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Expert insights

The rise of DDoS attacks on Minecraft and gaming

The gaming industry is a prime target for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which flood servers with malicious traffic to disrupt gameplay. These attacks can cause server outages, leading to player frustration, and financial losses.Minecraft, one of the world’s most popular games with 166 million monthly players, is no exception. But this isn’t just a Minecraft problem. From Call of Duty to GTA, gaming servers worldwide face relentless DDoS attacks as the most-targeted industry, costing game publishers and server operators millions in lost revenue.This article explores what’s driving this surge in gaming-related DDoS attacks, and what lessons can be learned from Minecraft’s experience.How DDoS attacks have disrupted MinecraftMinecraft’s open-ended nature makes it a prime testing ground for cyberattacks. Over the years, major Minecraft servers have been taken down by large-scale DDoS incidents:MCCrash botnet attack: A cross-platform botnet targeted private Minecraft servers, crashing thousands of them in minutes.Wynncraft MC DDoS attack: A Mirai botnet variant launched a multi-terabit DDoS attack on a large Minecraft server. Players could not connect, disrupting gameplay and forcing the server operators to deploy emergency mitigation efforts to restore service.SquidCraft Game attack: DDoS attackers disrupted a Twitch Rivals tournament, cutting off an entire competing team.Why are Minecraft servers frequent DDoS targets?DDoS attacks are widespread in the gaming industry, but certain factors make gaming servers especially vulnerable. Unlike other online services, where brief slowdowns might go unnoticed, even a few milliseconds of lag in a competitive game can ruin the experience. Attackers take advantage of this reliance on stability, using DDoS attacks to create chaos, gain an unfair edge, or even extort victims.Gaming communities rely on always-on availabilityUnlike traditional online services, multiplayer games require real-time responsiveness. A few seconds of lag can ruin a match, and server downtime can send frustrated players to competitors. Attackers exploit this pressure, launching DDoS attacks to disrupt gameplay, extort payments, or damage reputations.How competitive gaming fuels DDoS attacksUnlike other industries where cybercriminals seek financial gain, many gaming DDoS attacks are fueled by rivalry. Attackers might:Sabotage online tournaments by forcing competitors offline.Target popular streamers, making their live games unplayable.Attack rival servers to drive players elsewhere.Minecraft has seen all of these scenarios play out.The rise of DDoS-for-hire servicesDDoS attacks used to require technical expertise. Now, DDoS-as-a-service platforms offer attacks for as little as $10 per hour, making it easier than ever to disrupt gaming servers. The increasing accessibility of these attacks is a growing concern, especially as large-scale incidents continue to emerge.How gaming companies can defend against DDoS attacksWhile attacks are becoming more sophisticated, effective defenses do exist. By implementing proactive security measures, gaming companies can minimize risks and maintain uninterrupted gameplay for customers. Here are four key strategies to protect gaming servers from DDoS attacks.#1 Deploy always-on DDoS protectionGame publishers and server operators need real-time, automated DDoS mitigation. Gcore DDoS Protection analyzes traffic patterns, filters malicious requests, and keeps gaming servers online, even during an attack. In July 2024, Gcore mitigated a massive 1 Tbps DDoS attack on Minecraft servers, highlighting how gaming platforms remain prime targets. While the exact source of such attacks isn’t always straightforward, their frequency and intensity reinforce the need for robust security measures to protect gaming communities from service disruptions.#2 Strengthen network securityGaming companies can reduce attack surfaces in the following ways:Using rate limiting to block excessive requestsImplementing firewalls and intrusion detection systemsObfuscating server IPs to prevent attackers from finding them#3 Educate players and moderatorsSince many DDoS attacks come from within gaming communities, education is key. Server admins, tournament organizers, and players should be trained to recognize and report suspicious behavior.#4 Monitor for early attack indicatorsDDoS attacks often start with warning signs: sudden traffic spikes, frequent disconnections, or network slowdowns. Proactive monitoring can help stop attacks before they escalate.Securing the future of online gamingDDoS attacks against Minecraft servers are part of a broader trend affecting the gaming industry. Whether driven by competition, extortion, or sheer disruption, these attacks compromise gameplay, frustrate players, and cause financial losses. Learning from Minecraft’s challenges can help server operators and game developers build stronger defenses and prevent similar attacks across all gaming platforms.While proactive measures like traffic monitoring and server hardening are essential, investing in purpose-built DDoS protection is the most effective way to guarantee uninterrupted gameplay and protect gaming communities. Gcore provides advanced, multi-layered DDoS protection specifically designed for gaming servers, including countermeasures tailored to Minecraft and other gaming servers. With a deep understanding of the industry’s security challenges, we help server owners keep their platforms secure, responsive, and resilient—no matter the type of attack.Want to take the next step in securing your gaming servers?Download our ultimate guide to preventing Minecraft DDoS

