The world is changing, and so are the threats to your business. No longer are crooks likely to don a mask and burst into your premises demanding money, nowadays they can pay an amateur hacker just £120 to completely take your business offline and hold you to ransom. It’s a scary thought. Particularly when so many businesses today rely on their internet connection to keep customers and stakeholders connected, and operations running smoothly.
Thankfully, it is possible to protect your business from the threat of a DDoS attack.
What is a DDoS attack?
DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service, and works by flooding your network with more traffic than it could ever possibly cope with. Cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated and hackers are quick to find and exploit vulnerable companies.
DDoS attacks use hundreds or even thousands of different sources to attack one single system. Since the attack has no one point of origin, it’s impossible to simply block an IP address or discover the source of the attack.
A DDoS attack can take your system offline for minutes, hours, days or even weeks. The reality is that DDoS attacks are happening to businesses all over the world, even as you read this. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this real time digital attack map...
What type of business do they attack?
Large scale attacks on widely known companies have often hit the headlines. But it isn’t just global, well known brands that are at risk. Hackers have grown wise to the idea that smaller enterprises may see themselves as less of a target, and therefore be more laid-back in their approach to DDoS mitigation. This leaves small businesses without protection, in an incredibly vulnerable position.
According to a report by the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses, 66 per cent of small businesses have fallen victim to some type of cyber crime. Small businesses are targeted by cyber criminals on average twice a year, and each attack can cost the company around £3,000. Not to mention a damaged reputation.
How can I protect my business?
A tailored approach to DDoS mitigation is the best way to keep your business protected. Opt for a solution that is as up to date as possible, and offers threat detection as well as overall protection.
As well as up to date security software, you should be backing up your data and IT systems regularly, enforcing a ‘strong’ password policy and make sure your business insurance covers cyber attacks.
If you’d like to speak to us today about protecting your business from DDoS style attacks, we’d love to hear from you.
