July 11, 2023 | By Greg Dougherty
The world of cyber security is constantly changing and evolving as hackers find new ways to wreak havoc on businesses and individuals alike. One such threat that has become increasingly common in recent years is the DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack, which saw an 81% increase in large-volume attacks in 2022 compared to the year before.
A DDoS attack can be devastating for a business or website if it is not properly protected against it, but many people still don’t understand what it is or how to protect themselves from it. Here we’ll discuss what a DDoS attack is, the tools used to launch them, and some of the myths surrounding them so you can better protect yourself and your business from this type of cyberattack.
What is a DDoS attack?
A DDoS attack is a type of cyberattack that attempts to make a website or network resource unavailable by flooding it with an overwhelming amount of traffic from multiple sources. It is one of the most common cyber security tools used by attackers today.
The primary goal for assailants conducting a DDoS attack is to disrupt the availability of a website or network resource, making it difficult or impossible for users to access its content. In some cases, attackers may also use DDoS attacks as a smokescreen for other malicious activities, such as data breaches or malware deployments.
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Common Myths of DDoS attacks
Despite the increase in conversation about DDoS attacks, there are still some common myths surrounding this type of cyberattack which prevent organizations from building the protection they need. If you’ve heard any of these common responses to DDoS attacks, it’s time to set the record straight.
#1. Only Larger Corporations are at Risk
It’s completely erroneous to suggest DDoS attacks only target high-profile websites like those owned by governments or large corporations. This misconception overlooks the fact that small and medium-sized businesses are just as vulnerable to these types of attacks as larger organizations, but oftentimes have even less protection in place, assuming cyber criminals wouldn’t bother.
Launching a DDoS attack doesn’t require a great deal of technical knowledge or resources. There’s no significant expense that the payout needs to cover, meaning they can target any business regardless of size. As such, all businesses must be aware of the risk and take action to protect themselves. Learning more about DDoS attacks and how to prevent them is essential for businesses of all sizes.
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#2. Protection Against DDoS Attacks are Futile
Another myth is that DDoS attacks are impossible to defend against. In reality, there are tools and techniques you can use to help protect your website or network from these types of attacks. The trouble is, too many organizations have relied on All-In-One security platforms and assumed that when a DDoS attack still occured that these types of attacks were inevitable. Not only is this incorrect, it’s a dangerous mindset that leaves companies vulnerable.
DDoS prevention tools such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), load balancers, and web application firewalls (WAF) can help protect cloud-based systems against DDoS attacks. With the right tools, cloud migration partners mitigate and prevent these types of cyberattacks to ensure data protection.
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#3. On-Premise Solutions Offer More Control
Although seeing and touching your own hardware does sometimes give the feeling of more control, it’s mostly providing a false sense of security. Because the DDoS style of attack focuses on saturating the internet link, even the latest in on-premise hardware can only buy you a few extra minutes.
With cloud-based DDoS protection solutions, organizations can take advantage of real-time data analytics and DDoS mitigation strategies that are not feasible with on-premise hardware. With cloud-based protection solutions and experienced expertise of a cloud migration partner, your system is protected by multi-vector DDoS detection and advanced traffic scrubbing to protect against even the most sophisticated attacks. This makes them more comprehensive than an on-premises solution, which may only offer basic DDoS protection, and leave you vulnerable to the level of attacks we’re seeing today.
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DDoS attacks remain a serious concern for organizations of all sizes. It is important to understand the methods attackers may use and the steps you can take to protect yourself and your organization from these cyber criminals. With the Opti9 team on your side, you can help minimize the risk of a DDoS attack affecting your website or network. To learn more about the risk of a DDoS or schedule your free consultation, click here.