DDoS attacks: Why cyber security is vital to protect your business

The threat of DDoS attacks increases every year. Not just in regard to the increased risk of your business becoming exposed to one, but the sophistication of the tools that are being used as well as the intensity of the threat. In light of this, it’s now more important than ever to ensure that your business has the right cyber security safeguards in place to mitigate the risk associated with such attacks.

Shocking cyber security statistics

The first half of last year saw a shocking 151% increase in the number of DDoS attacks compared to the same period last year. Within the next two years, it is predicted that there will be more than 15 million DDoS attacks. Many of these attacks are likely not to be reported, so the reality is that the real figures are likely to be much higher. This has made the implementation of an effective cyber security infrastructure imperative for keeping your business’ digital infrastructure secure from such threats.

The intensity of DDoS attacks in the first half of 2020 increased by a huge 81%, with many being far more disruptive than the norm. For example, 91% of DDoS attacks that occurred at the end of last year went on for at least four hours, which for some businesses can disrupt activities and productivity for days or even weeks in lieu of the damage that is caused.

The diversification of DDoS attacks

One of the reasons why it’s so important to have effective cyber security monitoring and protection in place is because of the sophisticated nature of DDoS attacks. SYN flooding accounted for more than 94% of all cyber attacks in the third quarter of last year, whilst ICMP attacks still presented a serious threat. TCP attacks and HTTP flooding were much further down the list but still used in a few instances.

Why is protection so vital?

• DDoS attacks can be crippling: If your business experiences this kind of cyber attack then it could completely shut down your website. It can also give hackers access to vital databases where they can steal customer data. A DDoS attack could also set up cybercriminals to hold your data hostage and demand a ransom for it.
• The number of daily cyber security attacks are rising: In the third quarter of last year, DDoS attacks averaged just over 100 per day. Most recent statistics indicate that there are 16 DDoS attacks taking place every minute.
• DDoS attacks come with a serious cost: The number of worldwide attacks is only going to keep growing and the likelihood of your business being hit increases by the year. Even a small business can face six-figure costs as a result of a DDoS attack, let alone the less quantifiable issues that can arise, including loss of reputation and customer trust. For larger businesses, the financial damage can total millions. Worldwide, the total cost of cybercrime in 2021 is expected to add up to $6 trillion.

DDoS attacks are a very real threat for every business. With this in mind, it’s essential to ensure that your business’ cyber security infrastructure is kept up to date. To find out how our team here at SADS IT can help you and your business from such attacks, visit our ‘IT Security & Data Protection’ page for more information, contact our team via email at [email protected], or call us on 0344 811 1167.

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