Which network device is used to protect API platforms?

Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) are specifically designed to protect web applications and APIs from various attacks, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and API abuse. They operate at Layer 7 (the application layer) of the OSI model, inspecting and filtering HTTP/HTTPS traffic to and from web services. Content switches primarily distribute traffic across multiple servers for load balancing. Next-generation intrusion detection systems (NG-IDS) detect and alert on suspicious activity but don't actively block application-layer attacks as effectively as WAFs. Layer 3 transit network devices (routers) forward packets based on IP addresses and are not equipped for application-layer security.