March 27, 2025 3 min read
Expert insights

How AI enhances bot protection and anti-automation measures

Bots and automated attacks have become constant issues for organizations across industries, threatening everything from website availability to sensitive customer data. As these attacks become increasingly sophisticated, traditional bot mitigation methods struggle to keep pace. Businesses face a growing need to protect their applications, APIs, and data without diminishing the efficiency of essential automated parts and bots that enhance user experiences.That’s where AI comes in. AI-enabled WAAP is a game-changing solution that marries the adaptive intelligence of AI with information gleaned from historical data. This means WAAP can detect and neutralize malicious bot and anti-automation activity with unprecedented precision. Read on to discover how.The bot problem: why automation threats are growingJust a decade ago, use cases for AI and bots were completely different than they are today. While some modern use cases are benign, such as indexing search engines or helping to monitor website performance, malicious bots account for a large proportion of web traffic. Malicious bots have grown from simple machines that follow scripts to complex creations that can convincingly simulate human behaviors.What makes bots particularly dangerous is their ability to evade detection by mimicking human-like patterns. Simple measures like CAPTCHA tests or IP blocking no longer suffice. Businesses need more intelligent systems capable of identifying and mitigating these evolving threats without impacting real users.Defeating automation threats with AI and machine learningToday’s bots don’t just click on links. They fake human activity convincingly, and defeating them involves a lot more than just simple detection. Battling modern bots requires fighting fire with fire by implementing machine learning and AI to create defensive strategies such as blocking credential stuffing, blocking data scraping, and performing behavioral tagging and profiling.Blocking credential stuffingCredential stuffing is a form of attack in which stolen login credentials are used to gain access to user accounts. AI/ML systems can identify such an attack by patterns, including multiple failed logins or logins from unusual locations. These systems learn with each new attempt, strengthening their defenses after every attack attempt.Data scraping blockingScraping bots can harvest everything from pricing data to intellectual property. AI models detect these through the repetitive patterns of requests or abnormally high frequencies of interactions. Unlike basic anti-scraping tools, AI learns new ways that scraping is done, keeping businesses one step ahead.Behavioral tagging and profilingAI-powered systems are quite good at analyzing user behavior. They study the tendencies of session parameters, IP addresses, and interaction rates. For instance, most regular users save session data, while bots do not prioritize this action. The AI system flags suspicious behavior and highlights the user in question for review.These systems also count the recurrence of certain actions, such as clicks or requests. The AI is supposed to build an in-depth profile for every IP or user and find something out of the ordinary to suggest a way to block or throttle the traffic.IP rescoring for smarter detectionOne of the unique capabilities of AI-driven bot protection is Dynamic IP Scoring. Based on external behavior data and threat intelligence, each incoming IP is accorded a risk score. For example, an IP displaying a number of failed login attempts could be suspicious. If it persists, that score worsens, and the system blocks the traffic.This dynamic scoring system does not focus on mere potential threats. It also allows IPs to “recover” if their behavior normalizes, reducing false positives and helping to ensure that real users are not inadvertently blocked.Practical insights: operationalizing AI-driven bot protectionImplementing AI/ML-driven bot protection requires an understanding of both the technology and the operational context in which it’s deployed. Businesses can take advantage of several unique features offered by platforms like Gcore WAAP:Tagging system synergy: Technology-generated tags, like the Gcore Tagging and Analysis Classification and Tagging (TACT) engine, are used throughout the platform to enforce fine-grained security policies and share conclusions and information between various solution components. Labeling threats allows users to easily track potential threats, provides input for ML analysis, and contributes data to an attacker profile that can be applied and acted on globally. This approach ensures an interlinked approach in which all components interact to mitigate threats effectively.Scalable defense mechanisms: With businesses expanding their online footprints, platforms like Gcore scale seamlessly to accommodate new users and applications. The cloud-based architecture makes continuous learning and adaptation possible, which is critical to long-term protection against automation threats.Cross-domain knowledge sharing: One of the salient features of Gcore WAAP is cross-domain functionality, which means the platform can draw from a large shared database of user behavior and threat intelligence. Even newly onboarded users immediately benefit from the insights gained by the platform from its historical data and are protected against previously encountered threats.Security insights: Gcore WAAP’s Security Insights feature provides visibility into security configurations and policy enforcement, helping users identify disabled policies that may expose them to threats. While the platform’s tagging system, powered by the TACT engine, classifies traffic and identifies potential risks, separate microservices handle policy recommendations and mitigation strategies. This functionality reduces the burden on security teams while enhancing overall protection.API discovery and protection: API security is among the most targeted entry points for automated attacks due to APIs’ ability to open up data exchange between applications. Protecting APIs requires advanced capabilities that can accurately identify suspicious activities without disrupting legitimate traffic. Gcore WAAP’s API discovery engine achieves this with a 97–99% accuracy rate, leveraging AI/ML to detect and prevent threats.Leveraging collective intelligence: Gcore WAAP’s cross-domain functionality creates a shared database of known threats and behaviors, allowing data from one client to protect the entire customer base. New users benefit immediately from the platform’s historical insights, bypassing lengthy learning curves. For example, a flagged suspicious IP can be automatically blocked across the network for faster, more efficient protection.Futureproof your security with Gcore’s AI-enabled WAAPBusinesses are constantly battling increasingly sophisticated botnet threats and have to be much more proactive regarding their security mechanisms. AI and machine learning have become integral to fighting bot-driven attacks, providing an unprecedented level of precision and flexibility that no traditional security systems can keep up with. With advanced behavior analysis, adaptive threat models, and cross-domain knowledge sharing, Gcore WAAP establishes new standards of bot protection.Curious to learn more about WAAP? Check out our ebook for cybersecurity best practices, the most common threats to look out for, and how WAAP can safeguard your businesses’ digital assets. Or, get in touch with our team to learn more about Gcore WAAP.Learn why WAAP is essential for modern businesses with a free ebook

