Anonymizing IP addresses
Last updated 2024-08-28
IP Anonymization is a site (also known as workspace) customization that changes the way Next-Gen WAF stores and uses remote client IP addresses. By default IP addresses are not anonymized. When a customer chooses to enable IP Anonymization, agents for a specific site (workspace) will anonymize an IP address before sending it to the cloud. Next-Gen WAF will convert IP addresses into anonymized IPv6 addresses by performing a one-way hash. As a result, Fastly databases will not have knowledge of the actual IP address and it will appear anonymized throughout the control panel.
Actual IP addresses are converted to anonymous IPv6 addresses using rfc7343.
The IP address is anonymized in all headers and data fields with the anonymized IPv6 address. In addition, the actual IP address is truncated by setting the last octet of an IPv4 IP address and the last 80 bits of an IPv6 address to zeros and stored as metadata on the record.
Limitations and considerations
The following features will not work when IP Anonymization is enabled:
- DNS lookups
- CIDR support in the search control panel
- Network Data Insights (partial functionality)
Enabling IP anonymization
To enable IP anonymization, complete the following steps:
- Next-Gen WAF control panel
- Fastly control panel
- Log in to the Next-Gen WAF control panel.
- From the Sites menu, select a site if you have more than one site.
- From the Manage menu, select Site Settings.
- Click Agent Configurations.
- Under IP Anonymization, select Enabled. A warning appears stating some functionality will not work with IP Anonymization enabled.
- Click I understand and then click Update.
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