Top 10 Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) Protection

What are DDoS Mitigation Solutions?

The realm of distributed denial of service (DDoS) mitigation encompasses various vendors dedicated to detecting and countering DDoS attacks. These vendors offer specialized services tailored specifically for DDoS mitigation. This includes dedicated vendors whose core expertise lies in mitigating DDoS attacks, along with providers integrating DDoS mitigation as a component within their broader range of services. Among these are specialized appliance-based vendors, communication service providers (CSPs), content delivery network (CDN) providers, hosting companies, and vendors offering cloud infrastructure and platform services (CIPS).

Products In DDoS Mitigation Solutions Market

Explore the leading solutions for safeguarding against DDoS attacks. Investigate functionalities like multi-layered defense, real-time threat identification, analytics, and reporting.

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack occurs when a web service or application is flooded with an excessive volume of traffic, rendering it unable to function properly. This is often orchestrated by utilizing "bots" - compromised devices or endpoints manipulated by attackers through malware installation.

Such an attack disrupts site operations, impacting both front-end user access and back-end communication. Consequently, customers may lose access, and internal communications for issue resolution might also be affected. As DDoS attacks continue to evolve in complexity, organizations must deploy robust DDoS protection measures to counter this threat effectively.

Understanding the workings of various solutions and determining the most suitable one can be challenging. Cloud-based, on-premises, and hybrid solutions covering diverse communication layers further complicate the decision-making process.

In this article, we aim to delve into leading DDoS protection solutions, particularly those operating at the network, transport, and application layers. These solutions commonly offer real-time threat detection, robust reporting, analytics, and multi-layered defense mechanisms. Each solution will be explored in terms of background information, highlighted features, and recommendations for the type of customer it best serves.

Top 10 DDoS Defense Solutions include:

01. Akamai DDoS Mitigation :

Akamai offers a robust suite of DDoS protection solutions comprising three key products. Kona Defender ensures web application security, leveraging configurable firewall layers and Akamai Threat Research, blending artificial and human intelligence. Its adaptive responses and customizable policies scale with your business needs, fortifying your security posture. Kona Site Defender, their cloud-based web application firewall (WAF), enables automatic API discovery, self-tuning, and seamless SIEM integration for enhanced threat detection and prevention.

Edge DNS, Akamai’s cloud-based DNS solution, operates on a globally distributed anycast network, ensuring non-stop availability, improved responsiveness, and DDoS resilience. Providing a 100% uptime SLA and thousands of DNS servers worldwide, it ensures reliable connections to your website and applications even during attacks, managing traffic intelligently to maintain user access.

Prolexic offers comprehensive defense against DDoS attacks of varying magnitudes. Utilizing Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), it reroutes traffic through Akamai’s robust scrubbing centers with an 8tbps capacity. These centers immediately disband abnormal traffic while the Akamai SOC team meticulously analyzes remaining traffic to filter out threats. Only the sanitized traffic is then directed back to your domain, ensuring uninterrupted service.

02. AWS Shield:

AWS offers protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks through AWS Shield, a managed platform designed to defend against network, transport, and application-level threats. It caters to AWS customers with two tiers of support: Standard and Advanced.

The Standard DDoS package safeguards against network and transport layer attacks and can be combined seamlessly with Amazon CloudFront and Amazon Route 53 for a comprehensive DDoS solution. Its standout feature lies in its ease of integration. Exclusively available for AWS users, Shield operates by default, with additional features accessible through the management console or API. It continuously monitors incoming traffic using filters and anomaly detectors, deploying automated mitigation systems like packet filtering and traffic shaping to counter basic network layer attacks. All these functions are seamlessly integrated into existing AWS services without impacting latency.

