Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is a type of cyber attack that uses multiple compromised devices or systems to overwhelm a network or website with traffic or requests, often rendering the system unavailable or unusable.

What is DDoS attack?

DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) is a type of cyberattack where an attacker uses a network of compromised devices—such as computers, servers, or IoT gadgets—to flood a target system with massive amounts of traffic. The result: websites, applications, or entire networks slow down dramatically or stop working altogether.

How DDoS attack appears in practice

Real-world examples:

• An e-commerce site crashes during a marketing campaign, resulting in lost revenue.
• Customer service teams can’t access the CRM system due to service disruption.
• Online banking services go offline under the weight of incoming traffic.
• A software provider can’t distribute updates to clients.
• A news portal goes down during a breaking event, leaving readers in the dark.

DDoS attacks are not limited to cybercriminals—they’re also used in competitive sabotage, political protests (hacktivism), and even extortion. Some attacks are brief and aggressive; others are long-lasting and exhausting.

DDoS vs. DoS vs. botnet – What’s the difference?

• DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) – a coordinated attack from multiple devices targeting a single service.
• DoS (Denial of Service) – an attack from a single device or IP address.
• Botnet – a network of compromised devices controlled by an attacker, often used to execute DDoS attacks.

The key difference lies in scale and complexity. DDoS attacks are harder to detect and defend against due to the sheer volume and diversity of traffic sources. A botnet is the enabler that makes DDoS attacks possible on a large scale.

How to assess and address DDoS risks in your business

Recommended steps:

1. Evaluate your risk profile – identify which systems are mission-critical.
2. Implement traffic monitoring – anomaly detection helps flag suspicious surges early.
3. Leverage anti-DDoS solutions – work with vendors like Cloudflare, Akamai, or Radware.
4. Create an incident response plan – define roles, steps, and communication protocols.
5. Test your defenses – simulate attacks through red teaming to uncover weaknesses.

Many companies falsely assume DDoS attacks only target large enterprises. In reality, small and medium businesses are often hit precisely because they lack strong defenses. Even a few minutes of downtime can damage reputation, customer trust, and financial performance. Planning ahead is your best defense.