Understanding DDoS attacks, and how organisations can prevent these attacks

Understanding DDoS attacks, and how organisations can prevent these attacks

Organisations today are facing various attacks, including ransomware, hacktivism, and DDoS attacks, aimed at stealing data or disrupting services. DDoS attacks are a severe form of online service utilisation, which can be caused by malicious attacks or legitimate scenarios.

Cybercriminals leverage innovative technologies to launch DDoS attacks, with the cloud making it easier. India has seen a surge in DDoS attacks, which can cause disruptions for hours or even days, impacting revenue, customer trust, and reputation. Victim organisations may also face legal or regulatory repercussions, especially if customer data is compromised.

Cloud-based DDoS attacks can be categorised into three types: volumetric, protocol, and app layer. Experienced MSPs and cloud providers have advanced DDoS filtering and defences in place. To deal with DDoS attacks, customers need to identify attacks promptly, deploy mitigations, monitor their systems, and add granular configurations. A comprehensive response and disaster recovery plan is crucial.

How to prevent DDoS attacks

Preventing DDoS attacks is crucial for organisations, and there are several steps they can take to achieve this. The most important one is to understand their normal network traffic patterns to be able to detect an attack accurately. Organisations should also ensure that their network is resilient through redundancy. Having enough bandwidth is also important. Maintaining good cyber hygiene is essential, and this includes patching systems regularly and providing cyber education and training for employees. Threat intelligence is also critical in detecting traffic anomalies. It is recommended to use CAPTCHA to prevent bots from attacking the system.

A sound DDoS mitigation solution should be scalable and able to adapt to changing traffic patterns. A global solution is preferred to provide a wider view of the system. A strong cyber security foundation is also important, as all DDoS-specific mitigations are built on top of it. Granular filtering and routing through firewalls and WAFs is essential.

In today’s hyper-connected world, where digital technologies are increasingly being used, organisations should consider partnering with a cyber security expert. This is especially important if cyber security is not their primary business or they have a limited budget.

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