AWS WAF and AWS Shield are services designed to protect your web applications from cyber threats. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- AWS WAF: Filters and monitors web traffic with customizable rules to block or allow requests. Pricing includes charges for Web ACLs, rules, and web requests.
- AWS Shield: Provides DDoS protection with two tiers:
- Shield Standard: Free, basic protection for all AWS users.
- Shield Advanced: $3,000/month, offering advanced protection, DDoS Response Team access, and WAF fee waivers.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | AWS WAF | Shield Standard | Shield Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Web traffic filtering | Basic DDoS protection | Advanced DDoS protection |
| Cost | Pay-as-you-go | Free | $3,000/month |
| DDoS Response Team | Not included | Not included | Included (24/7 access) |
| WAF Integration | Standalone costs | Not included | WAF fees waived |
| Data Transfer | Standard AWS rates | Standard AWS rates | 2TB included |
Key Takeaways
- AWS WAF is ideal for managing web traffic with flexible rules, starting at $5/month per Web ACL.
- Shield Standard is free and automatically enabled for basic DDoS protection.
- Shield Advanced, at $3,000/month, is suited for businesses needing higher security and cost protection during DDoS attacks.
Use the AWS Pricing Calculator to estimate costs based on your needs, and optimize your rules to save money.
AWS WAF and Shield Costs
AWS WAF and Shield pricing is based on usage and the level of protection you choose. Here’s a detailed look at the costs for each service.
WAF Pricing Details
AWS WAF uses a pay-as-you-go model with charges based on specific components:
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Web ACLs | $5/month per Web ACL |
| Rules | $1/month per rule |
| Web Requests | $0.60 per million requests |
| Bot Control | $10/month per Web ACL + $1/million requests |
| Fraud Control | $10/month per Web ACL + $1/million requests |
For managed rules, AWS charges $1/month per rule group, plus $0.60 per million requests. If you use AWS Marketplace Rules, pricing is determined by the third-party provider.
Shield Pricing Options
AWS Shield is available in two tiers:
| Feature | Shield Standard | Shield Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | Free | $3,000/month |
| Data Transfer | Standard AWS rates | Included up to 2TB |
| DDoS Response Team | Not available | Included |
| WAF Integration | Not included | WAF fees waived |
| Commitment | None | 12-month minimum |
Shield Advanced offers extra perks like DDoS cost protection and free integration with AWS WAF. The $3,000 monthly fee covers all protected resources within the account.
Cost Examples
Basic WAF Setup Costs
Here's an example of what AWS WAF might cost:
| Component | Quantity | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Web ACL | 1 | $5.00 |
| Custom Rules | 5 | $5.00 |
| Managed Rule Groups | 2 | $2.00 |
| Web Requests (50M) | 50M | $30.00 |
| Bot Control | 1 | $60.00 |
| Total | $102.00 |
This setup includes custom rules tailored to specific threats and managed rules targeting common vulnerabilities. The estimate is based on handling 50 million requests per month.
Combined Shield and WAF Costs
Adding Shield Advanced to the basic WAF setup increases costs but offers higher protection levels.
| Component | Standard Setup (Shield Standard) | With Shield Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Shield Fee | $0 | $3,000.00 |
| AWS WAF Costs | $102.00 | $102.00 |
| Data Transfer (2TB) | $180.00 | $180.00 |
| DDoS Response Team Access | Not available | Included |
| Estimated Monthly Total | $282.00 | $3,282.00 |
This configuration suits businesses with high-traffic applications that need advanced DDoS protection and 24/7 access to a DDoS Response Team. Both setups include AWS WAF usage fees and data transfer costs.
Multi-Account Setup Costs
For organizations managing multiple AWS accounts, centralized management can impact costs:
| Setup Component | Monthly Cost per Account |
|---|---|
| Firewall Manager | $100.00 |
| Web ACL (shared) | $5.00 |
| Rule Groups (shared) | $2.00 |
| Web Requests (25M) | $15.00 |
| Per Account Total | $122.00 |
For an enterprise managing 10 accounts, the total cost is approximately $1,220.00 per month, excluding any Shield Advanced fees. Centralized management simplifies administration and can reduce costs compared to managing accounts individually.
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Reducing Costs
Benefits of AWS Shield Advanced
AWS Shield Advanced includes a feature to help control expenses during DDoS attacks. It provides credits to offset usage spikes from services like Amazon CloudFront, Amazon Route 53, AWS WAF, and Global Accelerator. This ensures your security spending remains more predictable, even during high-traffic situations caused by attacks.
Optimizing Rules to Save Money
You can cut costs further by fine-tuning your security rules. Here are some strategies:
- Scope-down statements: Limit rule evaluations to specific conditions or paths, reducing unnecessary checks.
- Rate-based rules: Set appropriate thresholds to manage unexpected traffic spikes effectively.
- Rule consolidation: Combine similar rules to lower the total number without compromising protection.
For instance, instead of creating separate rules for paths like /api/users/*, /api/orders/*, and /api/products/*, you can define a single rule with path-based conditions. This approach reduces the number of rules and minimizes processing demands.
Tools for Tracking Costs
Keep an eye on your spending with cost tracking tools. Use AWS Cost and Usage Reports (CUR) along with Amazon Athena to analyze service usage data. By reviewing how often rules are triggered and examining traffic patterns to different endpoints, you can pinpoint costly configurations and make adjustments to improve efficiency.
Cost Planning
Planning for future expenses becomes much easier once you’ve got a handle on your current costs.
Using AWS Pricing Calculator
Here’s how to estimate costs using the AWS Pricing Calculator:
- Open the AWS Pricing Calculator and select AWS WAF & Shield.
- Input your monthly Web ACL requests (measured in millions).
- Specify the number of Web ACLs and rules you’ll need.
- Add Shield Advanced if required for additional protection.
- Configure multi-account setups using Firewall Manager, if applicable.
The calculator will break down costs for each component. For instance, processing 100 million requests per month with 5 Web ACLs and 20 rules will generate separate charges for each.
Estimating Costs for Growth
When planning for growth, keep these factors in mind:
- Traffic Patterns: Keep an eye on trends. WAF costs are tied to the number of requests processed.
- Rule Complexity: More security rules or intricate configurations can lead to higher expenses.
- Multi-Region Expansion: Expanding to new AWS regions may require additional Web ACLs and could increase data transfer costs.
Use these factors alongside the Pricing Calculator to better predict scaling expenses.
Summary
AWS WAF and Shield operate on a consumption-based pricing model, meaning costs depend on the resources you use. To manage these expenses effectively, consider the following strategies:
- Monitor traffic volumes: This helps you anticipate and plan for costs.
- Refine rule sets: Ensure your security rules are efficient and tailored to your needs.
- Leverage AWS Cost Explorer: Track and analyze your spending patterns.
These steps work alongside the detailed pricing models discussed earlier. For accurate cost planning, use the AWS Pricing Calculator to estimate both current and future expenses, including those for multi-region deployments.
When deploying WAF and Shield, align configurations with your specific requirements. Regularly review and update your rules to eliminate any that are no longer necessary.
