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Cybersecurity Solutions: Best Practices and Implementation

  • By Gcore
  • July 25, 2023
  • 15 min read
Cybersecurity Solutions: Best Practices and Implementation

In today’s digital landscape, the cost of a data breach can be staggering, with an average price tag of $4.3 million. The demand for robust cybersecurity solutions is increasing as clients and industries require businesses to uphold a certain level of security. This means that investing in cybersecurity is not a typical expense, but a business-savvy, financially wise strategy. In this article, we’ll explore what cybersecurity solutions are, what options exist, how to choose, implement, and optimize the right strategy for your business, and trends for 2023.

What Are Cybersecurity Solutions?

Cybersecurity solutions encompass a wide range of tools, technologies, and services designed to mitigate cyber threats and protect digital assets from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other malicious activities. Cybersecurity solutions play a critical role in maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems and safeguarding sensitive data, ensuring the smooth operations of your business in all industries and of all sizes. Common examples of such solutions are employee training programs, antivirus software, and firewalls.

Baseline Cybersecurity Solutions

To safeguard against cyber threats, it is not always necessary to invest in complicated and expensive solutions. Phishing and ransomware are significant risks for businesses of all sizes, in both the public and private sectors. Yet, effective remedies for these attacks can be achieved through training, data protection, and access control.

This section provides an overview of essential cybersecurity solutions suitable for any company with digital operations. These solutions are particularly valuable for businesses with limited cybersecurity budgets or those in their early stages of cybersecurity implementation.

Cybersecurity Training

One critical solution for mitigating cyber threats is cybersecurity training: educating employees or users about your company’s digital assets, vulnerabilities, and risks. The primary goal is to raise awareness of potential cyber threats and attacks and equip individuals with the ability to identify, respond to, and report incidents.

Training should be interesting, relevant, and actionable. Different teams may require specific training; a business might offer a general course on phishing attacks and a specific course for developers on secure coding.

Examples of solution providers in this domain include KnowBe4, SANS, and Proofpoint. Some of these programs offer free content, including products, tools, cheat sheets, and tutorials.

KnowBe4 free tools

Training should not be a one-time event. Regular educational programs must be implemented to keep users and employees informed about evolving threats, hacker techniques, and new protection tools.

Data Protection

Data protection solutions aim to secure your company databases, safeguarding against critical data losses caused by hardware failures, human error, or software malfunctions resulting from cyberattacks.

One effective data protection solution is an encrypted cloud backup program, which regularly automatically copies your data to secure cloud locations. Backup encryption provides an additional layer of protection, rendering the data unreadable and unusable even if hackers gain unauthorized access to your backup. Solution providers in this space include NordLocker, Acronis, Idrive, and CrashPlan.

Access Control

Access control solutions ensure that only authorized users can access your systems. Strong passwords alone are no longer sufficient, as hackers use a range of methods such as phishing attacks, social engineering, automated password guessing, and malware to steal credentials. Access control solutions are particularly important for remote teams, where employees access systems via insecure networks, often on personal devices.

The most easily implementable and important access control solution for your business is multi-factor authentication (MFA), which prevents 30–50% of access-related cyberattacks. MFA requires users to provide multiple forms of identification. A common example of MFA is when users enter a password and a uniquely generated code is sent to their mobile device to log in.

MFA software can be purchased as a standalone app or API integrated into a company’s application. Examples of MFA solution providers include Google Authenticator, LastPass, and Okta.

Advanced Cybersecurity Solutions for Enhanced Protection

As the digital footprint of a business grows and partnerships with prominent brands are established, business assets become more valuable to hackers. At this stage, it is recommended to invest in advanced cybersecurity solutions, and to have those solutions in place before the business becomes overexposed to cyber threats. If feasible, hiring a cybersecurity professional or outsourcing cybersecurity will help to ensure effective management and implementation of current best practices.

Network Protection

Network protection solutions are essential in preventing unauthorized access to network resources and swiftly identifying and thwarting cyberattacks. As most company devices are connected to networks like Wi-Fi (WLAN,) local area network (LAN,) wide-area network (WAN,) or enterprise private network (EPN,) securing these networks is imperative as businesses scale and have a larger external attack surface.

Network cybersecurity solutions operate on two levels: preventing hackers from infiltrating the network and safeguarding individual resources within the network (including devices, software, and data) in the event that external controls are breached.

How a firewall works

Prominent network cybersecurity solutions include:

  1. Firewalls: Firewalls filter incoming and outgoing traffic based on preset commands, effectively blocking access to dangerous websites and scrutinizing the security of users’ requests.
  2. Virtual private networks (VPNs): VPNs are secure, private connections that allow users to access the internet or a private network while encrypting their data and masking their IP address. VPNs let employees access a company’s network securely regardless of their location while maintaining confidentiality and integrity of data transmission.
  3. Email cybersecurity solutions: Email security solutions are tools or measures implemented to protect email communications from threats such as spam, phishing, malware, and unauthorized access, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of email data. They can protect company data from phishing and malware attacks and data breaches, safeguard business emails from spoofing, and protect email content from unauthorized disclosure. While many email providers offer built-in security features, additional layers of protection may be required, for example if a business handles highly sensitive data via email or is part of an industry with enhanced email security compliance requirements, like healthcare.
  4. Intrusion prevention systems (IPS): IPSs actively monitor network traffic, detect, and block potential threats. They prevent unauthorized access to, or attacks on, computer systems and networks in real time.
  5. DDoS protection: DDoS protection solutions are defensive measures that monitor traffic to mitigate and prevent distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, safeguarding networks and online services by filtering and blocking malicious traffic.

Network cybersecurity solutions are an overarching category, and as such some of the solutions discussed in the remainder of this section also pertain to network security.

Endpoint Protection

In the landscape of remote work and device proliferation, ensuring robust endpoint protection has become paramount to safeguarding sensitive company data. From laptops and mobile phones to wearables, medical devices, scanners, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, endpoints serve as potential gateways for cyber attacks, making effective security solutions indispensable.

Statistics from IBM reveal that a staggering 70% of data breaches stem from vulnerabilities in endpoint devices. With personal devices regularly utilized for work purposes and work devices occasionally used for personal activities, the risk landscape has expanded exponentially.
To combat these threats, organizations must deploy comprehensive endpoint cybersecurity solutions. Such solutions are designed to be installed directly on individual devices, systematically analyzing their files, processes, and systems to identify any signs of suspicious or malicious activity. Examples of widely used endpoint protection solutions include Crowdstrike, Sophos, Kaspersky, and SentinelOne.

Enterprise Endpoint Protection Solutions

While traditional antivirus software has long served as the primary defense mechanism, its effectiveness is limited to only a few devices. Enterprises require more robust cybersecurity solutions, such as an enterprise protection platform (EPP,) endpoint detection and response (EDR,) and extended detection and response (XDR.) Note: the least protective is EPP, and the most protective is XDR.

