What Is a DDoS Attack and Why Should Businesses Care?

A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack floods a target with so much traffic that legitimate users cannot get through. The target might be a website, an online store, a customer portal, a VPN gateway or an entire office internet connection.

How DDoS attacks work

Attackers control large networks of compromised devices — computers, routers, cameras and servers — called botnets. On command, these devices send traffic to the target simultaneously. Because the traffic comes from thousands of sources, simply blocking one address does not help.

Who gets targeted

It is not only large enterprises. E-commerce sites, gaming services, financial firms, educational portals, media outlets and businesses in competitive markets are all targets. Attacks can be motivated by extortion, competition, activism or simply testing botnet capabilities.

The impact

• Websites and portals become unreachable
• Office internet links saturate, stopping cloud apps and calls
• Customers lose trust
• Staff time is diverted to firefighting
• Sometimes attacks are used as a distraction for other intrusions

Attacks are cheap to launch

DDoS-for-hire services make attacks inexpensive and accessible, which is why even small businesses can be targeted.

Why on-site defences are not enough

If an attack is larger than your internet link, no firewall in your office can help — the link is full before traffic reaches it. Protection must happen upstream in the provider's network.

Signs of an attack

Sudden slowdowns, unreachable services and traffic spikes from many sources are common symptoms.

Preparation matters

Knowing who to call, having protection in place and understanding your critical services reduce impact.

The bottom line

DDoS attacks are a real business risk. UbiFi DDoS Business Protect detects and mitigates attacks in the network before they reach your connection.

Learn more about DDoS Business Protect from UbiFi, or talk to our team.