As technology innovates, so do cybercriminals. As a result, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are on the rise - and they are more relentless than ever.
Back in March, one of the largest DDoS attacks in history stormed the internet. Forbes deemed the breach “terrifying” and noted that the “next-gen DDoS attack was blasting a record-breaking 1.7 Tbps" at its target.
This week, a malicious DDoS attack hit the Bank of Spain. Although the bank stated that the disruption had "no effect" on its functionality, the potential consequences can be devastating.
What is a DDoS attack?
A traditional DDoS attack works by overwhelming a server with massive volumes of requests. The strike aims to limit or eliminate web traffic to a particular website, server, or online service.
DDoS attacks are similar to Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, but they are much more destructive. These type of attacks employ a botnet, 10-1000 machines infected with malware, to conduct a strike.
Crowding a server with useless traffic causes websites to slow down, or even shut down. In a more malicious scenario, attacks can conceal attempts to hijack and steal company data.
The rise of IoT
The widespread use of Internet of Things (IoT) applications is increasing, with 52% of consumers currently using IoT devices worldwide. However, this innovative technology also poses a great cyber threat to businesses around the world.
DDoS attacks rely on internet-enabled devices to form a botnet. With more internet-enabled objects in use than ever before, it is now much easier to overwhelm a server.
Why should we tackle DDoS attacks in real-time?
Any downtime has the potential to be fatal to a business. DDoS attacks can lead to a loss of profits, a harmed reputation, and diminished productivity.
Even a delay of seconds can be catastrophic. Addressing DDoS attacks in real-time is therefore integral to minimising their destruction.
In the current digital climate, investing in a SmartWall Threat Defence System (TDS) is crucial to a company's security. DDoS attacks do not discriminate; companies are at risk regardless of industry, sector, or size.
Interested in reducing the damage of a DDoS attack? Delve into our Top 10 DDoS solutions providers
