DDoS attacks have surged with a drastic 46% increase in the first half of 2024.
A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack is a type of cyber attack where multiple computers overwhelm a network or server with excessive traffic, rendering it inaccessible. This is done by coordinating multiple systems to send numerous requests simultaneously, overwhelming the targets resources. If your business is targeted, it can cause severe consequences such as disruption to operations due to system unavailability, damage to reputation and ultimately lead to financial losses. The recovery process can also be lengthy and resource-intensive.
The Lifecycle of a DDoS Attack
A DDoS attack is a lengthy process for a cybercriminal to undertake. They can also run different types of DDoS attacks aimed at targeting specific areas. These include:
- Volume-based attacks, which overwhelm targets with excessive traffic.
- Protocol attacks, which exploit vulnerabilities in protocols to disrupt services.
- Application layer attacks, which target specific applications running on the target system.
Below is a simplified version of how a DDoS attack works.
- Gather a Botnet. A botnet is a network of compromised computers or devices that are controlled remotely by an attacker. These devices, known as bots, are often infected with malware and can be used for malicious activities such as launching DDoS attacks.
This malware to form the botnet could have been spread in a variety of ways, including social engineering attacks, exploiting software vulnerabilities or embedded malicious files. - Monitoring and Continued Botnet Growth. Once the devices are infected, the bots communicate with a central server, known as a command and control centre, awaiting further instructions. The attacker will continue to grow their network until it is large enough to perform their desired actions.
- Attack Launch. When a DDoS attack is launched, the attacker instructs the botnet where to attack. The bots will then simultaneously flood the target with a massive amount of traffic, overwhelming its resources and causing it to crash or become unresponsive.
An analogy to describe this is to imagine a popular restaurant. An attacker wishing to sabotage the restaurant could book and fill every seat with customers who do not order any food. This stops the restaurant from making any money, as the service is not being used for its intended purpose and stops any potential genuine customers from dining as the restaurant is full. A DDoS attack works in the same way against IT infrastructure.
How Could this Affect my Business?
In the current business world, both internal and external IT infrastructure can be critical. Internal infrastructure refers to your internal systems, such as email, file storage etc. External infrastructure refers to public-facing infrastructure, such as your website, online store, social media pages, etc.
Availability of this infrastructure is critical to many business operations, and if unavailable, it can have detrimental impacts on a business. This can range from financial loss to operational disturbances, customer frustration and reputational damage.
The Importance of Robust and Multi-Layered Protection
To effectively defend against DDoS and other cyber threats, businesses must adopt a multi-layered protection strategy, with many single security measures being insufficient to withstand a modern attack.
A multi-layered approach involves combining a selection of technical defences, security-focused infrastructure configurations and user education. Some key components for creating a robust defence strategy include:
- Encryption of Sensitive Data: Keeping data both in transit and at rest ensures that it is more difficult to interpret by malicious actors.
- Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware: Install and regularly update antivirus and antimalware on all devices.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of security for all key accounts.
- Patch Management: Keep operating systems, applications and software components up to date with the latest patches and security updates.
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS): Deploy IDPS to detect and respond to potential cyber threats.
- Firewall Configuration: Install and configure a firewall to control network traffic and prevent unauthorised traffic.
- System Hardening: Disable unnecessary services and features to reduce vulnerabilities.
- Implement Access controls. Lock down data access so users can only access the minimum amount of data to complete their job role.
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): Use VPNs to securely remote users to the corporate network.
- User Education: Educate all employees about cyber security threats and how to prevent them.
To summarise, DDoS attacks remain a rising threat in the current security landscape. These attacks work by overwhelming systems with many requests simultaneously, designed to block access to the systems. Multi-levelled defences are, therefore, hugely beneficial in protecting your business.
At CTRL-S, we see multi-layered defence as critical for businesses and include it as standard in all our support packages. To learn more about the services we have on offer, please click here.
