Distributed Denial-of-service attacks, commonly known as DDoS attacks, continue to be one of the most prevalent cyber concerns today. In the rst half of 2020 occurrences of DDoS attacks grew by a staggering 151.
The frequency of these incidents has only continued to grow into 2022. As the number of cyberattacks continues to grow, so do the options for DDoS protection and mitigation services.
While there is no one-size-ts-all solution, there are a few key factors to consider when choosing a DDoS protection service. Below are some signicant things to bear in mind when choosing a services provider.
But first, what exactly is DDoS
What is Distributed Denial-of-Service or DDoS?
DDoS is a particular form of cyber attack that’s grown in popularity in the past few years.
The best way to explain what exactly DDoS is is to dissect the name itself. Firstly, that means looking at the term “Distributed”.
The key difference with these attacks is the fact that they are perpetrated from several locations at once. A hacker infiltrates a server using several entry points, to overload a system.
This then causes the system to deny the service it was built for, which is where the second half of the term comes in.
This approach is known as flooding, whereby a hacker floods a server from multiple entries at a single time. By overloading a system and denying users access, DDoS attacks can take down entire systems in one fell swoop.
Why are DDoS Attacks a Significant Issue for Businesses?
DDoS attacks are a significant concern due to their ability to crash systems or prevent user access to databases.
This process means that businesses that would otherwise rely on these systems are left unable to function. In the worst-case scenarios, this can destroy a company’s business model.
They’re also a significant concern for companies holding personal data or providing healthcare services. By preventing access, these DDoS attacks can end up costing people their lives.
They can also pose a serious economic risk, particularly when targeting fintech companies. Banking systems can be shut down, leaving people unable to transfer or access funds.
All of these issues add up to make DDoS a significant threat to many different businesses in 2022. But how do both DDoS mitigation and DDoS prevention work to rectify this issue?
What is DDoS Mitigation?
There are two key approaches to DDoS. These are known respectively as DDoS protection and mitigation. The second of these is to mitigate the risks posed by DDoS on your particular business.
There are 4 key stages involved in mitigating a DDoS attack, which is as follows:
1. Detection
To defend against DDoS, you need to be able to detect an attack happening. The first stage is therefore to focus on tools that can detect potential DDoS assaults before they happen.
Some approaches to detection include IP reputation and acknowledging common DDoS attack patterns.
Detecting DDoS attacks is however much harder than many other malware attacks. This is thanks to the fact that attacks are distributed, and occur from several points of origin.
This can therefore be the most crucial part of DDoS mitigation, even though it’s only the first stage in the process.
2. Response
After detecting threats, you need to create a response strategy. This is what’s known as the Detect and Respond cybersecurity method.
At this stage, your company would need to work with providers to create a sophisticated response procedure.
You then need to train your employees to ensure they can implement this strategy should anything go wrong.
3. Routing
Another stage of the mitigation process is to route your traffic. This process can be combined as part of your response strategy.
By routing your traffic, you can split it into several distinct chunks. This can then be assessed regularly and can help to mitigate the ability of a criminal to instigate a DDoS attack.
Routing must always be implemented for your company website and must also be regularly assessed to ensure your website is secure.
4. Adaptation
Finally, to properly mitigate DDoS attacks you must always adapt to current trends. Unfortunately, cybercriminals’ behavior is always evolving.
As a result, you need to work with an experienced cybersecurity provider regularly.
This is the only way to reliably continue to update your systems and remain protected from DDoS attacks in the future.
What is DDoS Protection?
Where mitigation is focused on attacks themselves, DDoS protection is a method of protecting your internal systems from these threats.
There is some crossover between these two strategies, which is why fully preventing DDoS involves combining both mitigation and protection.
Some reliable DDoS protection strategies can include the following:
1. Implementing Anti-DDoS Hardware and/or Software
Several DDoS mitigation tools are now available that can specifically protect your business from DDoS attacks. These are often known as anti-DDoS software solutions.