Shield Advanced enhances the standard package by empowering administrators to implement tailored firewall policies using the web-application firewall (WAF), defending against industry-specific threats. The firewall allows proactive rule setup, such as rate-based blocks, to thwart early-stage DDoS attacks. It can be configured to act preemptively by blocking traffic or reactively by handling threats as they occur. Its health-based detection prioritizes responses to vulnerable applications. Additionally, Advanced users can leverage the Shield Response Team (SRT), which reaches out during an attack to identify and mitigate threats. Centralized management is a highlight, enabling administrators to efficiently oversee Shield and WAF across the organization, implementing uniform policies and defenses swiftly.

03. Cloudflare DDoS Protection:

Cloudflare leads the market in robust DDoS protection, safeguarding against network, transport, and application-layer attacks. Its scalable solution offers various add-ons to tailor the service to your specific needs.

For network and transport-layer attacks like DDoS Amplification, SYN flooding, and IPN flooding, Cloudflare's Anycast network—handling over 37 Tbps—ensures websites can withstand even the most massive assaults. This defense operates through Cloudflare's Edge Data centers, scrutinizing initial HTTP requests to filter potential malicious visitors based on criteria like user agents, paths, HTTP methods, and Transport Layer Security (TLS) checkers.

Against application-layer attacks, Cloudflare deploys a Web Application Firewall (WAF) utilizing preset and customizable policies to block incoming requests. This adaptability allows the solution to align with your unique business traffic and requirements. The addition of Rate Limiting enhances protection by combating application-layer threats, such as brute-force password attempts, through request thresholds, CAPTCHAs, response codes, and mitigation responses.

Moreover, Cloudflare offers robust analytics via its learning platform, analyzing real-time network traffic, processing over 1 billion unique IP addresses daily. This continual analysis updates threat intelligence systems to counter the latest threats.

Customers commend Cloudflare for its user-friendly setup and comprehensive feature set. We highly recommend Cloudflare DDoS Protection for businesses of all sizes seeking effective defense against diverse DDoS attacks.

04. F5 DDoS Hybrid Defender:

F5 Solutions' DDoS Hybrid Defender offers a robust defense system that combines on-premises and cloud-based components to safeguard networks against various layers of DDoS threats.

When an attack occurs, the on-premises platform communicates with cloud-based scrubbing centers, triggering the F5 Security Operations Center to counter the attack. The Hybrid Signaling feature filters out malicious IP addresses seeking access to your business services.

Cloud scrubbing centers enable uninterrupted online presence during a DDoS attack, minimizing customer impact and preserving brand reputation. These centers dynamically respond to threats' size, scale, and complexity, providing multi-layered defense against diverse DDoS attacks. By analyzing incoming threats and filtering them, the centers ensure that safe and clean traffic is directed back to your services. Customizable filters and tools tailored to your business needs enhance protection. The service can operate continuously or be activated as needed by admins, remaining discreet to users to ensure uninterrupted service, maintaining site and app performance without delays.

The API grants secure access to manage Security Operation Center (SOC) services, configure proxy routes, and generate real-time attack reports. These reports detail attack size, type, IP sources, mitigation steps taken by the SOC, and patterns for future attack preparation, offering comprehensive insights for administrators. F5 provides adaptable plans with choices for service duration and payment based on protected bandwidth.

05.Imperva DDoS Protection:

Imperva DDoS Protection employs a comprehensive defense strategy, guarding against DDoS attacks on multiple fronts. Leveraging Imperva’s robust global network, exceeding 6 Tbps scrubbing capacity, it efficiently handles over 65 billion attack packets per second. Your web traffic traverses this network, empowering AI behavioral learning centers to analyze incoming attacks, fortify against new waves, and track evolving attack patterns, ensuring continual system adaptation.

The platform utilizes sophisticated algorithms to counter complex application-layer attacks, while a seamlessly integrated content delivery network (CDN) shields legitimate users. Real-time analysis of inbound attacks generates a manageable attack timeline, aiding administrators in assessment. The dashboard feature facilitates intelligence review, enabling real-time policy adjustments to govern and uphold security measures. Imperva guarantees swift mitigation, promising to halt DDoS attacks of any size, duration, or type within three seconds.

