IT security experts report that distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are a growing concern for 2013: this trend is proved by the countless attacks during 2012 and shown from the findings on the latest CSI Computer Crime & Security Survey, which attracts widespread media attention and is one of many online sources that provides valuable information and guidance to information security professionals. How can a business or individual decrease the likelihood of these type of threats? Fortunately, there are methods that can be used in advance to mitigate risk and infections from the amplification of such attacks. Safety First First of all, it is paramount to identify if the network is safe and protected from unauthorized access, malicious content, real-time threats and cyber intrusions. If not, network system managers should consider using traditional security products like a firewall, Intrusion Prevention and Detection Systems (IPDS) and Web application firewall devices to establish a first line of security defense. It is crucial to be responsive and implement the necessary security hardware and software tools ahead of time to defend the perimeter of the network from intrusion and before being the hacker’s target. Business and individuals alike should plan early on and not wait until they are at mercy of the attack to use proper security controls. Malicious attacks, which can be carried out from several compromised systems and from another location (IP address), can enable a rogue attacker to install a series of zombie Trojans to attack or infect (with malware) hosted computers. Whatever reason and motive the intruder has, s/he is able to take over an entire network and initiate a flood or packet attack, all while denying legitimate connections and paralyzing victims’ systems or servers (e.g., Web servers, DNS servers, application servers). The aim is to use up the network bandwidth and bring its operations or services down. Knowing how dangerous such an attack can be, it comes of utmost importance to be familiar with the different kind of DDoS attacks that could affect the network to understand what type of countermeasures should be put to use. Despite the scale and frequency of these attacks, there are ways to be prepared and avoid being vulnerable to this threat that can be so disruptive. Next is a list of tips to prepare and plan, before an attack strikes, which if made a victim of could have devastating effects on one’s business, such as costly downtime and/or lost revenue. Here are six ways to prevent a DDoS attack • Utilize packet filters on the router(s) • Setup a firewall with advanced security • Properly configure webserver with security modules • Implement logging with ACLs and have them in place to filter traffic • Exploit NetFlow for traffic monitoring and tracking down specific attacks • Rely on a third-party cloud DDoS mitigation provider for proprietary filtering technology. This is a great alternative for those that do not want to handle the security themselves and obtain a quick solution that provides on-demand, real-time protection to monitor 24/7 a business or individuals’ on-premises network infrastructure. If you’re looking for reputable provider, I would suggest getting DDoS protection from DOSarrest . Other than the tips listed, it is suggested to always have more bandwidth available, maintain anti-virus software, and deploy IPDS devices or firewalls in front of the servers just in case of a DDoS attack. It is better to spend some time (and money) preparing in advance for this network threat than dealing with a last minute crisis and trying to figure out what needs to be done. Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/tips-to-prepare-for-a-ddos-attack

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Tips To Prepare For A DDoS Attack