Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are among the most common and severe threats in the cyber environment. These attacks use a large number of compromised systems (botnets) to overwhelm the target server or network, resulting in the denial or significant slowing of provided services. Protection against these attacks, known as anti-flood or anti-DDoS, is essential for maintaining the availability and reliability of internet services.
Methods for Detecting DDoS Attacks
Passive Attack Detection
Passive detection methods focus on monitoring and analyzing traffic without intervening in its flow. They use various algorithms to identify unusual increases in traffic that may signal a DDoS attack. Often these are statistical methods or machine learning that identify deviations from normal network behavior.
Active Attack Detection
Active methods involve creating control mechanisms that respond to suspicious behavior in the network. These methods can include challenges for verification (such as CAPTCHA) or testing client authentication to confirm their legitimacy. Active detection can be more effective in recognizing more sophisticated attacks that attempt to mimic regular traffic.
Methods of Protection Against DDoS Attacks
Infrastructure Measures
Infrastructure measures include physical and network architecture designed to withstand DDoS attacks. This can involve redundant connections, distributed servers, and load balancers that distribute the load and reduce the risk of a single point of collapse. The use of firewalls and network filters that can limit malicious traffic is also common.
Software Solutions
At the software level, there are specialized systems and applications that analyze and filter traffic in real-time. These systems use complex rules to identify and block malicious traffic. Common tools include Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and specialized anti-DDoS services provided by Cloud providers.
Cloud and Hybrid Solutions
Recently, cloud services have been increasingly used for DDoS attack mitigation. These services offer a vast range of resources and advanced algorithms for detecting and mitigating DDoS attacks. Hybrid models combine local and cloud protective mechanisms to maximize protection and flexibility in response to attacks.
Effective anti-flood and anti-DDoS protection requires a comprehensive approach that includes technological, organizational, and procedural aspects. In today's interconnected world, this protection is necessary to ensure the continuity and security of internet services. The approach to protection should be dynamic and continuously evolving to face the ever-changing threats in cyberspace.