EPP acts as a proactive shield, preemptively preventing attacks on endpoints. However, given the sophistication of modern threats, relying solely on EPP may not suffice. EDR provides advanced threat detection and response capabilities, specifically designed to identify and neutralize threats that might have slipped past EPP defenses. Recognizing the need for comprehensive protection, cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions now integrate both EPP and EDR functionalities into a unified platform. This consolidation enables organizations to fortify their defenses, achieving a higher level of endpoint security.

EDR vs. XDR

Nevertheless, effective endpoint protection extends beyond individual devices. Attacks can manifest across various domains, including databases, applications, networks, and cloud workloads. To address these broader threat landscapes, organizations are turning to extended detection and response (XDR) solutions. XDR entails a holistic approach, extending protection beyond endpoints and incorporating multi-dimensional threat response capabilities.

Audit Log Management

Audit logging cybersecurity solutions document activity within an organization’s software. These activities encompass a wide range of events, including database access and modifications, administrative actions, and login failures. With the power to decide which specific activities to track, companies can gain invaluable insights from audit logs, revealing precisely when an event occurred, the corresponding timestamp, and the user responsible.

The significance of audit logging extends far beyond mere documentation. These comprehensive logs serve as a valuable resource for security teams when investigating potential breaches. By analyzing the audit trail left behind, security professionals can unravel the sequence of events that led to a security incident. This forensic capability not only aids in understanding the nature and scope of the breach but also plays a pivotal role in implementing effective remediation measures.

An example from DataDog log management solution

Audit logging cybersecurity solutions can be implemented as standalone tools or may be found within broader security frameworks, such as security information and event management (SIEM) and identity and access management (IAM) solutions. Leading cloud service providers and database management systems often incorporate robust audit logging capabilities as an integral part of their offerings.

By leveraging comprehensive audit log management, organizations can strengthen their security posture, ensuring adherence to regulatory compliance standards and enabling proactive threat detection. Furthermore, the wealth of information stored within audit logs can be utilized for fine tuning security policies, identifying potential vulnerabilities, and improving overall system performance.

Vulnerability Management

Robust vulnerability management cybersecurity solutions play a crucial role in identifying, prioritizing, and remedying weaknesses in computer systems, networks, and software. Such vulnerabilities encompass a wide array of potential risks, including unpatched bugs, outdated systems or software, and misconfigurations of both software and hardware components.

Example of a vulnerability management solution dashboard from Tenable

While manual vulnerability management is hypothetically possible, it is time consuming and error prone, even for smaller organizations. To streamline and automate these critical operations, security teams rely on specialized vulnerability management software. These powerful cybersecurity solutions oversee the entire lifecycle of vulnerability management, encompassing identification, remediation, and comprehensive reporting.

Enterprise Vulnerability Management Solutions

In addition to comprehensive vulnerability management software, standalone solutions such as vulnerability scanners and patch management tools are also available. Vulnerability scanners focus on identifying and listing vulnerabilities, serving as a first step towards risk mitigation. They can function as an entry point to advanced cybersecurity for organizations with limited budgets, providing an initial assessment of vulnerabilities. However, interpreting and prioritizing the identified vulnerabilities typically requires the expertise of a dedicated security specialist who can guide the remediation efforts effectively.

Patch management solutions take a more proactive approach than vulnerability scanners by identifying, acquiring, testing, and installing necessary software patches on devices, ensuring that critical vulnerabilities are quickly addressed. Patch management cybersecurity solutions are predominantly utilized by IT teams, particularly in larger organizations with extensive software ecosystems to oversee. These solutions streamline the process of managing patches across a myriad of devices, ensuring that critical updates are promptly implemented to mitigate potential risks.

Notable examples of vulnerability management solutions include Tenable Nessus and Rapid7 InsightVM, both renowned for their robust feature sets and proven track records in the industry.

Penetration Testing

Penetration testing (or “pen testing”) is a crucial cybersecurity service that evaluates the security posture of systems by simulating cyberattacks. It offers a comprehensive approach for identifying vulnerabilities, surpassing the scope of traditional vulnerability assessments.

Before conducting a penetration test, a clear scope is defined, outlining the specific areas to be assessed. This can include software, hardware, networks, and even the human element through simulated attacks on employees. By subjecting systems to controlled cyberattacks, organizations gain valuable insights into their security defenses and can proactively address vulnerabilities before they are exploited by malicious actors. Penetration testing plays a pivotal role in uncovering weaknesses that may be overlooked by traditional security assessments, thereby enhancing overall resilience and minimizing potential risks.

Penetration testing services are offered by independent security professionals, specialized penetration testing companies, and managed security service providers (MSSPs). Prominent solution providers in the field of penetration testing include Bugcrowd, HackerOne, ImmuniWeb, and Gcore.

Specialized Solutions

When it comes to protecting specific technologies, specialized solutions are essential. There are three main types of specialized solutions, aimed respectively at applications, cloud, and IoT. Let’s look at each in turn.

Application Security

Application security solutions play a critical role in safeguarding the software that drives business operations. From design to production, these solutions provide an additional layer of protection, mitigating the impact of potential attacks.

There are various types of application security solutions available, each addressing specific aspects of application protection:

  • Web application firewalls (WAFs): WAFs act as gatekeepers, protecting all your web resources, including web applications and APIs, against unauthorized access to confidential data. By monitoring traffic in real time, WAFs can enforce preset rules to block malicious requests and thwart potential attacks. Gcore WAF is an example of such a solution. Our tool utilizes machine learning to monitor application traffic and promptly block access if malware is detected.
  • Static application security testing (SAST): SAST focuses on reviewing an application’s code to identify common coding errors, insecure coding practices, and known security weaknesses. By analyzing the codebase, SAST tools help developers proactively address vulnerabilities during the development lifecycle.
  • Dynamic application security testing (DAST): DAST takes a different approach by monitoring a running application and performing real-time penetration testing. By sending various unusual or malicious inputs to the application, DAST tools evaluate how it responds and detects potential vulnerabilities or bugs. Developers receive detailed reports highlighting identified vulnerabilities.

Veracode and Checkmarx offer both SAST and DAST functionality.

The relationship between SAST and DAST
  • Runtime application self-protection (RASP): RASP solutions take application security a step further, residing inside the application environment itself. Embedded in the runtime environment, RASP can accurately distinguish between malicious and legitimate actions. Fortify is one well-known example of RASP.

Cloud Security

Cloud security solutions safeguard assets hosted in cloud environments. These solutions encompass both on-premises network security measures, such as firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems, as well as cloud-specific solutions.

Cloud workload protection platforms (CWPPs) monitor the usage of cloud resources by specific applications and detect any suspicious activities. Acting as intermediaries, cloud access security brokers (CASBs) provide an additional security layer between cloud users and providers. Cloud security posture management solutions (CSPM) focus on identifying and resolving cloud misconfigurations.

