AWS Shield Advanced vs. AWS WAF: Choosing the Right Defense for Your Cloud Security Strategy

Protecting web applications and infrastructure against a wide array of security threats becomes paramount. Two prominent AWS services—AWS Shield Advanced and AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF)—offer tools to safeguard resources. While both are critical in a comprehensive security strategy, they serve different purposes and excel under distinct threat scenarios. In this article, we’ll explore what each service offers, compare their functionalities, and outline when to use one over the other.