in the region.”