Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks cannot be underestimated nowadays, as IT network attacks have become a serious threat that must be considered especially for companies that work mostly over the internet. These attacks can cause major disruptions to business operations, result in long downtime, and in some cases, damage a company's reputation. The proper use of DDoS Protection is quite important to protect their company's IT infrastructure from potentially harmful attacks. 

1. What is DDoS Protection?

DDoS protection is a security solution designed to protect network infrastructure from DDoS attacks, where an attacker sends a large amount of unauthorized traffic to a server, or service, making it unable to access the network when it should be freely used by legitimate users. These attacks are typically carried out using botnets, which are networks of computers infected with malware and remotely controlled by the attacker. Without proper DDoS protection, these attacks can cause major disruptions to businesses, including significant downtime, loss of revenue, and reputational damage.

2. Why is DDoS Protection Service Important for Businesses?

DDoS protection services are essential for several reasons. DDoS attacks that cannot be anticipated risk driving operational costs skyward. If your business relies on online services or applications that must always be available to customers, these attacks can cause significant downtime and reduce customer confidence. The importance of DDoS Protection services is also that, in addition to being used as a means of deception or distraction from attackers with the aim of destroying IT network order, they are also targeting data theft or so-called malware infiltration. Therefore, the use of DDoS Protection for businesses aims to prevent this from happening before it harms the company more sustainably. With DDoS Protection, it is hoped that companies can better protect their digital assets. 

3. Types of DDoS Protection Services

There are several types of DDoS Protection services that companies can consider. By understanding the different types of services from DDoS Protection, you can later customize the needs your business requires. 

a. On-Premise DDoS Protection

On-premise services are installed directly on the company's network infrastructure. It involves the use of hardware or software placed at the company's physical location to detect and mitigate DDoS attacks before they reach the server. The advantage of this approach is complete control over the protection implemented, but this also means that the company must manage and maintain the protection itself. On-premise protection is suitable for large companies that have a complex IT infrastructure and a qualified security team to manage the system internally.

b. Cloud-Based DDoS Protection

Cloud-based DDoS services provide protection that is offered by a third-party provider and monitored and managed outside of the company's internal infrastructure. In this case, all traffic entering the network will pass through the cloud service provider, which will filter out malicious traffic and only allow legitimate traffic to enter the company's servers. Cloud-based protection is generally easier to implement and manage, and can be more cost-effective compared to on-premise solutions. This service is suitable and ideal for companies whose internal resources are still very minimal, but can still protect the IT network directly.

c. Hybrid DDoS Protection

The use of Hybrid DDoS protection has the advantage of combining On-Premise and Cloud-Based solutions. Companies can use on-premise devices to handle small to medium attacks and then redirect traffic to cloud providers when there are large-scale attacks that cannot be handled internally. This approach offers great flexibility and can be the best solution for companies that require comprehensive protection but want to maintain full control over part of their infrastructure.

4. Selection Criteria

DDoS Protection ServicesWhen choosing a DDoS protection service for your business, there are several factors to consider. Understanding these criteria will help you choose the most suitable solution to protect your IT infrastructure from DDoS attacks.

a. Scalability

Scalability is one of the most important factors when choosing a DDoS protection service. DDoS attacks can vary in size and complexity, ranging from small attacks to large attacks involving millions of requests per second. Therefore, you should choose a service that is scalable according to your company's needs. Cloud-based DDoS protection services usually offer better scalability as they can handle attacks of any size, from small to very large, without requiring internal infrastructure upgrades.

b. Response Time

Response time is critical in DDoS attack mitigation. DDoS protection services must be able to detect and handle attacks quickly to prevent long downtime. When choosing a service provider, be sure to check if they have the ability to mitigate attacks within seconds or minutes. Services that have automated mitigation capabilities are also highly desirable, as they can take immediate action without requiring manual intervention.

c. Types of Attacks to Protect Against

DDoS attacks come in many forms, including volumetric attacks, application attacks, and protocol attacks. A good DDoS protection solution should be able to protect businesses from these types of attacks. Ensure that the service you choose has the ability to detect and mitigate various types of DDoS attacks, including more sophisticated attacks such as Layer 7 (application-layer) attacks.

d. Global Availability and CDN Integration

If your business serves customers in different countries or regions, it is important to choose a DDoS protection service that offers global availability. This ensures that attacks originating from different regions can be identified and prevented before they reach your servers. Some DDoS protection providers also offer integration with a Content Delivery Network (CDN), which can help improve overall network performance while providing an additional layer of protection.

e. CostLastly, consider the cost of DDoS protection services.

Every company has a different budget for IT security, and it is important to choose a service that fits your budget without compromising on protection. Some providers offer usage-based pricing models, where you only pay for filtered traffic during attacks, while others offer fixed subscriptions. Make sure you understand the pricing structure before making a decision and consider long-term costs to ensure that the solution remains efficient and effective for your company.

5. Best DDoS Protection Service Provider

Now that you understand the criteria for choosing a DDoS protection service, here are some of the leading providers that offer DDoS protection solutions:Cloudflare: One of the largest cloud-based service providers with extensive global reach and reliable DDoS protection.

Akamai: Provides integrated security solutions with protection against volumetric attacks and application layer attacks.

Arbor Networks: Provides comprehensive DDoS protection, both on-premise and hybrid, with solutions designed for large enterprises.Radware: Has a strong reputation for providing protection against advanced DDoS attacks with automated mitigation technology.

DDoS Protection: DDoS protection is scalable to meet your organization's needs, whether you have a small website or a large online infrastructure. Choosing the right DDoS protection service is an important step in protecting your business from cyber threats. By considering factors such as scalability, response time, types of attacks protected, and cost, you can find a suitable solution for your business needs. 

An effective DDoS protection service not only protects your IT infrastructure from attacks but also keeps your business running without interruption.