March 24, 2025 4 min read
Expert insights

How to choose the right technology tools to combat digital piracy

One of the biggest challenges facing the media and entertainment industry is digital piracy, where stolen content is redistributed without authorization. This issue causes significant revenue and reputational losses for media companies. Consumers who use these unregulated services also face potential threats from malware and other security risks.Governments, regulatory bodies, and private organizations are increasingly taking the ramifications of digital piracy seriously. In the US, new legislation has been proposed that would significantly crack down on this type of activity, while in Europe, cloud providers are being held liable by the courts for enabling piracy. Interpol and authorities in South Korea have also teamed up to stop piracy in its tracks.In the meantime, you can use technology to help stop digital piracy and safeguard your company’s assets. This article explains anti-piracy technology tools that can help content providers, streaming services, and website owners safeguard their proprietary media: geo-blocking, digital rights management (DRM), secure tokens, and referrer validation.Geo-blockingGeo-blocking (or country access policy) restricts access to content based on a user’s geographic location, preventing unauthorized access and limiting content distribution to specific regions. It involves setting rules to allow or deny access based on the user’s IP address and location in order to comply with regional laws or licensing agreements.Pros:Controls access by region so that content is only available in authorized marketsHelps comply with licensing agreementsCons:Can be bypassed with VPNs or proxiesRequires additional security measures to be fully effectiveTypical use cases: Geo-blocking is used by streaming platforms to restrict access to content, such as sports events or film premieres, based on location and licensing agreements. It’s also helpful for blocking services in high-risk areas but should be used alongside other anti-piracy tools for better and more comprehensive protection.Referrer validationReferrer validation is a technique that checks where a content request is coming from and prevents unauthorized websites from directly linking to and using content. It works by checking the “referrer” header sent by the browser to determine the source of the request. If the referrer is from an unauthorized domain, the request is blocked or redirected. This allows only trusted sources to access your content.Pros:Protects bandwidth by preventing unauthorized access and misuse of resourcesGuarantees content is only accessed by trusted sources, preventing piracy or abuseCons:Can accidentally block legitimate requests if referrer headers are not correctly sentMay not work as intended if users access content via privacy-focused methods that strip referrer data, leading to false positivesTypical use cases: Content providers commonly use referrer validation to prevent unauthorized streaming or hotlinking, which involves linking to media from another website or server without the owner’s permission. It’s especially useful for streamers who want to make sure their content is only accessed through their official platforms. However, it should be combined with other security measures for more substantial protection.Secure tokensSecure tokens and protected temporary links provide enhanced security by granting temporary access to specific resources so only authorized users can access sensitive content. Secure tokens are unique identifiers that, when linked to a user’s account, allow them to access protected resources for a limited time. Protected temporary links further restrict access by setting expiration dates, meaning the link becomes invalid after a set time.Pros:Provides a high level of security by allowing only authorized users to access contentTokens are time-sensitive, which prevents unauthorized access after they expireHarder to circumvent compared to traditional password protection methodsCons:Risk of token theft if they’re not managed or stored securelyRequires ongoing management and rotation of tokens, adding complexityCan be challenging to implement properly, especially in high-traffic environmentsTypical use cases: Streaming platforms use secure tokens and protected temporary links so only authenticated users can access premium content, like movies or live streams. They are also useful for secure file downloads or limiting access to exclusive resources, making them effective for protecting digital content and preventing unauthorized sharing or piracy.Digital rights managementDigital rights management (DRM) refers to a set of technologies designed to protect digital content from unauthorized use so that only authorized users can access, copy, or share it, according to licensing agreements. DRM uses encryption, licensing, and authentication mechanisms to control access to digital resources so that only authorized users can view or interact with the content. While DRM offers strong protection against piracy, it comes with higher complexity and setup costs than other security methods.Pros:Robust protection against unauthorized copying, sharing, and piracyHelps safeguard intellectual property and revenue streamsEnforces compliance with licensing agreementsCons:Can be complex and expensive to implementMay cause inconvenience for users, such as limiting playback on unauthorized devices or restricting sharingPotential system vulnerabilities or compatibility issuesTypical use cases: DRM is commonly used by streaming services to protect movies, TV shows, and music from piracy. It can also be used for e-books, software, and video games, ensuring that content is only used by licensed users according to the terms of the agreement. DRM solutions can vary, from software-based solutions for media files to hardware-based or cloud-based DRM for more secure distribution.Protect your content from digital piracy with GcoreDigital piracy remains a significant challenge for the media and entertainment industry as it poses risks in terms of both revenue and security. To combat this, partnering with a cloud provider that can actively monitor and protect your digital assets through advanced multi-layer security measures is essential.At Gcore, our CDN and streaming solutions give rights holders peace of mind that their assets are protected, offering the features mentioned in this article and many more besides. We also offer advanced cybersecurity tools, including WAAP (web application and API protection) and DDoS protection, which further integrate with and enhance these security measures. We provide trial limitations for streamers to curb piracy attempts and respond swiftly to takedown requests from rights holders and authorities, so you can rest assured that your assets are in safe hands.Get in touch to learn more about combatting digital piracy

March 21, 2025 4 min read
Expert insights

5 ways to keep gaming customers engaged with optimal performance

Nothing frustrates a gamer more than lag, stuttering, or server crashes. When technical issues interfere with gameplay, it can be a deal breaker. Players know that the difference between winning and losing should be down to a player’s skill, not lag, latency issues, or slow connection speed—and they want gaming companies to make that possible every time they play.And gamers aren’t shy about expressing their opinion if a game hasn’t met their expectations. A game can live or die by word-of-mouth, and, in a highly competitive industry, gamers are more than happy to spend their time and money elsewhere. A huge 78% of gamers have “rage-quit” a game due to latency issues.That’s why reliable infrastructure is crucial for your gaming offering. A solid foundation is good for your bottom line and your reputation and, most importantly, provides a great gaming experience for customers, keeping them happy, loyal, and engaged. This article suggests five technologies to boost player engagement in real-world gaming scenarios.The technology powering seamless gaming experiencesHaving the right technology behind the scenes is essential to deliver a smooth, high-performance gaming experience. From optimizing game deployment and content delivery to enabling seamless multiplayer scalability, these technologies work together to reduce latency, prevent server overloads, and guarantee fast, reliable connections.Bare Metal Servers provide dedicated compute power for high-performing massive multiplayer games without virtualization overhead.CDN solutions reduce download times and minimize patch distribution delays, allowing players to get into the action faster.Managed Kubernetes simplifies multiplayer game scaling, handling sudden spikes in player activity.Load Balancers distribute traffic intelligently, preventing server overload during peak times.Edge Cloud reduces latency for real-time interactions, improving responsiveness for multiplayer gaming.Let’s look at five real-world scenarios illustrating how the right infrastructure can significantly enhance customer experience—leading to smooth, high-performance gaming, even during peak demand.#1 Running massive multiplayer games with bare metal serversImagine a multiplayer FPS (first-person shooter gaming) game studio that’s preparing for launch and needs low-latency, high-performance infrastructure to handle real-time player interactions. They can strategically deploy Gcore Bare Metal servers across global locations, reducing ping times and providing smooth gameplay.Benefit: Dedicated bare metal resources deliver consistent performance, eliminating lag spikes and server crashes during peak hours. Stable connections and seamless playing are assured for precision gameplay.#2 Seamless game updates and patch delivery with CDN integrationLet’s say you have a game that regularly pushes extensive updates to millions of players worldwide. Instead of overwhelming origin servers, they can use Gcore CDN to cache and distribute patches, reducing download times and preventing bottlenecks.Benefit: Faster updates for players, reduced server tension, and seamless game launches and updates.#3 Scaling multiplayer games with Managed KubernetesAfter a big update, a game may experience a sudden spike in the number of players. With Gcore Managed Kubernetes, the game autoscales its infrastructure, dynamically adjusting resources to meet player demand without downtime.Benefit: Elastic, cost-efficient scaling keeps matchmaking fast and smooth, even under heavy loads.#4 Load balancing for high-availability game serversAn online multiplayer game with a global base requires low latency and high availability. Gcore Load Balancers distribute traffic across multiple regional server clusters, reducing ping times and preventing server congestion during peak hours.Benefit: Consistent, lag-free gameplay with improved regional connectivity and failover protection.#5 Supporting live events and seasonal game launchesIn the case of a gaming company hosting a global in-game event, attracting millions of players simultaneously, leveraging Gcore CDN, Load Balancers, and autoscaling cloud infrastructure can prevent crashes and provide a seamless and uninterrupted experience.Benefit: Players enjoy smooth, real-time participation while the infrastructure is stable under extreme load.Building customer loyalty with reliable gaming infrastructureIn a challenging climate, focusing on maintaining customer happiness and loyalty is vital. The most foolproof way to deliver this is by investing in reliable and secure infrastructure behind the scenes. With infrastructure that’s both scalable and high-performing, you can deliver uninterrupted, seamless experiences that keep players engaged and satisfied.Since its foundation in 2014, Gcore has been a reliable partner for game studios looking to deliver seamless, high-performance gaming experiences worldwide, including Nitrado, Saber, and Wargaming. If you’d like to learn more about our global infrastructure and how it provides a scalable, high-performance solution for game distribution and real-time games, get in touch.Talk to our gaming infrastructure experts