A reliable prevention method is to install and maintain these solutions when managing your business. This can form part of a wider cybersecurity system for companies of an SME size and above.
2. Learn Your Traffic Patterns
As with routing your traffic, you should also be looking to assess your traffic patterns. This can help teach your software to spot any anomalies.
These anomalies will often be potential cybercriminals who are looking to gain access to your system
3. Design a DDoS Response Plan
This response plan is similar to the mitigation strategy of response.
A DDoS response plan should include escalation procedures, depending on the stage of attack you’re experiencing. It should also include a contact list for those who need to know what’s happening.
This list should usually include internal and external companies and individuals.
You should also have a trained response team, either on staff or outsourced. Finally, you need to develop a communication plan to inform investors, shareholders and, if necessary, your clients.
4. Outsource Your DDoS Protection
Ultimately, not all companies are outfitted with the staff or expertise to tackle DDoS alone. Often, the best protection and mitigation strategy involves working with experts.
By outsourcing to an external company, you’ll gain peace of mind that your security is in safe hands.
How a Malicious Activity Assessment Can Help Prevent DDoS Attacks
One of the most reliable ways to mitigate future attacks is to test out your system. This can show any gaps you have in your security at present.
It can also provide you with data that you can use to upgrade your security in the future.
One such comprehensive assessment that can help with DDoS attack mitigation is a Malicious Activity Assessment. This is a thorough 45-day process involving data collecting and other key cybersecurity strategies.
By the end of this assessment, you should know exactly where the concerns in your current security system are. Crucially, this approach can also help you to identify potential threat actors.
This can then help you to see just how at-risk you are of DDoS attacks in particular at present.
By testing your system regularly, you can make sure that you’re always up-to-date and prepared should an incident occur.
How a Malicious Activity Assessment Can Help Prevent DDoS Attacks
One of the most reliable ways to mitigate future attacks is to test out your system. This can show any gaps you have in your security at present.
It can also provide you with data that you can use to upgrade your security in the future.
One such comprehensive assessment that can help with DDoS attack mitigation is a Malicious Activity Assessment. This is a thorough 45-day process involving data collecting and other key cybersecurity strategies.
By the end of this assessment, you should know exactly where the concerns in your current security system are. Crucially, this approach can also help you to identify potential threat actors.
This can then help you to see just how at-risk you are of DDoS attacks in particular at present.
By testing your system regularly, you can make sure that you’re always up-to-date and prepared should an incident occur.
What Should I Do if I Have Experienced a DDoS Attack?
No matter how much time you spend on your security, sometimes things can and do go wrong.
It’s important to know what exactly you should do if you’ve experienced a DDoS attack.
The first thing to do is follow your procedures if you’ve set them out ahead of time. If you haven’t, then you need to get in touch with an expert team immediately.
They will be able to help you with a strategy known as Disaster Recovery.
Disaster Recovery is a procedure that can help reliably recover any data you’ve lost during a significant attack. It can also help to mitigate the damage caused by any DDoS attacks your company has experienced recently.
You should only work with a Disaster Recovery provider who promises you regular testing, ideally on an annual basis. As above, these tests are crucial to making sure your system stays protected in the future.
Disaster Recovery providers should also be able to help you back up your data, regardless of how much data you use regularly. This process can help prevent the impact of DDoS or similar attacks on your business in the future.
You’ll be able to access your backup data and continue operating your company as normal. Without any backup data, and with no access to your systems due to a DDoS attack, you risk your business fully shutting down until the problem is resolved.
Finally, it’s important to work on both your Disaster Recovery and your regular testing to achieve a business that’s cyber-secure in 2022.
Where Can I Find Out More About DDoS Protection Features?
Protecting business websites today is challenging work, but you should now know how to prevent DDoS attacks specifically.
If you do need expert advice or are looking to work with someone on your DDoS mitigation and protection, make sure to contact our talented team of cyber professionals directly.
Or, you can learn more about our cyber security support services on our dedicated page here.