Imperva's global network adeptly manages substantial volume-based attacks like SYN floods and DNS amplification, while also effectively thwarting high-level HTTP application-layer attacks with minimal impact on genuine users. The suite encompasses various web-facing solutions—WAF, bot protection, DDoS mitigation, account takeover prevention, and API security—tailorable to your business's specific needs and security requisites.

06.Microsoft Azure DDoS Protection Standard:

Microsoft Azure DDoS Protection Standard delivers extensive defense against network, transport, and application-layer attacks. This solution initiates immediate, continuous traffic monitoring and safeguards your system right from installation. Using adaptive AI, it learns the unique traffic patterns of your business to detect anomalies and update services at optimal times.

In addition to protection, the Standard package integrates a web application firewall, combating both network and application-layer attacks. Administrators gain insights into these attacks and their resolutions via Microsoft Azure Sentinel or an offline SIEM system. Detailed attack analytics are available every five minutes during an attack, followed by a comprehensive summary report afterward. Users also have access to the DDoS Protection Rapid Response (DRR) team for intervention, diagnosis, and investigation of attacks. Furthermore, the platform offers cost-guarantee measures to assist in covering DDoS attack expenses.

With Microsoft Azure, businesses enjoy a highly adaptable payment structure, allowing them to select specific add-ons necessary for effective defense. Its Microsoft backing ensures comprehensive regulatory compliance through APIs and straightforward implementation into existing systems.

07.Netscout Arbor DDoS Protection:

Netscout operates via Arbor's DDoS suite, which combines Arbor Sightline, Arbor Threat Mitigation System (TMS), and Arbor Cloud to deliver comprehensive protection against transport, network, and application-layer attacks.

For extensive networks, Arbor Sightline and Arbor TMS deliver on-site protection, offering clear network visibility and detection of DDoS threats, handling up to 400 Gbps. The Sightline platform identifies threats and can autonomously redirect traffic to the TMS for analysis and mitigation. Smaller networks might find Arbor Edge Defense (AED) more suitable. AED functions as an always-on DDoS detection platform, capable of detecting and countering inbound attacks, handling capacities from sub-100 Mbps to 40 Gbps. When detecting larger attacks, the platform signals Arbor Cloud, which utilizes Arbor's scrubbing centers.

Arbor Cloud delivers a fully managed DDoS protection service, leveraging 14 scrubbing centers across the US, Europe, and Asia for global coverage. Organizations can seamlessly integrate their on-premises AED, Sightline, and TMS defenses for automatic threat detection and mitigation, or to bolster mitigation capacity. With Arbor Cloud, administrators can outsource DDoS management, ensuring business continuity during an attack.

Customers have praised the service for its rapid response, robust support, user-friendly interface, and easy deployment. We recommend Arbor for businesses of all sizes, ranging from small and medium-sized to enterprise-level enterprises.

08.Neustar Security Services UltraDDoS Protect:

Neustar Security Services offers a comprehensive suite of DDoS solutions tailored for businesses of any size. Their offerings include on-premises DDoS control and fully cloud-based defenses, delivering a hybrid solution. In this overview, we'll spotlight UltraDDoS Protect, a robust solution providing extensive coverage against all types of attacks.

UltraDDoS Protect from Neustar enables organizations to promptly counter smaller attacks while scaling up defenses seamlessly for larger-scale assaults. This solution integrates on-premises and cloud-based defenses, strategically managing each threat with maximum effectiveness. The on-premise defense leverages the Arbor Prevail DDoS mitigation appliance, designed to immediately thwart transport and application-layer attacks right from deployment. Its software seamlessly integrates with existing systems, and the Prevail API offers simple configuration.

