What is structured data (XML, SOAP, AMF, JSON)?

Structured data is data that is in a specific format and conforms to a predetermined schema. Unlike unstructured data, which has no set structure, structured data is organized and can be more easily processed by machines. This data is often used in communication between different systems, such as web browsers and web servers, mobile apps and servers, or between different servers.

A commonly used format for structured data is XML (Extensible Markup Language), which uses a hierarchical structure to organize and label data. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is an example of a communication protocol based on XML and used for exchanging structured data between different applications, especially in web services.

Another widely used format is JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), which provides a compact and easy-to-read syntax for exchanging structured data. JSON is often used in web-based applications and APIs because it is natively supported by JavaScript and can be easily processed by other programming languages.

Structured data plays an important role in security, especially in Web Application Firewall (WAF), as it allows traffic to be inspected for suspicious content and ensures that data follows the expected structure. This is critical to detect and neutralize attacks on web services. Validating structured data can help identify potential security vulnerabilities and prevent malicious data from entering a system.

Airlock Secure Access Hub provides structured data monitoring and validation capabilities to ensure the security of web services and applications. Find out more about the functionality of the Airlock Web Application Firewall at the following link: Airlock Secure Access Hub - Filtering.