March 19, 2025 3 min read
Expert insights

How to achieve compliance and security in AI inference

AI inference applications today handle an immense volume of confidential information, so prioritizing data privacy is paramount. Industries such as finance, healthcare, and government rely on AI to process sensitive data—detecting fraudulent transactions, analyzing patient records, and identifying cybersecurity threats in real time. While AI inference enhances efficiency, decision-making, and automation, neglecting security and compliance can lead to severe financial penalties, regulatory violations, and data breaches. Industries handling sensitive information—such as finance, healthcare, and government—must carefully manage AI deployments to avoid costly fines, legal action, and reputational damage.Without robust security measures, AI inference environments present a unique security challenge as they process real-time data and interact directly with users. This article explores the security challenges enterprises face and best practices for guaranteeing compliance and protecting AI inference workloads.Key inference security and compliance challengesAs businesses scale AI-powered applications, they will likely encounter challenges in meeting regulatory requirements, preventing unauthorized access, and making sure that AI models (whether proprietary or open source) produce reliable and unaltered outputs.Data privacy and sovereigntyRegulations such as GDPR (Europe), CCPA (California), HIPAA (United States, healthcare), and PCI DSS (finance) impose strict rules on data handling, dictating where and how AI models can be deployed. Businesses using public cloud-based AI models must verify that data is processed and stored in appropriate locations to avoid compliance violations.Additionally, compliance constraints restrict certain AI models in specific regions. Companies must carefully evaluate whether their chosen models align with regulatory requirements in their operational areas.Best practices:To maintain compliance and avoid legal risks:Deploy AI models in regionally restricted environments to keep sensitive data within legally approved jurisdictions.Use Smart Routing with edge inference to process data closer to its source, reducing cross-border security risks.Model security risksBad actors can manipulate AI models to produce incorrect outputs, compromising their reliability and integrity. This is known as adversarial manipulation, where small, intentional alterations to input data can deceive AI models. For example, researchers have demonstrated that minor changes to medical images can trick AI diagnostic models into misclassifying benign tumors as malignant. In a security context, attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to bypass fraud detection in finance or manipulate AI-driven cybersecurity systems, leading to unauthorized transactions or undetected threats.To prevent such threats, businesses must implement strong authentication, encryption strategies, and access control policies for AI models.Best practices:To prevent adversarial attacks and maintain model integrity:Enforce strong authentication and authorization controls to limit access to AI models.Encrypt model inputs and outputs to prevent data interception and tampering.Endpoint protection for AI deploymentsThe security of AI inference does not stop at the model level. It also depends on where and how models are deployed.For private deployments, securing AI endpoints is crucial to prevent unauthorized access.For public cloud inference, leveraging CDN-based security can help protect workloads against cyber threats.Processing data within the country of origin can further reduce compliance risks while improving latency and security.AI models rely on low-latency, high-performance processing, but securing these workloads against cyber threats is as critical as optimizing performance. CDN-based security strengthens AI inference protection in the following ways:Encrypts model interactions with SSL/TLS to safeguard data transmissions.Implements rate limiting to prevent excessive API requests and automated attacks.Enhances authentication controls to restrict access to authorized users and applications.Blocks bot-driven threats that attempt to exploit AI vulnerabilities.Additionally, CDN-based security supports compliance by:Using Smart Routing to direct AI workloads to designated inference nodes, helping align processing with data sovereignty laws.Optimizing delivery and security while maintaining adherence to regional compliance requirements.While CDNs enhance security and performance by managing traffic flow, compliance ultimately depends on where the AI model is hosted and processed. Smart Routing allows organizations to define policies that help keep inference within legally approved regions, reducing compliance risks.Best practices:To protect AI inference environments from endpoint-related threats, you should:Deploy monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access, anomalies, and potential security breaches in real-time.Implement logging and auditing mechanisms for compliance reporting and proactive security tracking.Secure AI inference with Gcore Everywhere InferenceAI inference security and compliance are critical as businesses handle sensitive data across multiple regions. Organizations need a robust, security-first AI infrastructure to mitigate risks, reduce latency, and maintain compliance with data sovereignty laws.Gcore’s edge network and CDN-based security provide multi-layered protection for AI workloads, combining DDoS protection and WAAP (web application and API protection. By keeping inference closer to users and securing every stage of the AI pipeline, Gcore helps businesses protect data, optimize performance, and meet industry regulations.Explore Gcore AI Inference