How CWPP and CSPM relate to one another

While many cloud providers offer built-in security solutions or as extensions, some organizations require specific cybersecurity controls. Third-party cloud security solutions like Sophos Central, Check Point CloudGuard, and Proofpoint deliver comprehensive protection and ensure the integrity of cloud assets.

IoT Security

IoT security solutions safeguard the wide range of devices that connect to the internet and interact with one another. This includes a wide range of technologies, such as contactless payment systems, medical smart wearables, and smart sensors.

As the IoT landscape expands, so does the potential risk. According to a 2022 report by IBM, the average cost of a data breach increases by $152,465 in an IoT environment, highlighting the urgent need for robust security measures.

IoT security is closely related to endpoint security, and many of their respective security measures overlap. Nevertheless, there are specialized security solutions designed to manage, monitor, and defend IoT devices. Prominent examples of IoT security solutions include AWS IoT Device Defender, Forescout, and McAfee Embedded Control. These solutions offer comprehensive features to detect and mitigate threats specific to IoT devices, ensuring the integrity and privacy of data transmitted between interconnected devices.

How To Optimize Your Cybersecurity Solutions: A Practical Guide

To see the return on investment (ROI) of cybersecurity solutions, it is essential to understand how to select the tools that best align with your organization’s specific cybersecurity needs, budget, and operational capacity. Merely buying numerous tools does not guarantee optimal security, so it is important to build your cybersecurity setup with intention.

#1 Create an Asset Inventory

Compile a comprehensive list of all potential entry points that cybercriminals could exploit (including internal and external attack surfaces.) This inventory will help you identify which assets require protection and guide your selection process.

An example of asset inventory from Risk3sixty

#2 Review Legal and Industry Requirements

Familiarize yourself with the legal and industry-specific cybersecurity regulations relevant to your business. Ensure that your cybersecurity measures align with these requirements. Make sure to consider individual roles and responsibilities within your organization. You may need to adjust your personnel or consider outsourcing to a cybersecurity professional.

#3 Conduct a Risk Assessment

Identify vulnerabilities and assess their potential impact and likelihood of occurrence. Prioritize them based on their significance to and potential impact on your organization’s security. Deloitte’s research reports that 56% of high performing companies conduct qualitative risk assessments to optimize ROI. Use relevant questions from the below list informed by governmental best practices to guide your risk assessment process.

  • Which assets are connected to your network?
  • What levels of protection do the assets need?
  • Who can access the assets?
  • Where are the assets stored?
  • How are the assets currently protected?
  • What threats do the assets face?
  • What internal processes (incident response plan) are in place when an incident occurs?

#4 Align with Business Goals

Your cybersecurity choices should align with your broader business objectives, growth plans, and strategic partnerships. Ensure that the solutions you select contribute to the overall success of your organization. Put in place cybersecurity infrastructure that takes into account forecasted growth.

#5 Regularly Update Cybersecurity Infrastructure

Recognize that your company’s processes are dynamic, and that changes in operations may require adjustments to your cybersecurity measures. Conduct annual reviews of your cybersecurity infrastructure, as 66% of companies with high cyber performance do.

Implementing Cybersecurity Solutions to Meet Compliance Requirements

In certain cases, implementing specific cybersecurity measures becomes necessary not only because you recognize their importance, but also due to legal requirements, insurance policies, or industry standards.

To ensure compliance and protect your business:

  • Understand applicable standards: Research and explore the cybersecurity standards followed by companies in your industry or niche. This will give you insights into the best practices and requirements relevant to your business.
  • Evaluate data: Assess the type and extent of data you handle. Understanding the sensitivity and criticality of the data will help you determine the level of security measures required to protect it adequately.
  • Weigh compliance benefits: Compare the benefits of compliance with potential consequences of non-compliance. While some requirements may be recommended but not obligatory, it is essential to consider the potential risks and liabilities associated with non-compliance.

Here are some examples of common regulations that require specific cybersecurity solutions:

  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): If you handle personal health information, compliance with HIPAA is mandatory. This regulation necessitates the implementation of access control, audit logging, and data protection solutions to safeguard sensitive healthcare data.
  • Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): If you process payments directly, PCI DSS compliance is essential. Its cybersecurity requirements encompass various measures discussed earlier, including penetration testing, to ensure the security of payment card data.
  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): If you handle personal data of European citizens, you must comply with GDPR compliance. This regulation mandates access control, data protection, and network security measures to protect individuals’ privacy rights.
  • Insurance policy requirements: Review your insurance provisions to determine whether specific cybersecurity measures are necessary. For example, your policy may require the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) for computers, web-based email accounts, and VPN remote logins.

Outsourcing Cybersecurity

In today’s dynamic threat landscape, many businesses, regardless of their size, choose to outsource part or all of their cybersecurity management to specialized third-party providers. This strategic decision offers numerous advantages, including cost-effectiveness, access to expertise, round-the-clock coverage, and cutting-edge technologies.

According to IBM, organizations that opt for managed security services can reduce the average cost of data breaches by $69,100, emphasizing the value of outsourcing. There are several common options for outsourcing cybersecurity:

  • Internet service providers (ISPs): Certain ISPs extend their offerings beyond internet connectivity and provide managed cybersecurity solutions. These solutions may include managed firewalls and endpoint protection, providing an added layer of security alongside their core services.
  • IT/cybersecurity consultants: Engaging the expertise of IT or cybersecurity consultants can be beneficial when determining the cybersecurity solutions that best align with your organization’s needs. They assist in identifying critical security measures, prioritizing them, and ensuring proper implementation within your infrastructure.
  • Managed security service providers (MSSPs): MSSPs specialize in delivering comprehensive outsourced monitoring and management of cybersecurity solutions. These providers often have their own suite of security tools and offer assistance in leveraging their solutions effectively. Renowned MSSPs include Rapid7, Cisco, Sophos, and McAfee.
  • Specialized managed security solutions: These services provide you with a tool and help you to manage it. For example, Gcore offers managed network and application cybersecurity solutions.

By outsourcing cybersecurity to external providers, businesses can tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience, ensuring robust protection against evolving threats while reducing the burden on in-house employees. The expertise, resources, and advanced technologies offered by these providers enable organizations to strengthen their security posture, while also benefiting from cost savings and round-the-clock vigilance.

Top Cybersecurity Solutions Trends In 2023

The evolving cybersecurity landscape is driving significant changes and innovations in cybersecurity solutions, particularly impacting enterprises and industries with high cybersecurity dependencies, like finance, healthcare, and retail. However, it is crucial for all organizations in all sectors and of all sizes to stay informed about these trends in order to optimize their cybersecurity efforts and return on their cybersecurity investment. Let’s explore three of the top cybersecurity trends for 2023: AI, zero trust, and quantum-safe cryptography.

Artificial Intelligence

The widespread adoption of AI extends to cybersecurity. Cybersecurity providers are actively integrating machine learning capabilities into their solutions. In fact, by 2025, around 82% of IT and security decision-makers plan to invest in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions.

