A DDoS attack, or Distributed Denial of Service attack, is a cyberattack designed to overload a website, server or online service until it becomes severely slowed down or completely unavailable.
To understand how it works, imagine a server as the entrance to a shop. It can only handle a certain number of customers at the same time. If thousands of people suddenly try to enter at once, genuine customers can no longer get inside. A DDoS attack applies the same principle to an IT service.
To generate this massive volume of traffic, cybercriminals usually use a large number of infected devices that they control remotely. This network of devices, known as a botnet, can include computers, servers and connected devices. They all send requests to the same target at the same time.
Unlike some cyberattacks, a DDoS attack does not necessarily aim to steal data or gain access to systems. Its primary objective is to disrupt the availability of a service.
For a business, however, the consequences can still be significant. An unavailable e-commerce website can lead to an immediate loss of revenue. The disruption of an application or online service can also affect employees, customers and the organisation’s reputation.
Reduce the risk of DDoS attacks with MCG
To reduce these risks, companies can implement solutions capable of detecting abnormal traffic volumes, filtering malicious requests and absorbing traffic spikes before they make services unavailable.
Protection against DDoS attacks therefore helps ensure one of the fundamental principles of cybersecurity: maintaining the availability of a company’s systems and services.