What is a DDoS Attack and How to Prevent It?
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is when multiple systems flood a server with traffic, making it unavailable to real users. DDoS attacks can crash your website, affect revenue, and damage reputation. Here’s how to stay protected:
1. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
CDNs like Cloudflare or Akamai distribute your website traffic across global servers, absorbing sudden traffic spikes and filtering bad requests.
2. Set Up a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A WAF helps monitor and block suspicious traffic before it reaches your site. It filters malicious requests and prevents known attack patterns.
3. Monitor Website Traffic Regularly
Set alerts to monitor unusual traffic behavior. Spikes from unknown sources could be the early signs of a DDoS attack.
4. Rate Limit Requests
Configure your server or firewall to limit the number of requests per IP address. This can slow down or block bots during an attack.
5. Hide Your Real IP Address
If attackers know your server's IP address, they can target it directly. Use a reverse proxy to mask your server’s identity.
6. Disable Unused Services and Ports
Turn off unnecessary protocols like UDP or ICMP if you don’t need them. These are common attack vectors in DDoS campaigns.
7. Use DDoS Protection Services
Many hosting providers offer DDoS protection. Services like AWS Shield, Cloudflare, or Google Cloud Armor help mitigate large-scale attacks.
8. Plan an Incident Response Strategy
Have a response plan ready. Know who to contact, what logs to check, and how to reroute traffic if your site is under attack.
9. Choose a Secure Hosting Provider
Select web hosts that offer built-in DDoS protection, traffic analysis, and emergency support.
10. Educate Your Team
Your IT team should be aware of DDoS indicators, response steps, and how to act quickly to avoid major downtime.
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