Compare
Where DBshieldX fits, and where it doesn't.
There are good web application firewalls of every kind. This page explains the main approaches, where DBshieldX differs, and when another kind may suit you better. Detailed comparisons will follow.
The main approaches
| Approach | How it runs | How DBshieldX differs |
|---|---|---|
| Edge or CDN WAF | Your traffic goes through the provider's global network, which filters it before it reaches you. | DBshieldX runs on your own servers, behind your nginx, and keeps request data there. It doesn't absorb volumetric DDoS, so it works alongside a CDN rather than replacing one. |
| Cloud proxy for CMS sites | You point your DNS at the provider, which filters traffic for sites such as WordPress. | DBshieldX isn't tied to one CMS and doesn't need a DNS change: it sits behind the nginx you already run. |
| Self-hosted reverse-proxy WAF | The WAF becomes your reverse proxy and handles TLS and routing. | DBshieldX sits behind your existing nginx instead of replacing it, and adds a SQL query check at the database layer. |
| Cloud-provider WAF | A managed rule service attached to that provider's load balancers. | DBshieldX runs anywhere you run Linux and nginx, including more than one provider, with bans shared across your servers. |
What we think sets DBshieldX apart
- Proof before blocking. Every route starts in monitor mode and moves to blocking one at a time, with a review queue and rollback in under 7 seconds.
- The database layer. A check on the SQL your app sends, not only on the requests it receives.
- A measured latency figure. 3.2 ms added at p95 on live traffic, October 2026, rather than "near zero".
- Data on your servers. Payload detail is opt-in and masked, with 30-day retention by default.
When something else may suit you better
- You need protection from large volumetric DDoS attacks: use a CDN or DDoS service (and DBshieldX behind it if you like).
- You don't run your own servers or nginx: a managed edge or cloud WAF will be simpler.
- You need a vendor with analyst reports and a long list of enterprise customers: we're a young UK company and say so.
Coming next
We're writing side-by-side comparisons with named products. Each one will be dated, will link to the other vendor's own pages, and will be corrected if we get something wrong. If you'd like one in particular, tell us.
See it on your own traffic.
We'll set up DBshieldX in monitor mode on one of your sites and walk you through what it finds after a week. Nothing is blocked until you say so.