What is a DDoS attack?

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of incoming traffic. This flood of traffic is typically generated from multiple compromised computers, which can be part of a botnet, making it difficult to defend against. The primary goal of a DDoS attack is to make a service unavailable to users, denying legitimate users access.

Understanding DDoS attacks is crucial for organizations, as they can lead to significant downtime, loss of revenue, damage to brand reputation, and increased costs for cybersecurity measures. By recognizing that DDoS attacks aim to incapacitate systems rather than steal information or enhance performance, it's clear that their principal characteristic is their distributed nature and focus on service denial rather than data compromise or encryption. This distinguishes DDoS attacks from other types of cyber threats, emphasizing the importance of robust defense strategies against this type of attack.