AI enhances various aspects of cybersecurity, particularly the detection of, and response to, malicious activities. AI algorithms can identify unknown vulnerabilities by analyzing patterns derived from previous attacks. The automation and speed offered by AI significantly improve detection capabilities, reduce costs, and deliver more precise results. AI can even uncover hidden patterns that may go unnoticed by human analysts.

Zero Trust Framework

The concept of zero trust challenges the traditional notion of trust within networks, emphasizing the need for continuous verification of all network requests, assuming breach, and adopting the principle of least privilege access. This approach addresses the evolving business landscape, including the need to secure remote workers, manage hybrid cloud environments, and combat ransomware attacks.

Zero-trust technologies encompass a range of security measures, including risk-based multi-factor authentication, continuous threat monitoring, network microsegmentation, and reliable cloud workload verification. These technologies aim to ensure the authentication and authorization of users or systems while maintaining a high level of security.

Gartner forecasts that by 2026, 10% of large companies will have mature zero-trust programs in place, a significant increase from less than 1% in 2023. Recognized organizations have already established standards, such as NIST 800-207, which can guide companies in implementing a zero-trust infrastructure.

A growing number of cybersecurity solutions are built upon the principles of zero trust. Examples include multi-factor authentication (MFA,) zero trust network access, and secure access service edge (SASE) solutions.

Businesses that stand to benefit the most from implementing zero-trust solutions include those looking to protect their cloud environments and/or manage legacy systems, SaaS applications, and unmanaged devices, as well as those subject to industry or compliance requirements. By adopting a zero-trust approach, organizations can strengthen their security posture, mitigate risk, and safeguard their critical assets in an increasingly complex and interconnected digital landscape.

Quantum-Safe Cryptography

As quantum computing continues to advance, it poses a significant threat to traditional encryption methods. Once quantum computers become widely accessible, the ability to break encryption that would have taken classical computers millions of years will be achievable within hours or even minutes by cybercriminals. To address this imminent challenge, the concept of quantum-safe cryptography emerges as a viable solution.

Although quantum computers are not available today, the pace of technological progress is rapid. For instance, in May 2023 IBM opened access to its latest Osprey Quantum Processor, boasting an impressive 413 Qubits. Such advancements indicate that the era of practical quantum computing is drawing closer.

Recognizing the need for quantum-resistant encryption, the US Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has taken a proactive role. NIST announced the development of a post-quantum cryptographic standard, which is expected to be finalized by 2024. This standard will provide guidelines for implementing cryptographic algorithms that can withstand attacks from powerful quantum computers.

Considering these developments, it is crucial for any organization that relies on encryption to prepare for the quantum computing era. This involves understanding the potential impact on their current security infrastructure and implementing quantum-safe cryptographic solutions. Organizations can either undertake this transition independently or choose to partner with a trusted managed security service provider (MSSP) that specializes in quantum-safe cryptography. An experienced MSSP can guide organizations through the process, ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining the highest level of data security.

Conclusion

The rise of cyber threats and hacking tool availability makes it essential for businesses to prioritize cybersecurity measures. Unprepared organizations are prime targets, necessitating baseline cybersecurity tools to protect critical digital assets. However, a strategic approach to cybersecurity investments is crucial, as adopting expensive or trendy solutions doesn’t guarantee protection. To ensure ROI and effective cybersecurity, businesses should conduct risk assessments, consider compliance requirements, and align security measures with business plans and objectives. By making informed decisions and implementing the right cybersecurity toolkit, businesses can boost resilience against evolving threats, safeguard digital assets, and operate securely in the digital age.

To assist you in navigating the complex landscape of cybersecurity solutions, we invite you to explore Gcore’s security tools—like DDoS Protection—or consult our experts. Our resources provide valuable insights and guidance on selecting the most suitable cybersecurity solutions for your organization.

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As the network equipment strains to process this influx of data, legitimate requests are delayed or dropped, leading to service degradation or even complete network failure.2. Connection protocol attacks (L4)Protocol attacks occur when attackers send connection requests from multiple IP addresses to target server open ports. One common tactic is a SYN flood, where attackers initiate connections without completing them. This forces the server to allocate resources to these unfinished sessions, quickly leading to resource exhaustion. As these fake requests consume the server’s CPU and memory, legitimate traffic is unable to get through. Firewalls and load balancers managing incoming traffic can also be overwhelmed, resulting in service outages.3. Application layer attacks (L7)Application layer attacks strike at the L7 layer, where applications operate. Web applications handle everything from simple static websites to complex platforms like e-commerce sites, social media networks, and SaaS solutions. In an L7 attack, a hacker deploys multiple bots or machines to repeatedly request the same resource until the server becomes overwhelmed.By mimicking genuine user behavior, attackers flood the web application with seemingly legitimate requests, often at high rates. For example, they might repeatedly submit incorrect login credentials or overload the search function by continuously searching for products. As the server consumes its resources managing these fake requests, genuine users experience slow response times or may be completely denied access to the application.How can DDoS attacks be prevented?To stay one step ahead of attackers, use a DDoS protection solution to protect your web resources. A mitigation solution detects and blocks harmful DDoS traffic sent by attackers, keeping your servers and applications safe and functional. If an attacker targets your server, your legitimate users won’t notice any change—even during a considerable attack—because the protection solution will allow safe traffic while identifying and blocking malicious requests.DDoS protection providers also give you reports on attempted DDoS attacks. This way, you can track when the attack happened, as well as the size and scale of the attack. This enables you to respond effectively, analyze the potential implications of the attack, and implement risk management strategies to mitigate future disruptions.Repel DDoS attacks with GcoreAt Gcore, we offer robust and proven security solutions to protect your business from DDoS attacks. Gcore DDoS Protection provides comprehensive mitigation at L3, L4, and L7 for websites, apps, and servers. We also offer L7 protection as part of Gcore WAAP, which keeps your web apps and APIs secure against a range of modern threats using AI-enabled threat detection.Take a look at our recent Radar report to learn more about the latest DDoS attack trends and the changing strategies and patterns of cyberattacks.Read our DDoS Attack Trends Radar report

