Web Application and API Security (WAAS) bot protection within the Prisma Cloud ecosystem includes various types of bots, with "User-defined bots" and "Unknown bots" being two key categories. User-defined bots refer to bots that organizations have explicitly identified and categorized based on their behavior and purpose. These can include legitimate bots such as search engine crawlers or internal automation tools, which are recognized and allowed based on predefined criteria set by the user.

Unknown bots, on the other hand, encompass bots that have not been explicitly identified or categorized by the user or the system. These can potentially include malicious bots that attempt to scrape data, perform DDoS attacks, or exploit vulnerabilities in web applications and APIs. The categorization of unknown bots is crucial for maintaining security, as it allows for the monitoring and analysis of bot behavior to identify potential threats and take appropriate actions.

In the context of Prisma Cloud and its emphasis on securing cloud-native applications, the differentiation between user-defined and unknown bots is significant. Prisma Cloud's approach to WAAS bot protection is designed to provide granular control over bot traffic, enabling organizations to distinguish between beneficial and harmful bot activities. This aligns with the broader goal of ensuring the security and integrity of web applications and APIs in a cloud environment, as highlighted in documents such as the "Prisma-Cloud-Visibility-and-Control-Qualification-Guide" and "Guide-to-CSPM-Tools-Email-Social -LP-Copy." These resources emphasize the importance of comprehensive security measures that include the management of bot traffic to protect against a wide range of web-based threats.

References:

"Prisma-Cloud-Visibility-and-Control-Qualification-Guide" discusses the importance of visibility and control in cloud environments, including the management of bot traffic as part of a comprehensive security strategy.

"Guide-to-CSPM-Tools-Email-Social -LP-Copy" highlights the need for advanced security tools and practices, such as WAAS bot protection, to manage and mitigate the risks associated with web applications and APIs in the cloud.