Your web host could be the reason why you are a sitting duck for a DDos attack
Just as we have been forced to face terrifying new terrorist
attacks in the offline world that threatens our very way of
life, online and less publicized dangers are an increasing and
terrifying threat.
Few people realize that your choice of web host has a lot to do
with just how secure your web site is going to be against
attack. Even a simple assault from a lone hacker will tend to be
easier with an unprepared web host with less resources and
experience.
But the real terror emerges from Ddos attacks or Distributed
Denial-of-service attacks. Deliberately designed to elude
detection by today’s most popular tools, these attacks tend to
be swift and come without any warning, leaving behind huge
losses that can never be recouped. Microsoft lost an estimated
$500 million in just a few days from a Ddos attack on the site
in January 2001. Of course the costs go way beyond simple
monetary terms. Because site performance is compromised, the
business ends up with frustrated customers.
The network infrastructure of the host you choose is very
important if a web master is to ensure that their site is
protected. And yet most of this protection does not come cheap.
For example the most recent Cisco Ddos protection appliance
costs about $200,000. Without this protection the host and his
entire network are “sitting ducks” as any Ddos attack on any
single site will affect the entire network and thus other web
sites as well.
This is one of the reasons why it is becoming increasingly
important for web masters to be aware of a lot of technical
details behind the network structure and capabilities of the web
host they choose to go with. It is just too risky to leave it
all to chance or to base the entire reason for choice on a few
simple factors like price and number of years in business.
