Defending Against DDoS Attacks: 6 Essential Strategies for Business Leaders
In today’s digital landscape, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks have become a pervasive threat to businesses across all industries. These attacks are no longer a concern only for large financial institutions; they can affect any organization that relies on online services. As a chief information security officer (CISO), it’s essential to be prepared to defend against these attacks and mitigate their impact.
Tip 1: Prepare for Real-Time Protection Adjustments
DDoS attacks are characterized by their rapid development momentum and constant evolution. Attackers observe the response of the site and immediately organize new attacks after the site comes back online. This requires businesses to be agile and prepared to adjust their defenses in real-time. As Arbor USA Network Solution Architect Gary Sockrider emphasizes, “Business users must understand the characteristics of the opponent’s fast, flexible, and be prepared for.”
Tip 2: Don’t Rely Solely on Internal Defense Mechanisms
Traditional internal security systems, such as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and load balancing mechanisms, are no longer sufficient to prevent DDoS attacks. These devices have loopholes and vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. To achieve better defense effects, businesses must rely on upstream network operators or managed security service providers for their support.
Tip 3: Extinguish Attacks at the Application Layer
Point-to-application attacks are more subtle, smaller, and targeted. To relieve this type of attack, businesses must implement deep packet inspection and master all the circumstances of the application layer. As Sockrider advises, “This is the best way to relieve this type of attack.”
Tip 4: Foster Collaboration
The banking industry has taken a collaborative approach to security, sharing information and coordinating efforts in the event of an attack. This approach has improved the performance of the banking sector in terms of security cooperation. As IBM security strategy, corporate finance expert Lynn Price emphasizes, “They carried out with colleagues at other banks and telecommunications supplier exchanges, and cooperate directly with the service provider. Of course, they have no choice, because their own strength alone simply can not survive in the harsh world of security.”
Tip 5: Prepare Contingency Plans in Advance
Enterprises must strive to forecast application and network security threats faced by services possible, and develop safety contingency plans to mitigate the consequences of these attacks. As Ernst & Young in charge of information security consulting services Chip Tsantes suggests, “Companies should focus on the attack itself, and develop plans to deploy the response process. They can also attack internal summary information and provide it to the supplier, to form a common enemy attacks against coalition ahead.”
Tip 6: Beware of Minor Attacks
DDoS attacks may also serve as a ploy to cover more sinister attacks. Businesses must be vigilant and monitor their systems for potential security threats, even if they seem minor. As Price advises, “Banks got to understand that they not only need to monitor and protect against DDoS attacks, but also must always be careful to try to steal account information or other sensitive times to attack - though called ‘minor’, but this is the real purpose of criminals.”
Conclusion
DDoS attacks are a pervasive threat to businesses across all industries. To defend against these attacks, business leaders must be prepared to adjust their defenses in real-time, rely on upstream network operators or managed security service providers, extinguish attacks at the application layer, foster collaboration, prepare contingency plans in advance, and beware of minor attacks. By following these 6 essential strategies, businesses can mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks and ensure the continuity of their online services.