March 17, 2025 3 min read
Expert insights

Mobile World Congress 2025: the year of AI

As Mobile World Congress wrapped up for another year, it was apparent that only one topic was on everyone’s minds: artificial intelligence.Major players—such as Google, Ericsson, and Deutsche Telekom—showcased the various ways in which they’re piloting AI applications—from operations to infrastructure management and customer interactions. It’s clear there is a great desire to see AI move from the research lab into the real world, where it can make a real difference to people’s everyday lives. The days of more theoretical projects and gimmicky robots seem to be behind us: this year, it was all about real-world applications.MWC has long been an event for telecommunications companies to launch their latest innovations, and this year was no different. Telco companies demonstrated how AI is now essential in managing network performance, reducing operational downtime, and driving significant cost savings. The industry consensus is that AI is no longer experimental but a critical component of modern telecommunications. While many of the applications showcased were early-stage pilots and stakeholders are still figuring out what wide-scale, real-time AI means in practice, the ambition to innovate and move forward on adoption is clear.Here are three of the most exciting AI developments that caught our eye in Barcelona:Conversational AIChatbots were probably the key telco application showcased across MWC, with applications ranging from contact centers, in-field repairs, personal assistants transcribing calls, booking taxis and making restaurant reservations, to emergency responders using intelligent assistants to manage critical incidents. The easy-to-use, conversational nature of chatbots makes them an attractive means to deploy AI across functions, as it doesn’t require users to have any prior hands-on machine learning expertise.AI for first respondersEmergency responders often rely on telco partners to access novel, technology-enabled solutions to address their challenges. One such example is the collaboration between telcos and large language model (LLM) companies to deliver emergency-response chatbots. These tailored chatbots integrate various decision-making models, enabling them to quickly parse vast data streams and suggest actionable steps for human operators in real time.This collaboration not only speeds up response times during critical situations but also enhances the overall effectiveness of emergency services, ensuring that support reaches those in need faster.Another interesting example in this field was the Deutsche Telekom drone with an integrated LTE base station, which can be deployed in emergencies to deliver temporary coverage to an affected area or extend the service footprint during sports events and festivals, for example.Enhancing Radio Access Networks (RAN)Telecommunication companies are increasingly turning to advanced applications to manage the growing complexity of their networks and provide high-quality, uninterrupted service for their customers.By leveraging artificial intelligence, these applications can proactively monitor network performance, detect anomalies in real time, and automatically implement corrective measures. This not only enhances network reliability but reduces operational costs and minimizes downtime, paving the way for more efficient, agile, and customer-focused network management.One notable example was the Deutsche Telekom and Google Cloud collaboration: RAN Guardian. Built using Gemini 2.0, this agent analyzes network behavior, identifies performance issues, and takes corrective measures to boost reliability, lower operational costs, and improve customer experience.As telecom networks become more complex, conventional rule-based automation struggles to handle real-time challenges. In contrast, agentic AI employs large language models (LLMs) and sophisticated reasoning frameworks to create intelligent systems capable of independent thought, action, and learning.What’s next in the world of AI?The innovation on show at MWC 2025 confirms that AI is rapidly transitioning from a research topic to a fundamental component of telecom and enterprise operations.  Wide-scale AI adoption is, however, a balancing act between cost, benefit, and risk management.Telcos are global by design, operating in multiple regions with varying business needs and local regulations. Ensuring service continuity and a good return on investment from AI-driven applications while carefully navigating regional laws around data privacy and security is no mean feat.If you want to learn more about incorporating AI into your business operations, we can help.Gcore Everywhere Inference significantly simplifies large-scale AI deployments by providing a simple-to-use serverless inference tool that abstracts the complexity of AI hardware and allows users to deploy and manage AI inference globally with just a few clicks. It enables fully automated, auto-scalable deployment of inference workloads across multiple geographic locations, making it easier to handle fluctuating requirements, thus simplifying deployment and maintenance.Learn more about Gcore Everywhere Inference

March 14, 2025 3 min read
Expert insights

Your ultimate guide to WAAP is here—get the ebook

Our latest ebook Beyond WAF: the ultimate guide to WAAP explores the next generation of cybersecurity and how WAAP can help businesses protect their digital assets.In 2025, a standard WAF (web application firewall) is no longer enough to detect threats and protect companies from malware and other malicious attacks. The rise of artificial intelligence, in particular, is increasing the volume and severity of cyberattacks. Businesses need to adopt WAAP to stay protected, and this ebook explains exactly how and why.What does the ebook cover?Here’s a quick overview of what you can look forward to when you download the ebook.The evolution of cyber threats: It can be hard to keep up with the latest advancements in cyberattacks, particularly with the increasing prevalence of AI—which can be both a boon and a menace. The ebook gives an overview of the cyberthreat landscape and how WAAP, which uses advanced AI to detect threats, consistently monitors and mitigates new and evolving types of attacks.The most common types of threats in 2025: To keep your web applications and APIs protected, it’s important to know what the risks are. The ebook explores different methods that hackers use—such as SQL injections, zero-day attacks, and DDoS attacks— as well as the consequences of such breaches.The non-negotiables of a cybersecurity solution: When looking for a security solution, it may be tempting to cut corners but the potential damage in terms of financial and reputational harm is too big to risk. The ebook explores what’s not up for debate when deciding on a security solution.You’ll also discover real-world use cases, expert security tips, and advice on just how easy it is to implement WAAP into your existing security setup.Discover more about how WAAP can help your businessTo learn more about the ins and outs of WAAP and delve deeper into how cyber threats are changing, how security solutions have evolved, and how you can best protect your business from attacks, get the ebook here.Download the ebook now to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats

March 12, 2025 2 min read
News

The latest updates for Gcore Video Streaming: lower latency, smarter AI, and seamless scaling

