WHAT IS A DDOS ATTACK?
As distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks continue to make headlines, we see companies asking the same questions: What is a DDoS attack? Learn how DDoS attacks can affect your business and how Verisign can help prevent or mitigate an attack.
In a world that is constantly more interconnected and complex, it is difficult for companies to anticipate the next attack or malicious activity. While many companies assume that a rogue attacker will never target them, the need to protect any network from this kind of disruption has never been greater.
HOW DDOS ATTACKS OCCUR
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Your WebsiteWeb ServerTypical targets include Web servers. DNS servers, application servers, routers, firewalls and Internet Bandwidth. -
Normal TrafficWeb ServerWebsite UserUsers easily access your products and services. -
Intent to DisruptWeb ServerWebsite UserHackerA rogue attacker can target a web server with the intent to disrupt service. -
BotnetWeb ServerWebsite UserHackerBotnetThis attacker uses multiple hosts (such as compromised PCs that are part of a "botnet") to carry out and amplify the attack. -
DDOS AttackWeb ServerWebsite UserHackerBotnetAttackers usually create the denial-of-service condition by either consuming server bandwidth or by impairing the server itself. -
DDOS AttackWeb ServerWebsite UserHackerBotnetThe attack involves saturating the target machine with requests, such that it cannot respond to legitimate traffic, or responds so slowly that it is rendered effectively unavailable.
A Denial of Service (DoS) attack occurs when traffic is sent from one host to another computer with the intent of disrupting an online application or service. A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack occurs when multiple hosts (such as compromised PCs that are part of a “botnet”) are used to carry out and amplify an attack. Attackers usually create the denial-of-service condition by either consuming server bandwidth or impairing the server itself. Typical targets include Web servers, DNS servers, application servers, routers, firewalls and Internet bandwidth.
Even though DDoS attacks have been around for over a decade, the scale and frequency of these attacks are increasing faster than the capacity of most organisations to absorb them. As companies do more and more business online, DDoS attacks can result in severe financial losses and lost productivity.
GROWING NEED FOR DDOS PROTECTION
A recent Verisign survey of IT decision makers revealed some alarming results:
- 63 per cent of respondents had experienced at least one DDoS attack in the past year
- Of those attacked, 11 per cent had been hit six or more times
- 67 per cent said that downtime of any kind affected their customers
- 51 per cent reported lost revenue from any downtime
DDoS attacks are real and can have devastating effects on many businesses, particularly in terms of their brand reputation, customer relationships and bottom line. Given the extraordinary and rapid changes in DDoS attacks, traditional DDoS mitigation tactics such as bandwidth over-provisioning, firewalls and intrusion prevention system devices are no longer sufficient to protect an organisation’s networks, applications and services.
HOW VERISIGN CAN HELP
Verisign DDoS Protection Services uses a proprietary filtering technology to stop a DDoS attack in the cloud before it reaches a customer’s network. Using a diverse set of hardware solutions and mitigation techniques, Verisign offers a comprehensive solution to protect your network from DDoS threats.
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Learn how Verisign’s DDoS Protection Services can protect your business’s network from a DDoS attack.
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