Reverse Proxy vs WAF: What's the Real Difference?

Reverse proxies act as intermediaries managing traffic flow to web servers, optimizing performance through load balancing and caching. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) secure web applications by inspecting traffic and blocking malicious requests like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. Reverse proxies primarily focus on traffic management, while WAFs are dedicated to security. Both are often needed and can be combined in single solutions for streamlined deployment. SafeLine WAF is an open-source solution that natively supports reverse proxy functionality, consolidating traffic routing and security. It filters malicious requests and forwards clean traffic, eliminating the need for separate tools. SafeLine is customizable with rules and plugins, offering flexible traffic control and robust protection. Reverse proxies manage traffic, WAFs protect traffic, and SafeLine does both. Understanding these roles is essential for building a secure web stack. SafeLine offers centralized security and smart routing in one tool.