DDoS or Distributed Denial of Service is one of the biggest threats modern enterprises face online. The frequency of DDoS attacks has increased 2.5 times over the last 3 years making them more prevalent than ever before. In this article we’re going to look at the 8 best DDoS protection services.
Here is our list of the best DDoS protection tools and managed services:
- Indusface AppTrana EDITOR’S CHOICE A Web application firewall that includes vulnerability scanning, DDoS protection and bot control detection. This edge services bundle also includes a content delivery network. Start a 14-day free trial.
- SolarWinds Security Event Manager (FREE TRIAL) A comprehensive tool that can detect and monitor a host of network events including DDoS attacks. Maintains attacker IPs logs and even blocks IPs.
- Sucuri Website Firewall (LEARN MORE) This WAF inspects all incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic, blocks suspicious traffic. Utilizes advanced Geo-blocking capabilities.
- StackPath Web Application Firewall (FREE TRIAL) Another capable WAF uses behavioral algorithms to detect and block attacks. Has configurable DDoS thresholds.
- Link11 Cloud-based protection service can detect and mitigate attacks. Easy to deploy, uses AI and dashboard gives good view of server behavior.
- CloudFlare Network capacity can handle some of the largest known attacks. Uses an IP reputation database to manage a wide range of attack types.
- AWS Shield Analyzes incoming traffic using flow monitoring, packet filtering and prioritizing traffic in real-time.
- Akamai Prolexic Routed Block DDoS attacks such as UDP floods, SYN floods, HTTP GET, and POST floods.
What is a DDoS attack?
During a DDoS attack, an attacker uses a network of compromised computers called a botnet to send traffic to your network. The traffic overwhelms consumers network resources and makes services unavailable.
For example, you may have trouble accessing the internet or using an application. Common DDoS attacks include ICMP flood, SYN flood, Ping of Death, Slowloris, and more. Each of these service attacks targets different vulnerabilities and must be defended against in different ways.
Related post: How to Stop a DDoS Attack
The best DDoS Protection Tools & Anti-DDoS Software
DDoS prevention software is designed to block malicious traffic from reaching your network. Each solution is different in its approach due to the variety of DDoS attacks you can encounter on a daily basis.
Our methodology for selecting a DDoS protection service platform
We reviewed the DDoS protection service market and analyzed tools based on the following criteria:
- Capabilities to root out a range of attack strategies
- Constant availability of a cloud-based dashboard
- The option to integrate DDoS protection with other edge services, such as load balancing
- Attack strategy analysis support
- Alerts for ongoing attack notification
- Reporting for billing through to clients for service providers
- Options for a free assessment period
- Prices levels that offer a good price for useful tools and the options of further savings by combining services
Let’s have a look at some of the best DDoS Protection tools as well as Anti-DDoS software available.
1. Indusface AppTrana (FREE TRIAL)
AppTrana is a fully managed WAF, DDOS and Bot mitigation solution from Indusface. The edge service bundle includes a Web Application Firewall, vulnerability scanners, a patching service, and DDoS protection. The service can absorb extreme volumetric attacks and is able to distinguish DDoS from genuine surges in traffic.
Key Features
- DDoS protection
- Additional WAF and bot blocking
- Vulnerability scanner and patch manager
- Automated security scanning
- Looks for OWASP Top 10 and SANS 25
Why do we recommend it?
Indusface AppTrana is a Web Application Firewall and is delivered from the cloud, so it provides a range of Web protection services and easily plugs into your system without you having to install any software. The tool is managed by Indusface technicians and all the user needs to know is how to access the cloud-hosted console to see whether any DDoS attacks have been attempted.
AppTrana uses its database to develop rules and alert conditions for your websites. Sites are monitored 24×7 to make sure no attack spills through the net. The software can also automatically detect botnets based on their behavior and block them. This means that the botnet cannot disrupt your site. To keep the network protected from layer 3 attacks, AppTrana has been built on AWS to help resist common volumetric attacks.
The vulnerability scanning service in AppTrana references the OWASP Top 10 Threats and the SANS 25 Vulnerability list. The service immediately fixes any vulnerabilities that it discovers through patching. Vulnerability scans are conducted regularly and automatically. Other features in the AppTrana bundle include SSL offloading and a content delivery network for site acceleration.
There are two editions of AppTrana: Advance and Premium. The Advance service is the edge system described above. It costs $99 per protected app per month. The Premium version is a managed website security service. This includes the services of network security analysts to identify attacks and adapt security protection strategies. While vulnerability testing is included in this plan, those checks are supplemented by human pen testers. The Premium plan costs $399 per protected app per month.
