Brief: The internet is a vast playground—endless connections, opportunities, and potential. But just like in every playground, there are bullies. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are those bullies, trying to knock your business offline and disrupt your day. This blog helps you understand how DDoS attacks work, why they happen, and most importantly, how to build your defences to keep your business protected.
Quote: “They can’t bully you if you’re not standing in their way—but what if they’re blocking your entire path?” – Asking for a friend. — Kate Mitchell, Head of Marketing, F12 (and part-time obstacle navigator)
The Playground, the Bullies, and Your Business
Imagine your business as a kid on the playground. Everyone’s playing, trading ideas, and interacting in ways that make the playground better for all. But then, the bully arrives—pushing, shoving, blocking your path. You’re not able to play. You’re not able to move. That’s what a DDoS attack feels like.
In a DDoS attack, a bully (or in reality, hundreds or thousands of bots) floods your system with so much traffic that your business can’t function. Customers can’t access your site, your services grind to a halt, and your reputation is on the line. All while the attacker stands back and watches the chaos.
But here’s the thing—bullies thrive on fear and uncertainty. The best way to fight back isn’t to meet their aggression head-on. Instead, you make your business un-bullyable. You prepare in advance. You plan. And you stay a step ahead.
What is a DDoS Attack?
A DDoS attack is when multiple systems—often hijacked computers or IoT devices—are used to flood a target with overwhelming traffic, rendering it unable to function. Think of it like hundreds of fake customers walking into your store all at once, blocking real customers from even getting in.
These attacks are disruptive and costly. They don’t just take down websites; they take down trust, revenue, and in some cases, entire businesses.
Why Do DDoS Attacks Happen?
Sometimes it’s about money. Cybercriminals may demand a ransom to stop the attack. Other times it’s personal—rival businesses or individuals looking to tarnish your reputation. Or, it could be politically motivated, with hacktivists targeting companies as part of larger ideological battles.
No matter the reason, the outcome is the same: your business suffers.
The Consequences of Ignoring the Problem
Let’s be clear—ignoring the possibility of a DDoS attack is not an option. Many businesses, especially small and mid-sized ones, think “we’re too small to be targeted.” But these attackers don’t discriminate. They often go after smaller businesses precisely because they know defences are weaker.
Here’s what’s at stake:
- Lost Revenue: If customers can’t reach your website, they’ll go somewhere else.
- Damaged Reputation: Extended downtime makes your business look unprepared, and trust can erode quickly.
- Operational Chaos: When internal systems go down, productivity plummets.
- Costly Recovery: You’ll have to spend time and money fixing the damage—and that doesn’t come cheap.
How to Block the Bullies: Building Your Defences
The good news? Bullies can be blocked. And once you know how to build your defences, they’ll look elsewhere for easier targets.
Here are five key strategies to make your business un-bullyable:
- Monitor Traffic in Real Time Invest in monitoring solutions that provide real-time insight into your traffic. Early detection is crucial, as you’ll want to know when a surge in traffic is legitimate and when it’s the start of an attack.
- Rate Limiting One of the most effective ways to block a DDoS attack is to set rate limits. Think of this as putting a bouncer at the door of your website, allowing only a limited number of people in at once. This prevents attackers from flooding your system with fake traffic.
- Use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) CDNs distribute traffic across various servers, which helps absorb the shock of any potential DDoS attacks. By spreading out the load, attackers can’t hit one central server to take you down.
- Activate Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) WAFs are like security guards for your applications. They can filter out malicious traffic, blocking known patterns associated with DDoS attacks before they even reach your site.
- Work with a DDoS Mitigation Provider Sometimes you need to call in the experts. A DDoS mitigation provider has the tools and experience to combat even the most sophisticated attacks. They act as your backup plan when an attack exceeds your internal capacity to respond.
GitHub Fights Back
In 2018, GitHub experienced one of the largest DDoS attacks in history, with attackers sending 1.35 terabits per second of traffic. But instead of folding, GitHub’s DDoS defences kicked in within seconds, rerouting traffic and absorbing the attack’s force. The site was back online within minutes, showing the world that with the right strategy, even the biggest bullies can be blocked.
Don’t Wait for the Attack
Bullies thrive on chaos and fear. But if you’ve built your defences—if your business is prepared—they won’t have a chance. DDoS attacks can be devastating, but they don’t have to be. By planning ahead and investing in the right tools and strategies, your business can stay standing strong, no matter what bullies come your way.
At F12.net, we help businesses build robust defences against DDoS attacks. Ready to fortify your playground? Reach out today, and let’s make sure the bullies don’t stand a chance.
Is your business prepared to fend off DDoS bullies?
Connect with us to learn how F12 can help you build a defence strategy that keeps your business safe.