How to Spot and Stop a DDoS Attack

The faster you detect and resolve a DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack, the less damage it can do to your business. Read on to learn how to identify the signs of a DDoS attack, differentiate it from other issues, and implement effective protection strategies to safeguard your business. You’ll also discover why professional mitigation is so important for your business.The Chronology of a DDoS AttackThe business impact of a DDoS attack generally increases the longer it continues. While the first few minutes might not be noticeable without a dedicated solution with monitoring capabilities, your digital services could be taken offline within an hour. No matter who your customer is or how you serve them, every business stands to lose customers, credibility, and revenue through downtime.The First Few Minutes: Initial Traffic SurgeAttackers often start with a low-volume traffic flow to avoid early detection. This phase, known as pre-flooding, evaluates the target system’s response and defenses. You may notice a slight increase in traffic, but it could still be within the range of normal fluctuations.Professional DDoS mitigation services use algorithms to spot these surges, identify whether the traffic increase is malicious, and stop attacks before they can have an impact. Without professional protection, it’s almost impossible to spot this pre-flooding phase, leading you into the following phases of an attack.The First Hour: Escalating TrafficThe attack will quickly escalate, resulting in a sudden and extreme increase in traffic volume. During this stage, network performance will start to degrade noticeably, causing unusually slow loading times for websites and services.Look out for network disconnections, or unusually slow performance. These are telltale signs of a DDoS attack in its early stages.The First Few Hours: Service DisruptionAs the attack intensifies, the website may become completely inaccessible. You might experience an increased volume of spam emails as part of a coordinated effort to overwhelm your systems. Frequent loss of connectivity within the local network can occur as the attack overloads the infrastructure.You can identify this stage by looking for website or network unavailability. Users will experience continuous problems when trying to connect to the targeted application or server.Within 24 Hours: Sustained ImpactIf the attack continues, the prolonged high traffic volume will cause extended service outages and significant slowdowns. By this point, it is clear that a DDoS attack is in progress, especially if multiple indicators are present simultaneously.By now, not only is your website and/or network unavailable, but you’re also at high risk of data breaches due to the loss of control of your digital resources.Distinguishing DDoS Attacks from Other IssuesWhile DDoS attack symptoms like slow performance and service outages are common, they can also be caused by other problems. Here’s how to differentiate between a DDoS attack and other issues:AspectDDoS attackHosting problemsLegitimate traffic spikeSoftware issuesTraffic volumeSudden, extreme increaseNo significant increaseHigh but expected during peaksNormal, higher, lower, or zeroService responseExtremely slow or unavailableSlow or intermittentSlower but usually functionalErratic, with specific errorsError messagesFrequent Service UnavailableInternal Server Error, TimeoutNo specific errors, slower responsesSpecific to the softwareDurationProlonged, until mitigatedVaries, often until resolvedTemporary, during peaks, often predictableVaries based on the bugSource of trafficMultiple, distributed, malicious signaturesConsistent with normal traffic, localizedGeographically diverse, consistent patternsDepends on the user baseProtective Strategies Against DDoS AttacksPrevention is the best defense against DDoS attacks. Here are some strategies to protect your business:Content delivery networks (CDNs): CDNs distribute your traffic across multiple servers worldwide, reducing the load on any single server and mitigating the impact of DDoS attacks.DDoS protection solutions: These services provide specialized tools to detect, mitigate, and block DDoS attacks. They continuously monitor traffic patterns in real time to detect anomalies and automatically respond to and stop attacks without manual intervention.Web application and API protection (WAAP): WAAP solutions protect web applications and APIs from a wide range of threats, including DDoS attacks. They use machine learning and behavioral analysis to detect and block sophisticated attacks, from DDoS assaults to SQL injections.Gcore provides all three protection strategies in a single platform, offering your business the security it needs to thrive in a challenging threat landscape.Don’t Delay, Protect Your Business NowGcore provides comprehensive DDoS protection, keeping your services online and your business thriving even during an attack. Explore Gcore DDoS Protection or get instant protection now.Discover the latest DDoS trends and threats in our H3 2023 report

Improve Your Privacy and Data Security with TLS Encryption on CDN

The web is a public infrastructure: Anyone can use it. Encryption is a must to ensure that communications over this public infrastructure are secure and private. You don’t want anyone to read or modify the data you send or receive, like credit card information when paying for an online service.TLS encryption is a basic yet crucial safeguard that ensures only the client (the user’s device, like a laptop) and server can read your request and response data; third parties are locked out. You can run TLS on a CDN for improved performance, caching, and TLS management. If you want to learn more about TLS and how running it on a CDN can improve your infrastructure, this is the right place to start.What Is TLS Encryption and Why Does It Matter?TLS, transport layer security, encrypts data sent via the web to prevent it from being seen or changed while it’s in transit. For that reason, it’s called encryption in-transit technology. TLS is also commonly called HTTPS when used with HTTP or SSL, as previous versions of the technology were based on it. TLS ensures high encryption performance and forward secrecy. To learn more about encryption, check out our dedicated article.TLS is a vital part of the web because it ensures trust for end users and search engines alike. End users can rest assured that their data—like online banking information or photos of their children—can’t be accessed. Search engines know that information protected by TLS is trustworthy, so they rate it higher than non-protected content.What’s the Connection Between TLS and CDN?A CDN, or content delivery network, helps improve your website’s performance by handling the delivery of your content from its own servers rather than your website’s server. When a CDN uses TLS, it ensures that your content is encrypted as it travels from your server to the CDN and from the CDN to your users.With TLS offloading, your server only needs to encrypt the content for each CDN node, not for every individual user. This reduces the workload on your server.Here’s a simple breakdown of how it works:Your server encrypts the content once and sends it to the CDN.The CDN caches this encrypted content.When a user requests the content, the CDN serves it directly to them, handling all encryption and reducing the need to repeatedly contact your server.Without a CDN, your server would have to encrypt and send content to each user individually, which can slow things down. With a CDN, your server encrypts the content once for the CDN. The CDN then takes over, encrypting and serving the content to all users, speeding up the process and reducing the load on your server.Figure 1: Comparison of how content is served with TLS on the web server (left) vs on CDN (right)Benefits of “Offloading” TLS to a CDNOffloading TLS to a CDN can improve your infrastructure with improved performance, better caching, and simplified TLS management.Increased PerformanceWhen establishing a TLS connection, the client and server must exchange information to negotiate a session key. This exchange involves four messages being sent over the network, as shown in Figure 2. The higher the latency between the two participants, the longer it takes to establish the connection. CDN nodes are typically closer to the client, resulting in lower latency and faster connection establishment.As mentioned above, CDN nodes handle all the encryption tasks. This frees up your server’s resources for other tasks and allows you to simplify its code base.Figure 2: TLS handshakeImproved CachingIf your data is encrypted, the CDN can’t cache it. A single file will look different from the CDN nodes for every new TLS connection, eliminating the CDN benefits (Figure 3). If the CDN holds the certificates, it can negotiate encryption with the clients and collect the files from your server in plaintext. This allows the CDN to cache the content efficiently and serve it faster to users.Figure 3: TLS and CDN caching comparedSimplified TLS ManagementThe CDN takes care of maintenance tasks such as certificate issuing, rotation, and auto-renewal. With the CDN managing TLS, your server’s code base can be simplified, and you no longer need to worry about potential TLS updates in the future.TLS Encryption with Gcore CDNWith the Gcore CDN we don’t just take care of your TLS encryption, but also file compression and DNS lookups. This way, you can unburden your servers from non-functional requirements, which leads to smaller, easier-to-maintain code bases, lower CPU, memory, and traffic impact, and a lower workload for the teams managing those servers.Gcore CDN offers two TLS offloading options:Free Let’s Encrypt certificates with automatic validation, an effective and efficient choice for simple security needsPaid custom certificates, ideal if your TLS setup has more complex requirementsHow to Enable HTTPS with a Free Let’s Encrypt CertificateSetting up HTTPS for your website is quick, easy, and free. First, make sure you have a Gcore CDN resource for your website. If you haven’t created one yet, you can do so in the Gcore Customer Portal by clicking Create CDN resource in the top-right of the window (Figure 4) and following the setup wizard. You’ll be asked to update your DNS records so they point to the Gcore CDN, allowing Gcore to issue the certificates later.Figure 4: Create CDN resourceNext, open the resource settings by selecting your CDN resource from the list in the center (Figure 5).Figure 5: Select the CDN resourceEnable HTTPS in the resource settings, as shown in Figure 6:Select SSL in the left navigationClick the Enable HTTPS checkboxClick Get SSL certificateFigure 6: Get an SSL certificateYour certificate will usually be issued within 30 minutes.Our Commitment to Online SecurityAt Gcore, we’re committed to making the internet secure for everyone. As part of this mission, we offer free CDN and free TLS certificates. Take advantage and protect your resources efficiently for free!Get TLS encryption on Gcore CDN free