Who is it recommended for?
Any business can use AppTrana because it is a remote service and you don’t need any involvement in running the service. That means small businesses don’t need to have any technical expertise on staff or pay for expensive consultants in order to get full protection against DDoS attacks against their Web assets. Large organizations also benefit from this configuration because their existing IT Department won’t be stretched by extra tasks once the WAF is in operation.
Pros:
- Offers DDoS protection alongside pentesting and risk-management products
- Offers enterprise DDoS protection – blocking 2.3 Tbps/700K requests per second
- Onboarding is extremely simple – only takes a few minutes
- Can detect, prevent and mitigate multiple forms of DDoS attacks (SYN, ICMP, UDP flood, etc)
Cons:
- Would like to see a longer trial period
AppTrana Advance edition is available for a 14-day free trial.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
AppTrana is our top pick for DDoS protection because it combines automated traffic attack mitigation with human analysts to refine protection strategies. Indusface was named by Gartner Peer Insight Customers’ Choice in all seven sections of their Voice of Customer WAAP 2022 report.
You wouldn’t want a surge in traffic that is generated by a sales promotion to be blocked from access and AppTrana reduces the risk of false-positive attack detections. This service includes a great many other site services, including a CDN, SSL offloading, vulnerability scanning, and automated patching. The higher edition is a fully managed site security service.
Start 14-day Free Trial: indusface.com/register/
OS: Cloud-based
2. SolarWinds Security Event Manager (FREE TRIAL)
SolarWinds Security Event Manager is a DDoS protection tool with event log monitoring capabilities. Event logs are a key resource for detecting when malicious entities are trying to disrupt your network.
Key Features
- Log management
- SIEM service
- DDoS protection
- Compliance reporting
Why do we recommend it?
SolarWinds Security Event Manager is more of a DDoS detection system than a DDoS protection service. This is because the tool collects log messages and analyses them and one of the things that it looks for is a suspicious traffic surge. The tool is able to indicate that a DDoS attack is in progress and will raise an alert to attract the attention of technicians. The package doesn’t include any DDoS mitigation services, however.
To protect you from attackers SolarWinds Security Event Manager maintains a list of known bad actors so that the program can automatically block an IP from interacting with your network. The list is community sourced so that you stay protected from the most recent threats.
During an attack you can also configure alerts to notify you when a suspicious source is sending you traffic. The logs recorded by SolarWinds Security Event Manager can also be used for DDoS mitigation and retrospective analysis. You can filter through results to find accounts, IPs, or time periods to analyze in closer detail.
Who is it recommended for?
SolarWinds Security Event Manager is a high-capacity log management tool and security detection service. It is suitable for use by large organizations. The package is expensive and offers too much functionality for the needs of small businesses. Those organizations that need to prove compliance with data protection standards particularly need this tool.
Pros:
- An all-in-one tool for monitoring multiple attack vectors and preventing DDoS attacks
- Offers a wide range of integrations for collecting threat data, attacker behavior, and intrusion attempts
- Leverages automation to immediately block malicious behavior, domains, and known botnets
- Offers numerous templates and monitors that make it easy to get started right away
Cons:
- Designed for larger networks, SolarWinds SEM takes time to fully explore and utilize
SolarWinds Security Event Manager starts at a price of $4,655 (£3,819). You can also download the 30-day free trial.
If you’re looking for a SIEM tool with DDOS protection capabilities, SolarWinds Security Event Manager is a simple and affordable option.
30-day FREE Trial: solarwinds.com/security-event-manager
OS: Windows
3. Sucuri Website Firewall (LEARN MORE)
Sucuri Website Firewall is a website application firewall that can prevent DDoS attacks and zero-day exploits. Sucuri Website Firewall inspects all incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic and blocks suspicious traffic from reaching your service. This stops botnets from being able to put your site offline.
Key Features
- Web application firewall
- DDoS protection
- Blacklisting
- Geoblocking
Why do we recommend it?
Sucuri Website Firewall is a major competitor to our top pick, Indusface AppTrana. This is a cloud-based edge service that doesn’t need to be hosted or maintained but instead, diverts all traffic on the way to a Web asset and filters out attacks. The protected system only receives the valid traffic and the value of the Sucuri service is its ability to tell the difference between malicious and genuine traffic.
