If you run a website, application, or online business, you’ve probably heard the term DDoS attack.
But what does it actually mean?
And how does DDoS protection really work?
Let’s break it down in simple, practical terms.
What Is a DDoS Attack?
DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service.
It’s a type of cyber attack where multiple systems flood a target server with massive amounts of traffic.
The goal?
To overwhelm the server so legitimate users can’t access the website.
Instead of one attacker, a DDoS attack uses:
Botnets (infected devices)
Compromised servers
Automated traffic tools
That’s why it’s called distributed.
How DDoS Attacks Work
A normal website request looks like this:
User → Server → Response
In a DDoS attack:
Thousands (or millions) of fake requests hit the server simultaneously.
This causes:
CPU overload
Network saturation
Memory exhaustion
Service crashes
The server becomes too busy handling fake traffic to serve real users.
Common Types of DDoS Attacks
1️⃣ Layer 3 / Layer 4 (Network-Level)
These attacks target the network layer:
SYN floods
UDP floods
ICMP floods
They aim to saturate bandwidth or connection tables.
These are volume-based attacks.
2️⃣ Layer 7 (Application-Level)
More sophisticated.
Instead of flooding bandwidth, attackers send:
Fake HTTP requests
Repeated page loads
Login attempts
These are harder to detect because they look like real users.
How DDoS Protection Works
Modern DDoS protection works in layers.
1️⃣ Traffic Filtering
Malicious IPs are identified and blocked.
Systems analyze:
Request patterns
Geographic anomalies
Behavioral fingerprints
Suspicious traffic is filtered before it reaches your server.
2️⃣ Rate Limiting
Servers limit how many requests a client can make within a specific time window.
If an IP exceeds the limit, it’s temporarily blocked.
3️⃣ Anycast Networks
Large providers like Cloudflare use global Anycast networks.
Traffic is distributed across multiple global data centers.
Instead of overwhelming one server, the attack is absorbed across hundreds.
This prevents single-point failure.
4️⃣ Web Application Firewalls (WAF)
A WAF analyzes incoming requests and blocks:
Malformed requests
Exploit attempts
Suspicious bots
It protects against Layer 7 attacks.
Why Basic Hosting Isn’t Enough
Many low-cost hosting providers:
Do not include real DDoS mitigation
Rely only on firewall rules
Null-route attacked IPs
Null routing stops the attack — but it also takes your site offline.
Proper DDoS protection absorbs and filters traffic without downtime.
Signs You Might Be Under a DDoS Attack
Sudden traffic spikes
Website timing out
Server CPU maxed out
Network bandwidth saturated
Large volumes of traffic from unusual locations
If your server becomes unresponsive under load, DDoS mitigation may be insufficient.
The Importance of Layered Protection
True protection includes:
Network-level filtering
Edge protection (CDN layer)
Application firewall
Rate limiting
Infrastructure stability
No single tool is enough.
Security is always layered.
Final Thoughts
DDoS attacks are common in today’s internet landscape.
Even small websites can be targeted.
The difference between downtime and stability is having proper mitigation in place — not just basic hosting.
At Orvixly, infrastructure is designed with layered protection, not reactive patching.
If you want to evaluate your current setup or strengthen your DDoS defense, open a ticket — we’ll guide you through the right architecture.
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