DDoS protection and Performance Testing

DDoS protection, load testing, capacity testing, stress testing, spike testing, soak testing, and Chaos Engineering

System performance and availability breaches occur when a system fails to operate at an acceptable level of functionality and efficiency or becomes unavailable or inaccessible to its intended users due to unintentional or intentional causes such as cyber attacks, hardware failures, or software errors.

DoS attack (“Denial of Service”) is a violation of the availability requirement, which leads to business downtime, and reputational and financial losses.

DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) is a kind of DoS, a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a target server, service, or network by overloading the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a stream of Internet traffic.

TDoS attack (Telecommunication Denial of Service) is a kind of DoS that exist on telecommunication networks. Such attacks target telephones.

Image - DDoS attack

DDoS attacks are effective because they use multiple compromised computer systems as sources of attack traffic. The employed machines can include computers and other network resources such as IoT devices.

A DDoS attack is like an unexpected traffic jam clogging up a motorway, preventing regular vehicles from arriving at their destination.


Categories of DoS and DDoS attacks

DoS/DDoS attacks can be broadly categorised into three groups:

Volumetric AttacksVolumetric Attacks
Include UDP floods, ICMP floods, and other spoofed packet flows. The goal of these attacks is to overflow the bandwidth of the attacked website or another object. The attack volume is measured in bits per second (bps).
Protocol-layer AttacksProtocol-layer Attacks
Include SYN flood, fragmented packet attacks, Ping of Death, Smurf DDoS, and others. This type of attack consumes actual server resources or the resources of intermediate communication equipment such as firewalls and load balancers, and is measured in packets per second (Pps).
Application-layer AttacksApplication-layer Attacks
Include small and slow attacks, GET/POST floods, attacks targeting the webserver, Windows or OpenBSD vulnerabilities, and more. Consist of seemingly legitimate and innocent requests. The purpose of these attacks is to crash the server, and their volume is measured in requests per second (Rps).

Thus, DoS/DDoS protection will help keep your systems available and minimise the impact of such attacks.

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How does DDoS attack mitigation work?

The foundation of DDoS mitigation is a robust infrastructure. These are the essential initial steps for DDoS mitigation:

  1. Increasing bandwidth capacity.
  2. Isolating networks and data centres in a secure manner.
  3. Providing failover and mirroring.
  4. Resilience configuration for protocols and applications.
  5. Enhancing performance and accessibility using tools such as Content Delivery Networks (CDNs).

Who requires protection against DDoS attacks?

Numerous industries have companies and organisations that operate sensitive data and are vulnerable to cyber assaults. The most prominent ones are online trading, payment systems, media, public, and financial sectors.

DDoS protection methods

To automatically differentiate between normal traffic surges and DDoS attacks, security teams typically use the following technologies or services as part of DDoS mitigation solutions:

  • Traffic analysis:

Most DDoS mitigation strategies rely on round-the-clock traffic monitoring to identify early signs of DDoS activity before it escalates into unforeseen volumes or persists through steep DDoS techniques that could impair system performance without taking it offline. Managed service providers usually undertake this task for businesses that lack in-house personnel to perform 24/7 cloud monitoring. Customised DDoS mitigation can significantly reduce downtime costs and enhance efficiency following an attack.

  • Anomaly detection:

Threat intelligence sources and anomaly detection equipment calibrated to network standards and policies typically monitor the most recent indicators of compromise linked to the most effective DDoS attack strategies. DDoS mitigation specialists and automated technologies react reactively following these detections.

  • Rerouting and scrubbing:

Many companies utilise on-premises solutions such as firewalls, unified threat monitoring appliances, and DDoS mitigation appliances to halt DDoS activity upon discovery. However, these devices have a limit on how much data they can divert or accept. Extensive appliance adjustment is thus necessary.

DDoS protection with H-X Technologies

We offer a comprehensive approach at each level of DoS and DDoS protection:

  1. Basic level. Implementations and configuration of Cloudflare, Imperva Incapsula, Akamai, or other services to hide real IP addresses from the Internet.
  2. Application level. Analysis of problematic requests. We check the application source code and profiling results, we find bottlenecks that, for example, are not automatically scaled by means of the Kubernetes cluster.
  3. Testing. Our team of specialists conducts an attack simulation to test the solution and make sure that your application is ready for a real DDoS attack. We use comprehensive performance testing and chaos engineering methods and tools, botnet simulations, etc.

Performance Testing vs. Chaos Engineering

Performance TestingChaos Engineering
Tools– stress-ng
– tc
– iperf
– yandex-tank
– Apache-jmeter
– Locust
– ChaosToolkit
– Chaosblade
– Chaos Monkey
– ChaosKube
– kube-monke
– Toxiproxy
– Hastic.io
Findings– Response time (load test)
– Maximum allowed number of users (capacity test)
– Unexpected bugs (stress test, spike test)
– Bugs showing up over time (soak test)
– Application-level weaknesses (API fuzzing, etc.)
– Host failures (shutdown, reboot, etc.)
– Resource attacks (CPU, IO, RAM, etc.)
– Network attacks (drop, loss, delay, DNS, etc.)
– Region attacks (split-brain, etc.)