For additional protection Sucuri Website Firewall uses geo-blocking. Geo-blocking blocks visitors to your site from the top three countries with DDoS attacks. However, if you want to control access to a smaller degree you can white list IP addresses that you trust so that you can communicate with your team without them being blocked.
There are four versions of Sucuri Website Firewall available to purchase: Basic, Pro, Business, and Custom Solutions. The Basic version starts at $9.99 (£8.19) per month. The Pro version starts at $19.98 (£16.39) per month with SSL certificate support.
Who is it recommended for?
The potential market for Sucuri Website Firewall is the same as that for Indusface AppTrana. The two tools work in a very similar way and each acts as a proxy server, receiving all traffic on behalf of the protected website. So, you don’t need to dedicate any specialist cybersecurity staff to managing your site’s protection. An important difference between these two services is that the Sucuri system is significantly cheaper and so it is more likely to appeal to small businesses.
Pros:
- Ideal solution for environments needing to protect their applications and testing environments
- Uses simple rules and templates to start mitigating/preventing DDoS attacks right away
- Users can block by IP, geolocation, traffic type, and behavior
- Works well in both medium and large environments – flexible pricing
Cons:
- VIP support requires the Business Platform pricing tier
The Business version costs $69.93 (£57.35) per month with additional features. The Custom Solutions are customizable packages on their website where you can chat to an online assistant and learn more.
4. StackPath Web Application Firewall (FREE TRIAL)
StackPath is a DDoS protection solution and Web Application Firewall designed to protect against cybercriminals. StackPath provides layers 3, 4, and 7 protection. At layer 7 the solution uses behavioral algorithms to detect and block volumetric attacks at the application layer. The mitigation capabilities of the program include attacks such as HTTP, UDP, and SYN floods.
Key Features
- DDoS protection
- Web application firewall
- Network, Transport, and Application Layer protection
- CDN available
Why do we recommend it?
StackPath Web Application Firewall is a cloud-hosted proxy system that receives all traffic intended for a public IP address, filters out threats, and then forwards the genuine traffic. This edge service will also act as a caching system and content delivery network. That means Web browsers requesting a page on a site can actually get the code from a StackPath server, lightening the load on the protected server. The CDN stores a copy of a site on a number of servers around the world to shorten the delivery path to different parts of the world.
To address larger attacks, StackPath has a capacity of 65 Tbps (higher than the largest DDoS attack on record). The available capacity provides resistance against even the strongest attacks. StackPath is also capable of blocking attacks from anywhere in the world through its network of edge locations.
To protect your applications from being compromised, the Web Application Firewall can be configured with DDoS thresholds. You can configure DDoS thresholds to determine when the DDoS engine will respond to an attack. For example, if the domain threshold or burst threshold exceeds a predefined number of requests.
Who is it recommended for?
StackPath Web Application Firewall is similarly priced to the Sucuri package, which means that these two systems compete closely to attract small businesses. The combination of Web application protection with content delivery optimization means that this is a good deal.
Pros:
- Leverages behavioral machine learning to detect new forms of DDoS attacks
- Offers 35+ edge locations worldwide
- Supports blocking application-layer attacks
- Edge locations allow your content to remain accessible even while under attack
Cons:
- Would like to see the option for a trial download
There are many pricing options available for StackPath but the two most relevant Individual Services are the CDN package and the WAF package. The CDN package costs $10 (£8.21) per month for network layer DDoS protection. The WAF package also costs $10 (£8.21) for network layer DDoS protection and application layer DDoS protection. You can download the free trial.
5. Link11
Link11 is a cloud-based DDoS protection tool. The system can detect and mitigate web and infrastructure DDoS attacks through layers 3-7 in real-time. The software uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect an attack.
Key Features
- DDoS absorption
- Protection at Network, Transport, and Application Layers
- AI processes
Why do we recommend it?
Link11 is a specialized DDoS protection system rather than a feature of a wider Web application firewall or edge service bundle. The system is highly regarded and quickly spots DDoS attacks. The ability to perform at speed and accurately identify malicious traffic can make or break a DDoS protection system because no one wants genuine traffic to be held up or blocked. Link11 uses AI to sharpen its DDoS blocking service.
The AI analyzes the sequences of known-attack patterns and uses this data to compare with live usage. If a connection to the network is behaving the same way as a potential attacker the platform can respond immediately with a notification via SMS once a threat is detected.
In terms of setup, Link11 is very easy to deploy because it is run in the cloud. You don’t need to set up additional hardware and in a matter of minutes, you can configure the platform to protect your network infrastructure from an attack. The monitoring dashboard provides you with a centralized view of traffic, application and server behavior protection service can detect and mitigate attacks. Easy to deploy, uses AI and dashboard gives good view of server behavior.ior so you can see what’s going on.
