What is a DDoS attack?
A DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) is a computer attack aimed at overloading a system, server, or network with a massive amount of requests, often from several sources simultaneously. The aim is to exhaust the system’s resources, making it inaccessible to legitimate users.
The DDoS attacks can use a network of compromised devices (such as computers and IoT infected with malware), called botnets, which are controlled remotely to send thousands of requests to the target. Due to overabundant traffic, services can slow down or even freeze completely.
Types of DDoS attacks
Volumetric attacks: These saturate the network bandwidth, sending a very large number of data packets to the server.
Protocol-based attacks: Syield vulnerabilities in network protocols, such as SYN flood, to consume server resources.
Application attacks: They target specific applications or services (such as HTTP level), generating seemingly legitimate requests that overload the application.
Mitigation actions
Here are the main measures to mitigate a DDoS attack:
Firewall and traffic filters: Firewalls can be configured to block suspicious requests and filter incoming traffic. With filters you can limit access from IP or specific countries during the attack.
Limiting rate (Limitation of frequency): Setting request limits for individual IPs or users prevents a single source from sending too many requests in a short time.
Real-time detection and monitoring: The use of advanced monitoring tools allows to identify abnormal traffic peaks and respond quickly, adapting the defenses.
Cloud Scalability: Relying on cloud service providers allows you to increase resources temporarily, better addressing traffic peaks.
CDN and traffic distribution: Content distribution networks (CDNs) help to distribute traffic across different servers, reducing the risk of overloading a single point.
Dedicated mitigation tools: Many security providers offer specific anti-DDoS solutions, which analyze and block suspicious traffic before it reaches the server.
Conclusion
Protection from a DDoS attack requires a proactive and preventive approach. With monitoring tools, traffic filters and a solid infrastructure, risks can be effectively mitigated, protecting services from the effects of sudden overload.