Service summary

⏳ Duration of project

In average, 2 or 3 weeks. Sometimes, depending on the scope and requirements, several weeks or months. 

🎁 Can it be free or have a testing period?

Use services like cloudflare.com for initial protection and our free consultation to define further steps.

💼 What type of business needs it?

Any business that relies on online services: e-commerce websites, financial institutions, healthcare providers, government agencies, etc.

💡 When is this service needed?

When your network or systems are at risk of being targeted by malicious attacks that aim to disrupt or deny access to your services.

📈 Your profit

Preventing or minimising the impact of denial-of-service attacks. Preserving reputation and customer trust.

⚙️ Our methods and tools

Network firewalls, load balancers, intrusion prevention systems, content distribution networks, rate limiting, anomaly detection, etc.

📑 Deliverables

Analysis and assessment report, protection strategy, fully implemented and configured protection solution, testing and validation reports.

Check out our additional services and business cases. Send the form below to request protection against DDoS/TDoS attacks or Performance Testing. Get a free consultation.

FAQ

DDoS protection refers to the measures taken to protect a network, server, or website from a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. A DDoS attack is a type of cyber attack where multiple compromised systems are used to flood a targeted system with traffic, making it unable to handle legitimate requests from users.

DDoS protection typically involves a combination of hardware and software solutions that can detect and mitigate DDoS attacks. This may include firewalls, load balancers, intrusion prevention systems, and specialized DDoS mitigation services.

Some common DDoS mitigation techniques include rate limiting, traffic filtering, and the use of scrubbing centers that filter out malicious traffic before it reaches the target system. In addition, DDoS protection may also involve regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address any potential weaknesses in the system.

DDoS protection works by detecting and mitigating the effects of a DDoS attack in real-time. Here's a general overview of how it works:

Detection: The first step in DDoS protection is detecting when an attack is occurring. This can be done using a combination of network monitoring tools, traffic analysis, and anomaly detection algorithms. The goal is to quickly identify unusual traffic patterns that could indicate a DDoS attack.

Diversion: Once a DDoS attack has been detected, the next step is to divert traffic away from the targeted system. This can be done using techniques such as traffic filtering, IP blocking, or load balancing. The idea is to prevent the malicious traffic from overwhelming the targeted system while allowing legitimate traffic to continue.

Mitigation: In some cases, it may not be possible to completely divert all of the malicious traffic away from the targeted system. In these cases, DDoS protection systems may use mitigation techniques such as rate limiting, traffic shaping, or packet filtering to reduce the impact of the attack. The goal is to minimize the disruption to legitimate traffic while still preventing the attack from succeeding.

Analysis and Response: After a DDoS attack has been mitigated, the next step is to analyze the attack and determine how to improve the system's defenses against future attacks. This may involve analyzing traffic logs, identifying new attack vectors, or updating security policies and procedures.

There are several ways to get DDoS protection, depending on your specific needs and resources. Here are some options:

Cloud-based DDoS protection services: Many cloud service providers offer DDoS protection as a service. This involves routing traffic through the provider's network, where it can be monitored and filtered for potential DDoS attacks. Some examples of cloud-based DDoS protection services include AWS Shield, Microsoft Azure DDoS Protection, and Google Cloud Armor.

Dedicated DDoS protection appliances: Another option is to install dedicated DDoS protection appliances on your network. These devices are designed to detect and mitigate DDoS attacks in real-time, often using a combination of hardware and software-based mitigation techniques.

Hybrid solutions: Some organizations may choose to use a combination of cloud-based and dedicated DDoS protection solutions to provide comprehensive coverage across their network. This can help ensure that even if one layer of protection is compromised, there are other layers in place to prevent the attack from succeeding.

Managed DDoS protection services: For organizations with limited resources or expertise in-house, managed DDoS protection services can provide a cost-effective option for DDoS protection. Managed service providers can monitor your network for potential attacks, and quickly respond to mitigate any threats.

When selecting a DDoS protection solution, it's important to consider factors such as scalability, reliability, and ease of use. You should also ensure that the solution you choose is compatible with your existing network infrastructure and can be easily integrated into your existing security policies and procedures.

It's difficult to say which DDoS protection solution is the best, as different organizations may have different needs and requirements. However, there are some key features to look for when evaluating DDoS protection solutions:

Scalability: A good DDoS protection solution should be able to scale up quickly to handle large volumes of traffic during an attack, without impacting performance or causing downtime.