How to Detect and Stop Bad Bots

A bot, short for “robot,” is a software program that can perform tasks automatically, quickly, and efficiently. Both good bots and bad bots exist; Googlebot facilitates web page indexing, but LizardStresser orchestrates DDoS attacks. Because good and bad bots share certain traits, distinguishing between them can be tricky unless the correct bot detection techniques are used. In this article, we examine the evolution of bot detection techniques in response to the ever-changing threat landscape and discuss how bots can be detected and, when desirable, stopped.What Is Bot Detection?Bot detection is the process of identifying and distinguishing between legitimate human users, good bots, and bad bots. Because bots can mimic certain legitimate user behaviors, such as mouse movements and keystrokes, cybersecurity professionals and business leaders should implement bot detection as an integral component of their security strategy. Otherwise, you could end up with misleading analytics, compromised user experiences, and potential security breaches that can harm your organization’s reputation and bottom line.Bot detection helps to mitigate malicious bot activities such as unethical web scraping, spamming, account takeover, click fraud, and DDoS attacks, without interfering with good bots such as website uptime monitors. Effective bot detection enhances cybersecurity and improves the web user’s overall experience.Botnet Detection TechniquesOver the decades, different botnet mitigation techniques have been developed to deal with the challenges of stopping bad bots while allowing good bots to continue their activities. These techniques typically involve identifying the command-and-control infrastructure coordinating the botnet activities. However, since botnets keep evolving to bypass mitigation measures, new and better botnet detection and mitigation strategies are continuously being developed.Let’s examine botnet detection techniques. We’ll start with the oldest and then look at contemporary techniques. However, new techniques build on the old, and all these techniques still play a part in botnet detection today.Intrusion Detection SystemsFigure 1: How a basic intrusion detection system worksIntrusion detection systems (IDS) emerged in the late 1980s to monitor and analyze network traffic for security incidents like unauthorized access and policy violations. IDS can detect threats, such as botnets, and alert security teams. Intrusion prevention systems (IPS) can proactively mitigate detected threats. Modern IDPS (intrusion detection and prevention systems) combine IDS and IPS functions.IDS is trained on data from sources like network traffic, system logs, and application activity. Botnet-focused IDS can be anomaly-based (monitoring abnormal behaviors) or signature-based (matching patterns with known botnets).When a potential botnet is detected, the IDS generates alerts or notifications based on severity. Depending on cybersecurity policies, the IDS may block traffic, isolate systems, or alert security teams. IDS also generates incident logs and reports, detailing the time of incidents, detected threats, countermeasures, and recommendations for improvement.Intrusion detection systems can be grouped into six types:Network-Based Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS): These monitor real-time network traffic and analyze packets on network segments or devices to detect attacks like DoS, port scanning, and reconnaissance.Protocol-Based Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS): A type of NIDS that targets specific network communication protocols (e.g., P2P, HTTP, IRC) to protect against intrusion and policy violations. PIDS is limited in scope.Machine Learning-Based Intrusion Detection Systems (ML-IDS): Subset of NIDS using machine learning algorithms to detect network intrusions and malicious activities by learning from historical data. ML-IDS is more efficient than traditional rule-based systems but requires fine-tuning to minimize false positives.Host-Based Intrusion Detection Systems (HIDS): Monitor the computer infrastructure they are installed on (e.g., computers, servers) to safeguard against attacks. They gather data, analyze traffic, and log suspicious behavior, providing insights into system health and security. HIDS is an approach that’s most suitable for small teams with lean overheads.Hybrid Intrusion Detection Systems: Combine different detection techniques (e.g., NIDS, HIDS, anomaly-based, signature-based) in a single framework to effectively detect botnet activity and provide insightful data. Problematically, they create a single point of failure and are complex to troubleshoot.Multi-Layered Intrusion Detection Systems: These systems combine different detection techniques (e.g., NIDS, HIDS, anomaly-based, signature-based) in a layered approach, with each IDS as a separate component. They eliminate a single point of failure and simplify troubleshooting but complicate setup, management, and reporting.To summarize, intrusion detection systems (IDS) enhance network security by monitoring and analyzing traffic to detect potential threats, providing valuable insights and real-time response capabilities. However, they can produce false positives, require ongoing maintenance and fine-tuning, and may be complex to manage and integrate into existing security frameworks.HoneynetFirst used around the year 2000, a honeynet is a network of traps or decoy networks (honeypots) set up with built-in vulnerabilities to attract cyberattacks. A typical honeynet comprises two or more honeypots. Honeynets aid in botnet detection by deliberately exposing vulnerabilities that attract malicious attacks. This deception technique allows botnet attacks to be studied in a controlled environment or managed and stopped, as needed.Figure 2: Honeynet setupAs such, there are two main types of honeynets: research honeynets and production honeynets. Research honeynets are primarily set up to study attack vector tactics, techniques, and procedures, while production honeynets are deployed within production environments.Despite their effectiveness, honeynets have limitations, such as setup complexity, limited network coverage, and high maintenance overhead, especially for high-capacity setups. Additionally, honeynets can sometimes be detected, bypassed, armed, and deployed against the production network itself.DNS-Based Botnet DetectionFigure 3: DNS-based botnet detectionAround 2005, the DNS-based botnet detection technique started to gain popularity. DNS-based botnet detection works by monitoring the way computers use the Domain Name System (DNS) to find websites. When you enter a website address into your browser, your computer uses DNS to find the numerical IP address that corresponds to that website. Botnets, which are networks of infected computers controlled by cybercriminals, often need to communicate with the attackers’ servers to receive instructions. They use DNS to find these servers.A botnet detection system monitors all DNS requests made by network computers. They analyze which domain names are being requested and how often. Since botnets often use unusual domain names that people don’t typically visit, the