SKUDONET vs. Cloudflare: Which is the Most Secure WAF?

The security of web applications and APIs is critical in a digital landscape where threats are constantly evolving. To evaluate this, we conducted a comparison test between two leading solutions in the market: SKUDONET Enterprise Edition and Cloudflare Business.

The goal of this test was to measure the attack detection and blocking capabilities of the Web Application Firewall (WAF) in both products. To ensure an unbiased and reliable analysis, we used the independent GoTestWAF tool, known for its accuracy in assessing WAF rules. Below are the results.

Testing Methodology

GoTestWAF is a tool that simulates multiple types of attacks to evaluate the effectiveness of a WAF. For this comparison, we conducted the test in a controlled environment, following these key guidelines to ensure a fair and objective analysis between SKUDONET Enterprise Edition and Cloudflare Business:

• Evaluation Tool: We used the GoTestWAF tool, which is specialized in simulating web and API attacks. This tool assesses the firewall’s effectiveness by blocking both real and simulated threats, providing a final score based on performance.
• Backend Environment: A simple “Hello World!” web server was set up to ensure that the focus remained on the WAF’s ability to handle threats without external interference.
• Protection Evaluated:
  • Web application protection
  • API endpoint protection (REST, GraphQL, SOAP)
• WAF Configurations:
  • SKUDONET Enterprise Edition: Fully enabled WAF module
  • Cloudflare Business: Evaluated with the default security settings of their Business plan
• Simulated Attack Types:
  • SQL Injection (SQLi): Manipulating queries to extract sensitive data
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Injecting malicious scripts into legitimate pages
  • Remote File Inclusion (RFI): Inserting external malicious files into the application
  • Remote Code Execution (RCE): Executing malicious commands on servers
  • Local File Inclusion (LFI): Gaining access to restricted local files
  • Session Fixation: Hijacking user sessions
  • Data Leakages: Exposing sensitive data (SQL, PHP, Java)
• Protocols and Test Scenarios: Both endpoints were configured with their respective WAF modules to observe behavior under identical conditions, specifically measuring:
  • Blocking of attacks targeting applications
  • Protection against volumetric and specific threats

With these settings in place, GoTestWAF assigned a score to each solution based on their ability to detect and mitigate attacks, offering a clear and reliable comparison of their capabilities.

Test Results: Detailed Analysis

The results were automatically generated by GoTestWAF, with no manual intervention, reinforcing the credibility of the analysis. Below are the key data points extracted from the test, comparing SKUDONET Enterprise Edition and Cloudflare Business.

Overall Score

The overall score reflects the ability of the WAF to detect and block threats in various scenarios:

• SKUDONET: A (94.9/100)
• Cloudflare: F (56.1/100)

These results reveal a significant difference in the two solutions’ ability to detect and mitigate threats. SKUDONET consistently outperformed Cloudflare in protecting against both common and advanced threats.

Attack Type Analysis

The tool evaluated the performance of both WAFs against various attack types. Here are the standout results:

• • SQL Injection (SQLi):
    • SKUDONET: Blocked 76.39% of attempts (55 out of 72), with 0% unresolved.
    • Cloudflare: Blocked 58.33% of attempts (28 out of 74), with 32.4% unresolved (24 out of 74), leaving a significant vulnerability.
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):
    • SKUDONET: Blocked 95% of attempts.
    • Cloudflare: Blocked 76.47% of attempts (104 out of 136), with 23.53% bypassed (32 out of 136) and 0% unresolved.
  • Path Traversal:
    • SKUDONET: Blocked 79.09% of attempts (87 out of 110), with 0% unresolved.
    • Cloudflare: Blocked 51.72% of attempts (30 out of 110), with 47.27% unresolved (52 out of 110).
  • Command Injection:
    • SKUDONET: Blocked 89.58% of attempts (43 out of 48), with 0% unresolved.
    • Cloudflare: Blocked 60% of attempts (12 out of 48), with 58.33% unresolved (28 out of 48).
  • Remote Code Execution (RCE):
    • SKUDONET: Blocked 88.89% of attempts (16 out of 18), with 0% unresolved.
    • Cloudflare: Blocked 75% of attempts (9 out of 18), with 33.33% unresolved (6 out of 18).

Pricing Comparison: SKUDONET vs. Cloudflare

In addition to comparing functionality, we also analyzed the pricing of each solution, contrasting the lifetime license model of SKUDONET Enterprise Edition (with a 8×5 support plan) against Cloudflare’s Business plan (with basic support).

With SKUDONET, customers make an initial investment that includes the definitive purchase of the product, ensuring ownership of the software indefinitely, even if they choose not to renew support in the future. This contrasts with Cloudflare’s subscription model, where users pay continuously to retain access to features but lose the service if payments are stopped.

Year Pricing Comparison

In three years, SKUDONET customers save more than 45% compared to Cloudflare, while retaining full ownership of the product and the option to continue paying only for technical support.

Conclusion

The results of this test validate SKUDONET Enterprise Edition’s comprehensive approach to web security. With 95% of attacks blocked and a score of 94.9/100, SKUDONET significantly outperforms Cloudflare’s Business plan.

Additionally, SKUDONET’s lifetime license model eliminates the uncertainty associated with pay-as-you-go models like Cloudflare’s, where service is lost if payments stop. SKUDONET provides peace of mind with a fully inclusive product from the start, with no need to purchase additional modules for optimal security.

Security shouldn’t be a luxury or a risk. With SKUDONET, you get an effective WAF, clear pricing, and the reassurance of having full control over your solution. Want to see for yourself? Activate your free 30-day trial now and discover how we can protect your applications and APIs.

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