Real-time detection and mitigation: The solution should be able to detect and respond to DDoS attacks in real-time, before they can cause damage or disruption.

Comprehensive coverage: The solution should provide coverage across all potential attack vectors, including application-layer attacks, network-layer attacks, and volumetric attacks.

Flexibility: The solution should be flexible enough to work with your existing network infrastructure, security policies, and compliance requirements.

Ease of use: The solution should be easy to deploy and manage, with intuitive interfaces and minimal configuration required.

When evaluating DDoS protection solutions, it's also important to consider factors such as cost, support options, and vendor reputation. Some popular DDoS protection solutions include Cloudflare, Akamai, Radware, and Arbor Networks, but ultimately the best solution will depend on your specific needs and requirements.

The cost of DDoS protection can vary widely depending on the provider, the type of protection, and the level of service required. Here are some factors that can affect the cost of DDoS protection:

Type of protection: Different types of DDoS protection, such as cloud-based or dedicated appliances, can have different costs associated with them.

Level of protection: Some DDoS protection providers may offer different levels of protection, with more comprehensive protection costing more than basic protection.

Bandwidth requirements: The amount of bandwidth required to support your network can affect the cost of DDoS protection. Generally, the more bandwidth required, the higher the cost.

Contract length: Some providers may offer discounts for longer-term contracts, while others may charge a premium for shorter-term commitments.

Support options: Providers that offer more comprehensive support options, such as 24/7 monitoring and incident response, may charge more than those with more limited support options.

As a result, it's difficult to provide a specific cost for DDoS protection without knowing more about the specific requirements of your organization. However, it's worth noting that the cost of a DDoS attack can be much higher than the cost of implementing DDoS protection, in terms of lost revenue, damage to reputation, and other associated costs.

DDoS protection service is a type of cybersecurity service that helps protect networks, servers, and applications from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. DDoS attacks are a type of cyber attack where an attacker attempts to overwhelm a target server or network with a flood of traffic from multiple sources, rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users.

DDoS protection services work by detecting and mitigating attacks in real-time, using a variety of techniques to filter out malicious traffic and allow legitimate traffic to pass through. These techniques can include traffic filtering, traffic redirection, and traffic rate limiting, among others.

TDoS protection refers to protection against Telephony Denial of Service (TDoS) attacks. TDoS attacks are a type of cyber attack where an attacker floods a target's phone lines with a high volume of calls, effectively preventing legitimate callers from getting through.

TDoS attacks can be used as a form of extortion or as a means of disrupting communications in critical industries such as healthcare, emergency services, and financial services. TDoS attacks can also be used as a diversionary tactic to distract from other cyber attacks.

TDoS protection typically involves a combination of monitoring, filtering, and mitigation techniques. This can include techniques such as traffic filtering, traffic rate limiting, and geolocation filtering to block traffic from known sources of TDoS attacks. TDoS protection can also involve the use of cloud-based or on-premise solutions to filter and route traffic, as well as the use of machine learning and other advanced technologies to detect and respond to TDoS attacks in real-time.

DoS protection refers to protection against Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. A DoS attack is a type of cyber attack where an attacker attempts to disrupt the normal functioning of a network or server by overwhelming it with traffic or resource requests. This can cause the network or server to become unavailable to legitimate users.

DoS protection is an important component of any comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, particularly for organizations that rely on network and server availability for critical operations. By implementing effective DoS protection measures, organizations can help ensure the availability and integrity of their networks and servers, and minimize the risk of DoS attacks causing disruption or financial loss.

There are several ways to get DoS protection, depending on the specific needs and requirements of your organization. Here are some options to consider:

Cloud-based DoS protection services: Cloud-based DoS protection services are offered by many cybersecurity companies and can be implemented quickly and easily without the need for additional hardware. These services route traffic through the provider's network for monitoring and filtering, and can be scaled up or down as needed.

On-premise DoS protection solutions: On-premise DoS protection solutions involve installing hardware and software on your organization's network to monitor and filter traffic. This option can provide more control over your DoS protection strategy, but may require more technical expertise and resources to implement.

Managed security service providers (MSSPs): MSSPs offer a range of cybersecurity services, including DoS protection. By working with an MSSP, you can benefit from their expertise and experience in protecting against DoS attacks, and can offload the burden of managing your organization's cybersecurity to a third-party provider.

Internet service providers (ISPs): Some ISPs offer DoS protection services as part of their standard offerings. These services may be included in your existing internet service plan, or may be offered as an add-on service for an additional fee.

When choosing a DoS protection solution, it's important to consider factors such as the level of protection needed, the scalability of the solution, and the level of support and expertise provided by the provider.

Business cases of projects we completed

Audit of smart contracts and blockchain
Business Automation
Information security incident response and investigation
Managed security and compliance (ISO 27001, etc.)
Security analysis of software source code
Security assessment: audits and penetration tests
Security Operations Center cases