The 5 W’s of DDoS Attacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are intended to prevent a server or network resource from performing actions it is charged with, rendering websites, servers, or networks inaccessible to employees or customers. Without access, business can come to a complete halt. Recovering from a DDoS attack can take years and can be very expensive. The estimated cost of any such attack is $40,000 per hour—making the approximate cost of each intrusion almost $500,000. Don’t leave your business open to this risk.
Now is the time to protect your business from external threats. As you begin formulating an appropriate response plan, it is important to understand the 5 W’s of DDoS attacks: What, Where, When, Who and Why.
What is a DDoS Attack?
DDoS attacks are designed to bombard websites, networks, or servers. With a flood of activity, legitimate users are denied access. What happens when your employees can’t access your network? Or when your customers can’t get through to your website? Without the instant access both employees and customers have come to expect, your business can’t operate like it should.
Oftentimes, DDoS attacks cause entire systems to crash, resulting in downtime, halted operations and unexpected costs that add up fast. The potential of DDoS attacks cannot be ignored. If they are, you could be stuck shouldering a bill that wasn’t in your budget.
Common DDoS attacks are categorized into three types:
- Network Attacks – overwhelm your online system and stop traffic
- Protocol Attacks – consume your server resources and communication
- Application Attacks – crash your applications and take your site offline
Where do DDoS Attacks Occur?
DDoS attacks occur online and they target small, medium and large size companies around the world. That means any company can be a target. Any company can be a victim. If you have data, you may be at risk.
When do DDoS Attacks Happen?
DDoS attacks are increasing at a rapid pace. In August 2014, Imperva surveyed 250 businesses having at least 250 employees to better understand the facts related to DDoS attack frequency and costs. Half of the respondents had experienced one or more DDoS attacks in the previous year.
DDoS attacks can happen at any time, so it is essential to have a response plan in place.
Who Launches DDoS Attacks?
Short answer: someone with an agenda. Whether it is a “hacktivist” looking to make a statement, an extortionist seeking financial gains, or vandals who just want to wreak havoc on a company’s website, DDoS attacks become more common with each passing year.
Why do People Launch DDoS Attacks?
Data is power and money talks. Attackers are likely to hold your data, systems, or networks ransom for money. It’s not unheard of for competitors to launch DDoS attacks during critical sales periods (Cyber Monday, for example) in the hopes of driving traffic to their own website. If there’s something to be gained, DDoS attackers will stop at nothing to obtain it.
Protect Your Business
Take steps today to protect your business from DDoS attacks. Download the DDoS Response Playbook and fight back.
Fight Back! How to Prevent DDoS Attacks Webinar
A recording of the How to Prevent DDoS Attacks Webinar, hosted on Wednesday, January 17, is now available. Click here to watch the webinar.
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