systems look for patterns that indicate suspicious activity, such as frequent requests to these strange or newly created domains. They can then block the requests to these malicious domains, preventing the infected computers from communicating with the cybercriminals.Although they provide real-time detection, network-wide coverage, low false-positive rates, and threat intelligence gathering, they are prone to evasion techniques and are limited by their reliance on external threat intelligence sources for domain reputation data.Comparison of Botnet Detection TechniquesHere’s how these three botnet detection techniques compare.FeatureIntrusion Detection Systems (IDS)HoneynetDNS-Based Botnet DetectionDefinitionNetwork security tools monitor and analyze network traffic for potential threatsNetwork of traps or decoy networks designed to attract cyberattacksTechnique monitoring and analyzing DNS traffic for botnet activityDetection focusNetwork traffic, system logs, and application activityCyberattackers’ behavior and tacticsDNS traffic patterns, requests, and responsesDetection methodsSignature-based, anomaly-based, machine learningDeception through vulnerabilitiesDomain reputation checks, anomaly detectionData collectedNetwork traffic, system logs, application activityAttack interactions with honeypotsDNS traffic, requests, responsesAlerting and responseGenerates alerts, blocks traffic, isolates systemsStudies attacks, handles malicious interactionsBlocks connections, redirects to sinkholes, alertsUse casesPrevents unauthorized access, breaches, policy violationsStudies attack tactics, gathers threat intelligenceReal-time botnet detection, low false positivesComplexityVaries based on IDS type (NIDS, HIDS, hybrid, multi-layered)Moderate to high due to setup and maintenanceModerate, relies on DNS traffic analysisEffectivenessEffective for detecting network-based threatsEffective for studying attacks, gathering threat intelEffective for real-time botnet detectionLimitationsCan be bypassed by sophisticated attacksSetup complexity, limited network coverageProne to evasion techniques, reliance on external dataDeploymentNetwork-wide, host-based, hybrid, multi-layeredControlled environment, production networksDNS infrastructure monitoringPopularityWidely used in cybersecurityLess common due to complexityIncreasing popularityFuture evolutionEvolving to integrate AI, threat intelligenceEvolving to address evasion techniquesEvolving to handle DNS tunnelingManagement overheadVaried based on IDS type and deploymentHigh for setup, maintenance, and monitoringModerate for DNS traffic analysisHow to Stop BotnetsNow we know how undesirable botnets are detected, let’s turn to how they can be stopped. Three main options exist: CAPTCHA, rate limiting, and bot protection.A. JS Challenges/CAPTCHAOne way to stop bad bot activity is by implementing JS Challenges and CAPTCHA on your websites or web applications. Both are effective security mechanisms used to protect against malicious bots, automated scripts, and other unauthorized automated activities, such as web scraping.Figure 4: CAPTCHAGcore provides JS Challenge and JS CAPTCHA solutions as part of Gcore WAAP. First, a JS challenge runs a small piece of JavaScript code in the user’s browser, which a bot typically cannot execute. This code checks for typical human behavior and browser characteristics to ensure the request comes from a legitimate user. Next, a CAPTCHA presents a task that is easy for humans but difficult for bots, such as identifying objects in images or solving simple puzzles. By completing these tasks, users prove they are human, thereby preventing automated systems from accessing or abusing web services.But there’s a downside: CAPTCHAs do not distinguish between beneficial bots (such as search engine crawlers or monitoring tools) and malicious bots. They can impede good bots from performing their intended functions. To allow good bots while still protecting against malicious ones, website administrators need to create exceptions or use alternative verification methods that can recognize and permit trusted bots. Gcore manages this process with our WAAP customers to ensure good bots continue to function effectively.B. Rate LimitingFigure 5: Rate LimitingA key characteristic of bots is their ability to automate and rapidly scale tasks. For example, bots can fill and submit forms much faster than humans, sending a large number of requests to the server and receiving an equally large number of responses. This can drain server resources and degrade site performance.Rate limiting controls the number of requests an IP address or IP range can make to a resource within a certain timeframe. This method mitigates bad bot activity on websites or web applications. Good bots don’t engage in this kind of behavior, so there’s not much risk of stopping their activity with a rate limiter.Gcore Rate Limiter protects your websites and web applications from excessive requests that signal bad bot activity. You can specify a set of rules dictating how many requests are allowed per IP address per second. Once this limit is exceeded, the requester will receive an HTTP 429 (Too Many Requests) error message.Stop Bad Bots with Gcore WAAPWhile bot detection techniques such as honeynets, DNS-based bot detectors, and intrusion detection systems (IDSs) are effective in their own right, a hybrid or multi-layered bot detection approach is the most accurate way to detect bot activity. Gcore WAAP (Web Application Firewall + API Protection) is the ultimate all-in-one bot detection and protection solution for your websites and web applications. Gcore WAAP incorporates bot protection with a web application firewall, API security, and advanced DDoS protection to offer enhanced enterprise-grade security.We protect against threats including and beyond the OWASP Top 10, addressing unpatched vulnerabilities and zero-day attacks by leveraging machine learning technologies. With Gcore WAAP, you enjoy API-specific protection and security against credential stuffing, account takeover, brute force attacks, and L7 DDoS attacks.Gcore WAAP is scalable to meet your needs, regardless of industry. It is also easy to deploy—no additional hardware, software, or changes in the code are required on your part. Once you send a request, Gcore will start protecting your web resources immediately. Request Gcore WAAP today and enjoy bot-free websites and web applications.ConclusionDetecting and stopping bad bots involves a combination of advanced techniques tailored to identify and mitigate malicious activities while allowing beneficial bots to operate. Implementing a multi-layered bot detection strategy, such as Gcore WAAP, ensures comprehensive protection against various threats while maintaining website performance and user experience.Gcore WAAP is integrated into Gcore’s global infrastructure, operating on 180+ global points of presence in Tier III and IV data centers, ensuring optimal performance, low latency worldwide, and outstanding security at the network’s edge. Secure your web applications and APIs against the most sophisticated cyber threats to safeguard your business’ reputation.Discover Gcore WAAP

What Is TCP DDoS Protection? | How Does It Work?

