Cybersecurity
Reasons Why Every Business is a Target of DDoS Attacks
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are making headlines with alarming regularity. 2021 saw a 434% surge in DDoS attacks, more than five times the volume recorded in 2020.
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are making headlines with alarming regularity. 2021 saw a 434% surge in DDoS attacks, more than five times the volume recorded in 2020. Advanced "smart" attacks, which are typically targeted and sustained, rose 31% in Q3 2021 alone. Seventy-three percent of DDoS attacks during that period were multi-vector attacks, combining multiple techniques simultaneously against a single target. The largest share of targets (40.8%) were in the United States, with banks and financial institutions bearing the heaviest load.
But this does not mean that businesses outside of banking are safe. Every business is a potential target. Here is why.
Common DDoS Targets.
While any organization can be targeted, some industries attract more attention than others. Beyond banking and financial services, commonly targeted sectors include educational institutions, wired and wireless telecommunications carriers, online gaming and gambling platforms, healthcare organizations, government agencies, ISPs and hosting providers, remote learning companies, and technology firms. Small and mid-sized businesses are targeted just as frequently as large corporations. The mistaken belief that small businesses are too small to bother with leads many to take a relaxed approach to DDoS mitigation, which is exactly what attackers count on.
Four Reasons Every Business Is a Potential Target.
A Lax Approach to Prevention. Many businesses still rely on legacy firewalls and outdated signature-based traffic monitoring to protect against DDoS threats. These tools were not designed for today's sophisticated, multi-vector attacks. Even a short attack of a few minutes can cause significant financial and reputational damage. Small businesses in particular often underestimate their exposure, making them easier targets.
A Growing Attack Surface. The pandemic accelerated digitization across every type of organization. The proliferation of remote work and BYOD devices connecting from shared or unsecured networks has dramatically expanded the attack surface. When organizations rely on generic or default protections provided by their hosting or cloud service provider without additional safeguards, they leave significant gaps that attackers can exploit.
DDoS Attacks Are Easy and Inexpensive to Launch. A large percentage of DDoS attacks in recent years lasted fewer than four hours, but their intensity and severity have increased significantly. Technological advances, the easy availability of malware tools and botnets, and the rise of DDoS-as-a-service platforms mean that a sophisticated attack can be launched with minimal effort and cost. The financial return for attackers remains high, making these attacks an attractive option.
Competitors and Disgruntled Employees. Website downtime erodes search engine rankings and damages brand reputation. Competitors and even former employees have been known to use DDoS attacks as a tactic to weaken a business's online presence. A site that is unavailable to legitimate visitors loses both customers and search visibility, and the reputational harm can persist long after the attack ends.
Why DDoS Protection Matters.
An effective DDoS protection strategy keeps your website and digital assets available to legitimate visitors even during an attack. It prevents the search engine ranking damage that comes from extended downtime. It also provides a defense against attackers who use DDoS as a smokescreen to simultaneously deploy malware, create backdoors, or conduct account takeovers. Without dedicated protection, your organization is essentially relying on luck.
The right approach is a proactive one. Managed, intelligent DDoS protection services can monitor incoming traffic continuously, identify threats in real time, and absorb attack traffic before it reaches your infrastructure.
Ready to Build a Stronger Defense?
Cyber One Solutions can help you assess your current exposure and put the right protection in place. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.