A DDoS attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of Internet traffic. Unlike a single Denial of Service (DoS) attack, a DDoS attack leverages multiple compromised computer systems as sources of attack traffic. These compromised devices can include computers, IoT devices, and other networked resources, all controlled by the attacker to launch a coordinated assault. A key part of a robust defence against such attacks is strong web protection.

Industry reports suggest a single DDoS attack can cost an unprotected business an average of $6,000 per minute of downtime, with total costs often exceeding $270,000 per incident. The damage extends beyond just revenue loss. A survey of businesses revealed that 37% had their reputation harmed, and 75% of consumers report they would sever ties with a brand following a cybersecurity issue. Additionally, a third of businesses reported a damaged credit rating, and 35% saw an increase in their insurance premiums because of an attack. These attacks are increasingly used as a smokescreen to divert your security team’s attention while a more serious breach, such as data exfiltration or ransomware deployment, is underway. By the time the DDoS attack is mitigated, the real damage may already be done.

Why are DDoS attacks a growing concern for businesses?

As businesses move more services online, they become more vulnerable to these disruptive attacks. A successful DDoS attack can lead to:

• Financial Loss: Downtime means lost sales, productivity, and potential penalties for failing to meet service level agreements.
• Reputational Damage: Customers lose trust in businesses that cannot maintain reliable online services.
• Data Breach Potential: While not directly a data breach, a DDoS attack can be a smokescreen for other malicious activities, diverting attention while attackers exploit vulnerabilities.
• Operational Disruption: Critical business functions relying on internet connectivity can be brought to a standstill.

These attacks are becoming more sophisticated and easier for malicious actors to execute, making robust web protection an absolute must-have for your security. The real challenge is finding a solution that works without adding more complexity to your already burdened IT team. If you’re struggling with this complexity, book a demo with our team to see how we can simplify your security.

What are the three main types of DDoS attacks?

The three main types of DDoS attacks are volume-based, protocol, and application-layer attacks, each targeting different parts of a network connection.

1. Volume-Based Attacks: These attacks aim to saturate the bandwidth of the target. Examples include UDP floods, ICMP floods, and other spoofed-packet floods. Their primary goal is to create immense traffic volume.
2. Protocol Attacks: These attacks consume server resources or intermediary communication equipment, such as firewalls and load balancers. SYN floods, fragmented packet attacks, and Smurf DDoS are examples. They exploit weaknesses in network protocols.
3. Application-Layer Attacks: These are the most sophisticated and often the hardest to detect, as they target specific applications and services. HTTP floods and DNS query floods fall into this category. They mimic legitimate user behaviour, making them difficult to distinguish from normal traffic.

For effective web protection, you need a multi-layered defence that handles all these attack types without the need for a dozen different tools.

See what TrustLayer can take off your plate…

…because you didn’t sign up to babysit loads of security tools and play TLS whack-a-mole.

Book a demo and we’ll show you how to ditch the proxies, cut the noise, and secure email, web, users and posture all from one platform.

(Spoiler: your IT team’s going to breathe easier.)

What can I expect?

• A zero-pressure walkthrough of TrustLayer, tailored to your stack, users and policies
• A live look at how we protect email, web, users and posture without proxies, patches or drama
• Honest answers to your questions (no jargon, no sales theatre)
• Proof you don’t need enterprise budget to get enterprise-grade security

What is a DDoS mitigation service?

A DDoS mitigation service is a specialised provider that reroutes and scrubs traffic to absorb large-scale floods. Think of providers like Cloudflare or Akamai with massive global bandwidth designed to handle volumetric attacks.

But stopping traffic floods is only part of the picture. Many attackers use a DDoS as cover for something more damaging, from phishing campaigns to insider misuse or data theft. That’s where TrustLayer comes in. Instead of absorbing raw bandwidth, TrustLayer protects the users, apps, and data that attackers try to target behind the distraction.

How can I strengthen my network to withstand a DDoS attack?

Traditional advice often focuses on hardening your infrastructure: adding bandwidth, using load balancers to distribute traffic, or configuring firewalls and intrusion prevention systems to drop suspicious packets. These steps can help absorb some of the pressure from a volumetric flood, but they don’t solve the real problem.

A DDoS attack is rarely just about downtime — it’s often a distraction while something more damaging takes place. That’s why businesses need more than raw network resilience. TrustLayer complements these measures by giving you unified visibility into your users, apps, and data, so attackers can’t exploit the chaos of a DDoS to slip in malware or steal sensitive information.

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How do CDNs and WAFs help protect against DDoS attacks?

Improving your application’s resilience is crucial for web protection. Some businesses strengthen resilience with tools like Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and Web Application Firewalls (WAFs).

• CDNs work by distributing content across a global network of servers, which can absorb and balance incoming traffic. In a DDoS scenario, this helps prevent a single server from being overwhelmed.
• WAFs act as a shield for web applications, filtering HTTP traffic to separate legitimate user requests from malicious ones, reducing the risk of application-layer attacks.

These measures are useful, but they’re not enough on their own. A CDN won’t stop attackers from using a DDoS as cover for data theft, and a WAF can’t give you visibility into risky user behaviour or shadow IT. That’s where TrustLayer adds value — unifying web protection, user analytics and identity-based controls to stop the hidden risks that CDNs and WAFs don’t address.

What should be in a DDoS incident response plan?

Even with the best web protection, an attack might occur. A well-defined incident response plan is vital for a swift and effective reaction. Your plan should include procedures for detection, a communication strategy for internal teams and customers, defined mitigation steps, and a process for post-attack analysis to learn from the incident.

How can user behaviour analytics help prevent DDoS attacks?

Understanding user behaviour is a powerful way to strengthen your web protection. TrustLayer analyses user behaviour across email, web and cloud apps, alerting you to unusual activity that could signal insider threats or compromised accounts. With identity-based policies, you can control access and responses at the user or group level, giving you risk-aware protection without the noise.

By continuously monitoring user activity, you can detect anomalies that might signal a preliminary phase of an attack or an insider threat, allowing for early intervention.

How can TrustLayer protect my business from DDoS attacks?

Dedicated DDoS mitigation services may absorb the traffic flood, but that’s only half the battle. The bigger risk comes from what attackers try to do while your team is distracted from data exfiltration to credential abuse. That’s where TrustLayer makes the difference.

TrustLayer helps protect your business during a DDoS attack by:

• Blocking the smokescreen effect: While attackers use disruption as cover, TrustLayer’s unified platform continues monitoring email, web, apps and users for signs of insider misuse, phishing, or malware delivery.
• Analysing behaviour in real time: Identity-based policies and anomaly detection flag suspicious logins, unusual downloads, or risky data movement that might indicate a parallel attack.
• Keeping security simple under pressure: Instead of juggling multiple point tools, your team works from one console, with integrated visibility and controls across the whole environment. That means less confusion, faster responses, and fewer gaps for attackers to exploit.

The result is resilience that goes beyond uptime. Even if a volumetric flood is aimed at your network, TrustLayer makes sure the real damage doesn’t happen in the background.

Don’t wait for an attack to happen. Take control of your web protection today.

Discover how Trustlayer One can simplify your cybersecurity and protect your business from sophisticated threats.