TCP DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks pose a significant threat to network infrastructure. They exploit vulnerabilities in the TCP protocol to overwhelm servers and disrupt legitimate traffic. This article explains the mechanics of TCP DDoS attacks, their potential impact, and effective strategies for prevention and mitigation. We’ll explore different types of TCP DDoS attacks, such as SYN floods and ACK floods, and discuss how to safeguard your systems against these threats using techniques like SYN cookies, traffic filtering, and load balancing.What Is a TCP DDoS Attack?A TCP DDoS attack (Transmission Control Protocol distributed denial-of-service) is a type of cyberattack that targets the TCP protocol, a fundamental communication protocol used in networked systems. DDoS attacks aim to disrupt normal traffic on a network by overwhelming it with a flood of malicious traffic.In a TCP DDoS attack, the attacker uses multiple compromised devices, often referred to as a botnet, to send a huge number of packets (small units of data) to a target network or server. The goal is to overload the network components, making them unable to handle legitimate requests from real users.The principle of a DDoS attackTCP is widely used for internet communications, including web browsing and email, but it wasn’t originally designed with robust security features. This lack of built-in security makes it vulnerable to exploitation. Hackers can send different types of TCP packets to execute their attacks. To understand this, let’s examine how TCP normally functions and what happens during a DDoS attack in the three most common TCP attack methods.How Does a TCP DDoS Attack Work?When a device, like your computer, wants to connect to a server, such as a website, it follows a three-step process known as the TCP handshake.How TCP normally worksEach type of TCP DDoS attack (SYN flood, SYN-ACK flood, and ACK flood) targets a different stage of this handshake. By overwhelming the server at each stage, the attacker disrupts the handshake process, causing downtime and service disruption for legitimate users.Let’s look at how TCP works and how different types of attacks exploit each stage.Initiating the Connection: SYN FloodNormal process: Your device sends a SYN packet to the server to request a connection.SYN flood attack: The attacker sends a massive number of SYN packets to the server, pretending to request connections. The server tries to respond to each request by sending SYN-ACK packets. However, since the attacker never completes the handshake, the server is left waiting with numerous half-open connections, consuming its resources and making it unable to handle legitimate requests.In an SYN flood attack, the attacker can use their own resources to send the requests or use TCP/IP hijacking to spoof legitimate IP addresses, making the malicious requests appear genuine. The spoofed systems do not respond to the SYN-ACK packets because they are unaware of the SYN packets sent on their behalf. Even though the server eventually drops these half-open connections, the sheer volume can exceed the server’s capacity, rendering it unresponsive to real clients.How a SYN flood attack worksAcknowledging the Request: SYN-ACK FloodNormal process: The server receives the SYN packet and responds with a SYN-ACK packet to acknowledge the connection request.SYN-ACK flood attack: The attacker sends a large number of SYN-ACK packets to the server without any corresponding SYN requests. The server has to process these unexpected packets, which uses up its resources and disrupts its ability to function properly.A SYN-ACK flood leverages an unusual approach by sending SYN-ACK packets to the server. Even though they are not part of a legitimate handshake, these packets must be processed, and a significant number of such packets can cause server-side disruptions.Completing the Handshake: ACK PacketsNormal process: Your device responds to the server’s SYN-ACK packet with an ACK packet, completing the handshake and establishing the connection.ACK flood attack: The attacker sends a flood of ACK packets to the server. These packets look like legitimate responses, so the server spends its resources processing them. This overwhelms the server, making it difficult for it to handle actual connections from real users.An ACK flood exploits the TCP function for data delivery acknowledgment. When a client receives the requested data, it sends an ACK message to inform the server that the data was successfully received. Attackers take advantage of this by sending a large number of forged ACK packets, which look identical to legitimate ones. This overwhelms the server, as it cannot distinguish between real and fake ACK messages, leading to resource exhaustion and service disruption.What Damage Can a TCP DDoS Attack Cause?A successful TCP DDoS attack overwhelms the target server with fake requests, rendering the server unavailable to real users and the services relying on it. The duration of the downtime and the criticality of the affected services can result in significant financial losses and reputational damage for the business. Unprotected businesses lose an average of $6,000 per minute during a DDoS attack. The unavailability of an online banking service or a medical institution can cause real distress and disruption with serious consequences for customers.DDoS attacks can also act as a diversion for the target company’s IT and security teams, acting as a smokescreen for other malicious activities. While the incident response team is focused on restoring the attacked server’s performance, hackers might exploit the distraction to carry out phishing attempts or other attacks on sensitive information stored on the server.How to Prevent TCP DDoS AttacksWhen an attack succeeds, it’s already too late to prevent it. Therefore, the best tactics against all kinds of DDoS attacks are defensive measures.One option is to use a comprehensive third-party DDoS mitigation service, like Gcore DDoS Protection, and leave it to the specialists. We recommend this approach, as using a robust, proven protection service is usually the most convenient and effective strategy.Alternatively, you can attempt to apply prevention mechanisms yourself. For TCP DDoS attacks, these include the following:SYN cookies: Protect against SYN flood attacks by adding a special value to SYN-ACK packets. The server will only restore the connection if this value is returned in the client’s ACK message, preventing half-open connections from consuming resources.Filtering and blocking: Identify and block traffic from irrelevant sources or patterns that seem suspicious.Blocking unused ports: Reduce the potential attack surface by closing ports that aren’t in use.Rate limiting: To prevent overload, set thresholds for the amount of traffic the server can handle, including the number of SYN requests.Load balancing and redundancy: Distribute traffic using load balancers and have backup servers ready to handle increased traffic volumes.Caching and CDNs: Use caching and content delivery networks to minimize the resources needed to handle repetitive requests.However, following best security practices doesn’t eliminate the risk of an attack entirely, so it’s also important to monitor traffic for spikes and analyze such spikes for anomalies in order to react promptly in case of an attack. If you’re undertaking DDoS mitigation yourself, this will involve some manual processes. Third-party providers will analyze traffic on your behalf, and some—like Gcore—offer real-time visibility into traffic so you can watch DDoS attacks being stopped as they happen.Thwart Attackers with Gcore DDoS ProtectionOur global network of scrubbing centers is engineered to keep your business operational during a DDoS attack. Your customers will experience uninterrupted functionality even during a DDoS attack, no matter the type. Gcore scrubbing centers are equipped with backup copies of critical systems and network equipment, underscoring our dedication to providing continuous service and robust security.Gcore DDoS Protection offers businesses the following benefits:Robust infrastructure: With over 148 Tbps of network capacity and a global network that’s constantly learning from millions of internet properties, Gcore protects you against the largest and most sophisticated attacks.Proprietary DDoS protection solution: Tailored specifically to ward off a broad spectrum of DDoS threats.Detection of low-frequency attacks from the first query: Even the most subtle attacks are detected.Exceptionally low false-positive rate (less than 0.01%): Maintains normal operations by accurately distinguishing between legitimate traffic and attack vectors.Real-time statistics in the control panel: Offers immediate insights into traffic patterns and potential threats, allowing for swift action.Server protection in your data center: Extends Gcore’s protective measures directly to your infrastructure through a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunneling protocol, regardless of location.24/7, highly qualified technical support: Ensures that expert help is always on hand, day or night, to address any concerns or attacks.Exceptional uptime rate with 99.99% SLA: A seamless and uninterrupted user experience backed up by Tier III and IV data centers.ConclusionDDoS attacks, including various kinds of TCP attacks, are still a real threat to online services and can cause real damage to businesses. Preparing for the attacks in advance, however, can help to mitigate their consequences or avoid losses completely.Experience the peace of mind that comes with advanced protection with Gcore DDoS Protection for comprehensive security against DDoS attacks. With over 1 Tbps of total filtering capacity and a 99.99% SLA, your digital assets remain protected from even the most complex, sophisticated, and sustained attacks. Gcore helps to maintain the continuity of your online services, regardless of potential attackers’ motivations.Explore Gcore DDoS Protection

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