There is also a reporting feature so you can generate reports on security events. The program enables you to schedule reports or generate them manually depending on your needs.
Who is it recommended for?
Link11 is a good choice for a large business that is dependent on the availability of its websites to maintain profitability. There are two aspects to this package that will put small businesses off. The first is that rival systems combine DDoS protection with other services, such as a content delivery service, which provides all of the edge services that a website needs. The other detraction is that Link11 doesn’t publish a price list and you can’t just sign up through an automated online process.
Pros:
- Cloud-based DDoS protection – simple setup, no need to invest in new hardware
- Uses AI to spot new forms of DDoS attacks
- Preconfigured dashboards make it easy to gain new insights
Cons:
- More suited towards enterprise environments – not the best fit for small businesses
- No on-premise option is available
Link11 is one of the most widely-used DDOS protection platforms on this list because it combines simplicity with top-notch automation. The AI is excellent at navigating the latest threats. If you’d like to view the price of Link11 you will have to contact the company directly. You can request a trial version.
6. Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a high-performance DDoS protection service that has a network capacity of 30 Tbps, 15x that of the largest DDoS attack ever recorded. The high capacity makes Cloudflare resistant to even the most powerful attacks. To keep up with new forms of attack the software uses an IP reputation database which blocks new threats across 20 million different properties.
Key Features
- Free tier
- DDoS protection
- CDN included
Why do we recommend it?
Cloudflare just about invented the modern DDoS service and that makes this a very difficult service to beat. The company has massive capacity to absorb very large traffic floods and that also makes it the first choice for many businesses. Since its inception as a DDoS protection service, Cloudflare has expanded into other edge services and can combine DDoS protection with content delivery, failover protection, and malware protection.
The defenses of Cloudflare have been designed to cover a range of DDoS and data breach attacks. For example, the product uses rate limiting to block network visitors with unusually high request rates. Likewise, it uses a Content Delivery Network or CDN to ensure the network stays available. The CDN is supported by 193 data centers across 90 countries.
There are four different versions of Cloudflare; Free, Pro, Business, and Enterprise. The Free version doesn’t cost anchoring for individuals with a personal website. The Pro version costs $20 (£16) per month with a Web Application Firewall designed for professional websites, blogs, and portfolios.
Who is it recommended for?
Cloudflare is appealing to any business that runs a website. The company has created a Free plan, which includes many other edge services. So, this is probably the natural number-one choice for startups and small businesses. The vast capacity of this system to absorb attacks will also appeal to very large organizations that are regularly subject to DDoS attacks.
Pros:
- Is known in the industry for mitigating some of the largest DDoS attacks recorded
- Has a wide array of edge locations to keep content accessible during an attack
- Offers numerous packages – suitable for different size environments
Cons:
- Setup can have a steeper learning curve than competing products
- Would like to see more performance insights, even when no attacks are detected
The Business version costs $200 (£164) per month with the option to use custom WAF rules, 100% uptime SLA and the fastest speed. The Enterprise version is a customizable package with a named solution engineer and is priced on a case-by-case basis. You can check out their pricing plans or download the free trial version.
7. AWS Shield
AWS Shield is a managed DDoS protection solution that uses flow monitoring to analyze incoming traffic. By monitoring flow data AWS Shield can detect malicious traffic in real-time. The solution also uses other defense measures like packet filtering and prioritizing traffic to control the management of traffic in the network.
Key Features
- Packet filtering
- DDoS blocking
- Load balancing
Why do we recommend it?
AWS Shield is available in a number of editions that offer increasingly more complicated services and capabilities. However, the basic package is enough for those seeking DDoS protection and that edition is free to use. The higher plans enable experienced cybersecurity experts to write their own firewall rules and there is also an option to get automated responses implemented.
You can also write rules with AWS WAF to defend against application-layer attacks. For more advanced protection there is AWS Shield Advanced. AWS Shield Advanced uses mitigation capacity to minimize the effect of larger DDoS attacks. There is also a dedicated response team on hand to assist with manual mitigations for more complex attacks.
There are two main versions of AWS Shield available on the market: AWS Shield Standard and AWS Shield Advanced. AWS Shield Standard is free and provides protection against common network and transport DDoS attacks.
Who is it recommended for?
