🎁 New User? Get 20% off your first purchase with code NEWUSER20 Register Now →
Menu

Categories

Security Beginner

What is DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)?

An attack that floods a target server or network with traffic from multiple sources to overwhelm it and deny service to legitimate users.

DDoS attacks use thousands of compromised devices (botnets) to generate massive traffic volumes. Types include volumetric attacks (flood bandwidth), protocol attacks (exploit protocol weaknesses), and application layer attacks (target specific services).

Mitigation includes CDN/DDoS protection services (Cloudflare, AWS Shield), rate limiting, geo-blocking, traffic analysis, and over-provisioning. DDoS attacks are common and can target any internet-facing service. Protection should be part of every production architecture.

Related Terms

Security Hardening
The process of reducing a system's attack surface by disabling unnecessary services, applying patches, and configuring security controls.
Zero Trust
A security model that requires strict identity verification for every user and device, regardless of their network location.
API Security
Practices and mechanisms for protecting APIs from unauthorized access, data breaches, and abuse.
Firewall Rules
Configuration entries that define which network traffic is allowed or blocked based on source, destination, port, and protocol.
Penetration Testing
An authorized simulated cyberattack on a system to evaluate its security defenses and identify vulnerabilities.
Security Headers
HTTP response headers that instruct browsers to enable security features like XSS protection, framing prevention, and content type enforcement.
 View All Security Terms →