The DDoS protection operates on automation, requiring minimal administrative intervention, if any, upon attack detection. It offers real-time visibility reports detailing blocked hosts, attack origins, and historical trends to fortify against future threats. The on-premises defense uses packet-based defense systems to prevent overload during attacks by collecting only essential information in short periods, requiring session tracking.

When on-premises capacity is exceeded, Neustar routes the traffic to the UltraDDoS Protect cloud, where malicious traffic is managed until the threat subsides. Automation options empower administrators to utilize UltraWAF and on-demand cloud protection via DNS redirection, BGP redirection, and API-triggering. This fully managed service includes remote access management of the on-premises Arbor defense suite, minimizing productivity disruptions.

The UltraDDoS Protect Portal consolidates all necessary information into a single space, generating a customized security report tailored to your specific requirements. By amalgamating on-premises and managed cloud services, your business's web infrastructure gains comprehensive security through a unified point of contact.

09.Nexusguard MX7000 Mitigation Platform:

Nexusguard's MX7000 Mitigation Platform offers a comprehensive DDoS protection service tailored for cloud service providers—a true "cloud-in-a-box" solution. This platform is designed to combat network, transport, and application-layer attacks in real-time by scrutinizing incoming traffic and swiftly neutralizing threats. In the event of a looming attack that could overwhelm local capacity, traffic is rerouted to Nexusguard's scrubbing centers. These centers filter out malicious traffic, allowing only legitimate traffic to return to the site.

The system's detection technology employs various tactics like anomaly detection, black/whitelisting, deep packet inspection, session timeouts, rate limiting, caching, and load balancing. Continuously monitoring incoming IP and application requests helps establish behavioral patterns, enabling the system to predict potential anomalies or impending attacks. This behavioral analysis also establishes a baseline, assisting in recommending threshold values to more effectively halt attacks. Additionally, the built-in web application firewall (WAF) provides extensive protection against application-layer attacks.

The mitigation process involves high-speed, adaptive application-level filtering with flexible content filters. High-speed border filters weed out fraudulent IP addresses and infected hosts, followed by protocol verification using challenge-response algorithms like TCP SYN cookie and TCP SYN authentication. These algorithms help discern between malicious and genuine traffic. Adaptive filters leverage AI and machine learning to understand your company's normal patterns, enabling the detection of anomalies. At the application layer, specific HTTP policies are enforced to ensure genuine HTTP transactions while restricting connection volumes or requests to specific objects. Flexible content analysis relies on the established baseline to swiftly counter anomalies and HTTP flood attacks through adaptive content filters.

The WAF simplifies customer management, fortifies web applications against attacks, secures sensitive information, and regulates application access through traffic analysis, aiding in achieving PCI compliance.

10.Radware DefenseProX:

Radware DefenseProX represents an advanced, comprehensive defense solution against DDoS attacks, designed to cover both on-premises data centers and the public cloud.

This platform offers automated protection mechanisms targeting various threats, including high-volume assaults, encrypted attacks, IoT-based intrusions, ransomware, and sustained denial-of-service attacks. Using dedicated hardware, DefenseProX effectively mitigates incoming attacks without disrupting legitimate traffic. It leverages Radware's patented machine learning tech to swiftly identify and counter incoming threats, establishing patterns to proactively block future risks and minimize false positives. DefensePro employs real-time signature creation for instant defense against zero-day and unknown attacks, achieving mitigation in under 18 seconds. It includes a built-in SSL attack defense, safeguarding encrypted traffic. Additionally, the platform harnesses a 13-scrubbing center network with a capacity of 5Tbps, ensuring protection from concurrent attacks and minimizing downtime.

Moreover, Radware offers the option for their Emergency Response Team (ERT) to oversee on-premises device management. This involves setup by security experts who tailor configurations to align with your business policies. DefensePro can be deployed inline or out-of-path in a scrubbing center, maximizing mitigation accuracy. Clients have commended its scalability, offering on-premises, hybrid, or complete cloud deployment options, backed by responsive and dedicated response teams for immediate support.

FAQs: