If you’re a network technician and notice your network slowing down or going offline due to unusually high traffic, you might be under a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. These attacks are hard to prevent completely and can be extremely costly for businesses. Recognizing these symptoms can help you spot a potential DDoS attack early.
A DDoS attack floods your network with traffic, overwhelming your systems and making your applications and data inaccessible. Hackers often use botnets—networks of compromised devices—to launch these attacks. What starts as an inconvenience can quickly escalate into a major operational crisis, making it crucial to spot DDoS attempts swiftly.
Unlike traditional hacks, almost anyone can launch a DDoS attack. There are even cases of individuals, including teenagers, taking down company networks. The good news? You can fight back. By learning how to spot a DDoS attack early and preparing your defenses, you can minimize downtime and protect your business.
How to Spot a DDoS Attack
1. Monitor Your Network Traffic
Do you know your normal traffic patterns? If not, you can’t easily detect anomalies. Identifying abnormal patterns can help you spot a DDoS attack in progress.
- Tip: Establish a baseline for your network traffic. If you see sudden, unexplained spikes, it could indicate a DDoS attack.
2. Look for Unusual Latency or Outages
If your website or applications suddenly slow down or become inaccessible, investigate immediately. Such symptoms might indicate that you need to spot a DDoS attack underway.
- Tip: Don’t assume it’s just a technical glitch—check for signs of malicious traffic.
3. Watch for Multiple IP Requests
DDoS attacks often involve thousands of requests from different IP addresses. The presence of many IP requests is a key signal in spotting a developing DDoS attack.
- Tip: Use monitoring tools to identify suspicious patterns and block malicious IPs quickly.
Be Ready Before It Happens
The unpredictable nature of DDoS attacks leaves many businesses unprepared. Thus, being able to spot the early signs of a DDoS attack becomes crucial.
- Identify your critical systems and protect them with redundancy and failover strategies.
- Consider hosting some or all of your infrastructure in the cloud for better resilience.
If you’re like most small and medium-sized businesses, you can’t afford extended downtime. That’s why having a proactive plan is essential.
Partner with Experts
Vision Computer Solutions can help you spot a DDoS attack early and implement best practices to keep your business safe. Our certified technicians have years of experience defending against cyber threats.
Call us today at (248) 349-6115 to learn how we can protect your organization from web-based attacks.
Charles Lobert, has been in the Detroit Metro Area’s IT industry for over two decades & with VCS since ’04. Throughout the years, Lobert has held nearly every position at VCS & is responsible for several major organizational shifts within VCS.