AWS Shield is certainly designed as a strong rival to Cloudflare. Its free tier is a great marketing advantage when pitching for small business customers. However, there is one attribute of the AWS Shield that limits its appeal. That is, this system is only designed to protect AWS accounts, such as the EC2 system. The paid plans are quite expensive and they are suitable for large enterprises.
Pros:
- Designed specifically for AWS cloud environments
- AWS customers can access AWS Shield from their existing AWS products
- Offers a centralized solution to protect AWS assets
Cons:
- Setup can be complex, requiring knowledge of AWS architecture
- Designed specifically for AWS – not the best option for non-AWS customers
AWS Shield Advanced includes additional defense features for Amazon Elastic Compute, Amazon CloudFront, AWS Global Accelerator, and Elastic Load Balancing. AWS Shield Advanced costs $3,000 (£2,460) per month plus additional usage fees. You can get started with AWS Shield here.
8. Akamai Prolexic Routed
Akamai Prolexic Routed is a managed DDoS security service that can block DDoS attacks such as UDP floods, SYN floods, HTTP GET, and POST floods. Akamai Prolexic Routed has zero-second mitigation so that threats are spotted the moment they occur. However, if you require more support you have the assistance of the Security Operations Center to fall back on 24/7.
Key Features
- DDoS absorption
- Attack analysis
- System hardening
Why do we recommend it?
Akamai Prolexic Routed is a cloud service that is provided by one of the leading cybersecurity firms in the world. The reputation of Akamai is itself enough to get this product on our list. However, Akamai doesn’t rest on its laurels and provides a very powerful DDoS protection service that rapidly scans all incoming traffic at a rate of 400 Gbps. The speed of the Akamai system and its global distribution in 16 centers around the world provide this service with its ability to compete with Cloudflare.
Network traffic monitoring is another feature that Akamai Prolexic Routed uses to catch attacks early on. You can view real-time traffic data through the dashboard. You can also fall back on the 8.0 Tbps of bandwidth supplied by Akamai’s global network with 19 distributed scrubbing centers distributed across the world.
Who is it recommended for?
The Akamai service is aimed at big businesses and doesn’t offer a free tier, which shows that the company realizes that Cloudflare is unbeatable in that sector. Akamai doesn’t publish a price list, which is another reason that small businesses probably won’t go for this service.
Pros:
- Block multiple types of DDoS attacks such as SYN, UDP, and POST floods
- Offers advanced insights after an attempted attack to help improve security posture
- Can automatically reduce attack surfaces before an attack
Cons:
- Would like to see a free downloadable trial
- Smaller networks may not use features such as hybrid cloud protection
Overall, if you’re in search of a high-performance managed DDoS protection service then Akamai Prolexic Routed is worth a look. If you want to view the pricing for Akamai Prolexic Routed then you will have to contact the sales team directly. You can start a free trial here.
Protect Yourself with a DDoS Protection Service
It only takes one attack to put your network offline and cost you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Whether you choose to use an in-house product like SolarWinds Security Event Manager or a managed DDoS protection service like Akamai Prolexic Routed, it is important to be aware of what online services you’re protecting.
For example, if you want to protect your website then a website application firewall like Sucuri Website Firewall is likely to be your best choice. Remember that not all DDoS attacks are the same, and attackers look to strike your defenses where you least expect it.
Further reading: Best WAFs Reviewed – Buyer’s Guide
DDoS Protection FAQs
Do VPNs protect you from DDoS attacks?
Yes. A VPN will protect you against DDoS attacks in two ways. First, it hides the real address of your device – all traffic goes to the VPN rather than directly to you. Secondly, the VPN has a great deal of connection capacity and so is able to absorb the volumes of traffic that would overwhelm your computer. Get a VPN service with a static IP address if you expect incoming connections.
How long can a DDoS attack last?
Commercial DDoS services offer attack durations for as little as 5 minutes. Hardcore hacker-team DDoS attacks can last 24 hours or even as long as 72 hours.
How long does it take to recover from a DDoS attack?
DDoS attacks don’t cause any physical damage, they just block legitimate users from getting access to your site or service. Technical recovery is immediate because as soon as the fake connection requests stop, legitimate requests will get through. Reputation damage can take a long time to recover from.
Can you reverse a DDoS?
In theory, you can DDoS back to an address that DDoSed you. However, there isn’t much point in doing that because the computer that attacked you is just infected by a bot. You won’t get to the real attacker. Also, a botnet that runs an attack can contain hundreds of thousands of computers so you would tie up your own resources for a long time in revenge attacks on all of them.