At Gcore, we’re committed to continuous innovation in video streaming. This month, we’re introducing significant advancements in low-latency streaming, AI-driven enhancements, and infrastructure upgrades, helping you deliver seamless, high-quality content at scale.Game-changing low-latency streamingOur latest low-latency live streaming solutions are now fully available in production, delivering real-time engagement with unmatched precision:WebRTC to HLS/DASH: Now in production, enabling real-time transcoding and delivery for WebRTC streams using HTTP-based LL-HLS and LL-DASH.LL-DASH with two-second latency: Optimized for ultra-fast content delivery via our global CDN, enabling minimal delay for seamless streaming.LL-HLS with three-second latency: Designed to deliver an uninterrupted and near-real-time live streaming experience.Gcore’s live streaming dashboard with OBS Studio integration, enabling real-time transcoding and delivery with low-latency HLS/DASHWhat this means for youWith glass-to-glass latency as low as 2–3 seconds, these advancements unlock new possibilities for real-time engagement. Whether you’re hosting live auctions, powering interactive gaming experiences, or enabling seamless live shopping, Gcore Video Streaming’s low-latency options keep your viewers connected without delay.Our solution integrates effortlessly with hls.js, dash.js, native Safari support, and our HTML web player, guaranteeing smooth playback across devices. Backed by our global CDN infrastructure, you can count on reliable, high-performance streaming at scale, no matter where your audience is.Exciting enhancements: AI and live streaming featuresWe’re making live streaming smarter with cutting-edge AI capabilities:Live stream recording with overlays: Record live streams while adding dynamic overlays such as webcam pop-ups, chat, alerts, advertisement banners, and time or weather widgets. This feature allows you to create professional, branded content without post-production delays. Whether you’re broadcasting events, tutorials, or live commerce streams, overlays help maintain a polished and engaging viewer experience.AI-powered VOD subtitles: Advanced AI automatically generates and translates subtitles into more than 100 languages, helping you expand your content’s reach to global audiences. This ensures accessibility while improving engagement across different regions.Deliver seamless live experiences with GcoreOur commitment to innovation continues, bringing advancements to enhance performance, efficiency, and streaming quality. Stay tuned for even lower latency and more AI-driven enhancements coming soon!Gcore Video Streaming empowers you to deliver seamless live experiences for auctions, gaming, live shopping, and other real-time applications. Get reliable, high-performance content delivery—whether you’re scaling to reach global audiences or delivering unique experiences to niche communities.Try Gcore Video Streaming today

March 10, 2025 2 min read
Industry trends

How cloud infrastructure maximizes efficiency in the gaming industry

The gaming industry is currently facing several challenges, with many companies having laid off staff over the past year due to rising development costs and a fall in product demand post-pandemic. These difficult circumstances mean it’s more important than ever for gaming firms of all sizes to maximize efficiency and keep costs down. One way companies can do this is by implementing reliable infrastructure that supports the speedy development of new games.This article explores how dependable cloud infrastructure at the edge—including virtual machines, bare metal, and GPUs—helps gaming companies work more efficiently. Edge computing allows developers to build, test, and deploy games faster while minimizing latency, reducing server costs, and handling complex rendering and AI workloads.The key benefits of edge cloud infrastructure for gamingReliable cloud infrastructure benefits gaming companies in a variety of ways. It’s a replacement for relying on outdated arrangements such as proprietary on-premises data centers, which lack flexibility, have limited scalability, require significant upfront investment, and need teams that are fully dedicated to their maintenance and management. Cloud compute resources, including virtual machines, bare metal servers, and GPUs, can support your game development and testing more cost-effectively, keeping your gaming company competitive in the market and cost efficient.Here’s how reliable cloud infrastructure can benefit your business:Speeds up development cycles: Cloud-based infrastructure accelerates game builds, testing, and deployment by providing on-demand access to high-performance compute resources. Developers can run several testing environments and collaborate from anywhere.Scales on demand: From indie studios launching a first title to major AAA developers handling millions of players, cloud solutions can scale resources instantly. Storage options and load balancing enable infrastructure to adapt to player demand, preventing performance issues during peak times while optimizing costs during off-peak periods.Offers low-latency performance: Cloud solutions reduce lag, optimize the experience for developers and end-users by deploying servers close to players, and improve their in-game experience.Delivers high-performance compute: Bare Metal servers and GPU instances deliver the power required for game development by providing dedicated resources. This enables faster rendering, complex simulations, and seamless real-time processing for graphics-intensive applications, leading to smooth gameplay experiences and faster iteration cycles.Maximizes cost efficiency: Flexible pricing models help studios optimize costs while maintaining high performance. Pay-as-you-go plans mean companies only pay for the resources used. Commitment plans that give discounts for use cases that require consistent/planned capacity are also available.How Gcore cloud infrastructure works: real-life examplesGcore cloud infrastructure can be helpful in many common scenarios for developers. Here are some real-world examples demonstrating how Gcore virtual machines and GPUs can help:Example 1: Faster game building and testing with scalable virtual machinesLet’s say a game studio developing a cross-platform game needs to compile large amounts of code and assets quickly. By leveraging Gcore’s Virtual Machines, they can create automated CI/CD pipelines that speed up game builds and testing across different environments, reducing wait times. Scalable virtual machines allow developers to spin up multiple test environments on demand, running compatibility and performance tests simultaneously.Example 2: High-performance graphics rendering with GPU computeVisually rich games (like open-world role-playing games) need to render complex 3D environments efficiently. Instead of investing in expensive local hardware, they can use Gcore’s GPU infrastructure to accelerate rendering and AI-powered animation workflows. Access to powerful GPUs without upfront investment enables faster iteration of visual assets and machine-learning-driven game enhancements.If your business faces rendering challenges, one of our experts can advise you on the most suitable cloud infrastructure package.Partnering for success: why gaming companies choose GcoreIn a challenging gaming industry climate, it’s vital to have the right tools and solutions at your disposal. Cloud infrastructure at the edge can significantly enhance game development efficiency for gaming businesses of all sizes.Gcore was founded in 2014 for gamers, by gamers, and we have been a trusted partner to global gaming companies including Nitrado, Saber, and Wargaming since day one. If you’d like to learn more about our gaming industry expertise and how our cloud infrastructure can help you operate in a more efficient and cost effective way, get in touch.Talk to us about your gaming cloud infrastructure needs

March 6, 2025 3 min read
News

How we optimized our CDN infrastructure for paid and free plans

At Gcore, we’re dedicated to delivering top-tier performance and reliability. To further enhance performance for all our customers, we recently made a significant change: we moved our CDN free-tier customers to a separate, physically isolated infrastructure. By isolating free-tier traffic, customers on paid plans receive uninterrupted, premium-grade service, while free users benefit from an environment tailored to their needs.Why we’ve separated free and paid plan infrastructureThis optimization has been driven by three key factors: performance, stability and scalability, and improved reporting.Providing optimal performanceFree-tier users are essential to our ecosystem, helping to stress-test our systems and extend our reach. However, their traffic can be unpredictable. By isolating free traffic, we provide premium customers with consistently high performance, minimizing disruption risks.Enhancing stability and scalabilityWith separate infrastructures, we can better manage traffic spikes and load balancing without impacting premium services. This improves overall platform stability and scalability, guaranteeing that both customer groups will enjoy a reliable experience.Improving reporting and performance insightsAlongside infrastructure enhancements, we’ve upgraded our reports page to offer clearer visibility into traffic and performance:New 95th percentile bandwidth graph: Helps users analyze traffic patterns more effectively.Improved aggregated bandwidth view: Makes it easier to assess usage trends at a glance.These tools empower you to make more informed decisions with accurate and accessible data.95th percentile bandwidth usage over the last three months, highlighting a significant increase in January 2025Strengthening content delivery with query string forwardingWe’ve also introduced a standardized query string forwarding feature to boost content delivery stability. By replacing our previous custom approach, we achieved the following:Increased stability: Reducing the risk of disruptionsLower maintenance requirements: Freeing up engineering resourcesSmoother content delivery: Enhancing experiences for streaming and content-heavy applicationsQuery string forwarding settings allow seamless parameter transfer for media deliveryWhat this means for our customersFor customers on paid plans: You can expect a more stable, high-performance service without the disruptions caused by fluctuating free-tier activity. Enhanced reporting and streamlined content delivery also empower you to make better, data-driven decisions.For free-tier customers: You will continue to have access to our services on a dedicated infrastructure that has been specifically optimized for your needs. This setup allows us to innovate and improve performance without compromising service quality.Strengthening Gcore CDN for long-term growthAt Gcore, we continuously refine our CDN to enable top-tier performance, reliability, and scalability. The recent separation of free-tier traffic, improved reporting capabilities, and optimized content delivery are key to strengthening our infrastructure. These updates enhance service quality for all users, minimizing disruptions and improving traffic management.We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of CDN efficiency, delivering faster load times, robust security, and seamless scalability. Stay tuned for more enhancements as we continue evolving our platform to meet the growing demands of businesses worldwide.Explore Gcore CDN

March 4, 2025 2 min read
News

Everywhere Inference updates: new AI models and enhanced product documentation

This month, we’re rolling out new features and updates to enhance AI model accessibility, performance, and cost-efficiency for Everywhere Inference. From new model options to updated product documentation, here’s what’s new in February.Expanding the model libraryWe’ve added several powerful models to Gcore Everywhere Inference, providing more options for AI inference and fine-tuning. This includes three DeepSeek R1 options, state-of-the-art open-weight models optimized for various NLP tasks.DeepSeek’s recent rise represents a major shift in AI accessibility and enterprise adoption. Learn more about DeepSeek’s rise and what it means for businesses in our dedicated blog. Or, explore what DeepSeek’s popularity means for Europe.The following new models are available now in our model library:QVQ-72B-Preview: A large-scale language model designed for advanced reasoning and language understanding.DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-14B: A distilled version of DeepSeek R1, providing a balance between efficiency and performance for language processing tasks.DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-32B: A more robust distilled model designed for enterprise-scale AI applications requiring high accuracy and inference speed.DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Llama-70B: A distilled version of Llama 70B, offering significant improvements in efficiency while maintaining strong performance in complex NLP tasks.Phi-3.5-MoE-instruct: A high-quality, reasoning-focused model supporting multilingual capabilities with a 128K context length.Phi-4: A 14-billion-parameter language model excelling in mathematics and advanced language processing.Mistral-Small-24B-Instruct-2501: A 24-billion-parameter model optimized for low-latency AI tasks, performing competitively with larger models.These additions give developers more flexibility in selecting the right models for their use cases, whether they require large-scale reasoning, multimodal capabilities, or optimized inference efficiency. The Gcore model library offers numerous popular models available at the click of a button, but you can also bring your own custom model just as easily.Everywhere Inference product documentationTo help you get the most out of Gcore Everywhere Inference, we’ve expanded our product documentation. Whether you’re deploying AI models, fine-tuning performance, or scaling inference workloads, our docs provide in-depth guidance, API references, and best practices for seamless AI deployment.Choose Gcore for intuitive, powerful AI deploymentWith these updates, Gcore Everywhere Inference continues to provide the latest and best in AI inference. If you need speed, efficiency, and flexibility, get in touch. We’d love to explore how we can support and enhance your AI workloads.Get a complimentary AI consultation

March 3, 2025 2 min read
Industry trends

7 outdated cybersecurity tips … and what to do instead

With the rise of cyberattack methods such as zero-day attacks, phishing attempts, and ransomware threats, it can be a challenge to keep your digital assets secure. While there’s much you can do to implement cybersecurity solutions, businesses should also consider an element of security that’s harder to control: the human factor. Sometimes, hackers are unable to bypass robust security measures, so they try to “phish” their way into an organization’s infrastructure by taking advantage of employees’ trust or lack of knowledge.If security isn’t part of their day-to-day role, it’s easy for people to get behind on best practices or rely on outdated training from their onboarding, which could be years ago. To help protect your business from the “people risk”, here’s a quick guide highlighting seven commonly believed but outdated practices—along with suggestions for what to do instead.#1 You should change your passwords regularlyWe’ve long been told to change our passwords regularly. However, in some cases, this advice may actually do more harm than good. If a user changes their passwords often, they may be more likely to write them down so they don’t forget them. This is especially true now that employees are working from home more and businesses have less oversight of how sensitive information is managed.In addition, the requirement to change passwords every 90 days can be a waste of time. If hackers can figure out the old password, it’s likely they can figure out the new one. Moreover, AI now gives hackers even more advanced tools to crack passwords in a matter of hours, no matter whether the password was changed yesterday or last year.Passwords are vulnerable to theft in a data leak, and since people might be using the same password in multiple places—both at work and at home—this creates security gaps that businesses have no control over.What to do instead: Consider adopting passwordless authentication, which uses factors like biometrics or hardware tokens for authentication. If passwordless methods are not an option, combining passwords with multi-factor authentication (MFA) strengthens security by adding an extra layer of protection. Identity Threat Protection and Response (ITDR) solutions can detect anomalies in user behavior analytics and check that passwords are not part of known leaks or prohibited patterns, further strengthening protection.#2 If an email attachment is encrypted, it’s automatically safeJust because an email attachment is encrypted doesn’t automatically make it secure. Cybercriminals increasingly use sophisticated phishing techniques to distribute malware, even in encrypted attachments. Employees can be easily fooled into thinking something is legitimate when it isn’t.Many organizations tag external emails with labels like [EXTERNAL] or “This email comes from outside the organization” to warn employees of potential risks. Over time, people tend to ignore the tag or overlook the fact that it is in a different place than usual (not in the subject but in the message body, for example). ATO (account takeover attacks)—in which cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to a legitimate user’s account, often through phishing or stolen credentials— are often designed to bypass such security measures.What to do instead: Encourage employees to interrogate emails that they weren’t expecting or where they cannot confidently verify the authenticity of the sender’s email address.While the vast majority of companies will have implemented email filtering software that flags suspicious attachments and links, there is always the risk that a sophisticated scammer will get through. This means that businesses need to guarantee that employees know that just because an attachment is encrypted, that doesn’t mean it’s safe.#3 If a website starts with HTTPS, that means you can trust itIn the past, users trusted that HTTPS and a padlock in a browser meant a website was secure. However, advances in cyber criminality mean this assumption is no longer safe.While HTTPS, which shows a website has an SSL certificate and uses TLS encryption, encrypts the data between your browser and the site, it doesn’t mean the website is secure. Cybercriminals can still create malicious sites with HTTPS encryption. While this may have been a sign of safety years ago, it can no longer be relied on.What to do instead: Since a website cannot be verified solely based on its HTTPS status, companies can encourage employees to use dedicated tools to check URLs or contact their technical team for validation. In addition, employees should never input sensitive information unless they are sure the site is legitimate. Fake websites with a URL containing one or two letters different from the original are another tactic to watch out for.#4 Clicking on a suspicious link will always trigger malwareWhile people are right to be suspicious about clicking on links they’re not sure about, if they do so, it doesn’t automatically mean that their computer has been hacked. However, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to click recklessly. Cybercriminals now use tactics like fake calendar invites, which can look very convincing.What to do instead: Educate employees on how to spot suspicious links and phishing attempts. Encourage them to hover over links to check their legitimacy before clicking. Businesses can also implement web filtering tools to block known malicious sites.#5 Never use public WiFiConnecting to public WiFi should be done cautiously, but sometimes, there is no other option, particularly if an employee is traveling. The risk of someone intercepting your data over public WiFi is similar to the risk of interception on a GSM (mobile) network. Intercepting mobile or WiFi network traffic requires specialized, expensive tools, making it a complex and resource-intensive attack method. Using public WiFi is often necessary but should be used with caution. Businesses should also ensure that their guest WiFi is secure for visitors to their organization.What to do instead: Encourage employees to use VPNs when accessing public WiFi. A commercial VPN might not always be the safest (see point below), but a corporate VPN with strong encryption and endpoint security is a much more secure option. In addition, businesses can implement zero trust network access, which enforces strict access controls based on the principle that no one, whether inside or outside the organization, can be trusted.#6 It’s safe to use commercial VPNsUsing a commercial VPN (virtual private network) can seem like a great way to secure your internet connection, but it’s not always the best solution for businesses. Many commercial VPN services log your data and are less secure than they claim; they don’t always offer strong encryption or protection against modern threats. VPNs can store all your data, so don’t assume everything you do on a VPN is private. In some extreme cases, VPNs can also be used to install malware on a device.What to do instead: Opt for a corporate VPN that offers stronger encryption and doesn’t log user activity. Ideally, choose a VPN that integrates seamlessly with your existing security protocols, offers split tunneling, and allows for zero-trust architecture—guaranteeing data stays secure, no matter where it’s accessed from.#7 Be overly cautious and suspiciousWhile vigilance is key, an overabundance of caution can create a false sense of security and waste time. Employees should be encouraged to cultivate a healthy sense of vigilance to protect themselves and the business. Excessive fear can hinder productivity and lead to security fatigue, where employees become desensitized to warnings and ignore critical threats. For instance, the advice to log out of accounts after each use is more suited to an era of shared public computers in internet cafes than to today’s norms of personal laptop use and dedicated company devices. In fact, Microsoft recently announced it would keep users permanently logged in, along with switching to a passkey password system.Similarly, advice such as turning off your laptop camera can be helpful, but employees should be aware that these types of hacks are usually highly targeted. They only need to take serious proactive measures if they’re handling high-security information.What to do instead: Prioritize educating employees about actual risks like phishing, ransomware, and zero-day attacks, and new attack types like AI-enabled cyberattacks. By helping your team identify genuine threats, you can foster a more focused and effective security culture.Employees should also be realistic about their own personal risk. For instance, it’s more likely they will be personally targeted if they work in a sensitive industry or have access to the upper levels of a business. For instance, sophisticated zero-click exploits—where merely opening a message can cause harm to a device—tend to target high-profile people or those with access to extremely sensitive information.Protect your digital assets with GcoreCybersecurity threats evolve constantly, making it challenging to stay ahead—especially when human error is involved. That’s why having cutting-edge security technology in place is essential, making it more likely that human error won’t lead to damaging and expensive consequences. It’s also important that employees are trained to focus on real threats and understand the difference between actual risks and harmless events.At Gcore, we offer a suite of AI-driven security solutions designed to protect your assets from advanced threats, including zero-day attacks, DDoS, and more. Contact our team of experts to learn more about our WAAP and DDoS protection solutions.Download our WAAP ebook for more cybersecurity tips

February 27, 2025 5 min read

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