Fastly named Leader in IDC MarketScape WAAP assessment

The IDC MarketScape assessment highlights Fastly's approach to web application and API protection (WAAP) at a time when companies face increasing bot traffic and complex application architectures. Fastly reported that bot traffic exceeded 50% in many industries on its network in January 2026, linking this rise to the growing use of AI tools and automated agents.

Fastly's security portfolio, including Next-Gen WAF, Bot Management, and AI Firewall, operates inline on its global network as part of its broader edge cloud platform. The company has also developed features like patent-pending deception technology designed to respond to account takeover attempts by returning false information to attackers, and cross-customer threat intelligence to support pre-emptive policy decisions.

The report also cited Fastly's customer retention, with a 98.7% annual revenue retention rate for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and a 117% last 12 months net retention rate as of June 30, 2026. These metrics offer one indication of customer stickiness in a competitive market. Fastly argues that consolidating defenses on the same network layer can reduce operational complexity for customers by avoiding fragmented security tools, which often involve separate products for web application firewalls, bot mitigation, and DDoS defense.