DDoS protection and mitigation is a set of techniques implemented across an enterprise to mitigate DDoS traffic. A Denial of Service (DoS attack is a methodology to flood resources of victims with false requests and make them unable to serve legitimate requests. A DDoS attack is induced by a collection of devices used to target a network and application layer or induce volumetric attacks, ranging from 1 Gbps to 1 Tbps. The DDoS protection and mitigation market includes solutions, such as hardware solutions and software solutions. The solutions are developed on algorithms that make use of Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and big data analytics methodologies. The software solutions are supported by a scrubbing center that distinguishes good and bad traffic with minimal latency and false positives. The services segment, on the other hand, augments the smooth functioning of solutions by aiding in implementation and design, support and maintenance, training and education, and consulting. The strong competition among top players and introduction of new entrants who are focused on R&D activities make DDoS Protection Software more beneficial for customers in terms of features and pricing.

COMPETITIVE LEADERSHIP MAPPING TERMINOLOGY

DDoS Protection Software vendors are placed into 4 categories based on their performance and reviews in each criterion: “visionary leaders,” “innovators,” “dynamic differentiators,” and “emerging companies".

VISIONARY LEADERS

Vendors who fall in the category of visionary leaders generally receive high scores for most of the evaluation criteria. They have a strong portfolio of solutions and services and mark their presence in the DDoS protection software space by offering solutions as per the consumer requirements. These vendors have undertaken various growth strategies to advance consistently in the market. The visionary leaders in DDoS protection software include NETSCOUT, Akamai Technologies, Imperva, and Huawei Technologies.

DYNAMIC DIFFERENTIATORS

Dynamic differentiators are established vendors with strong business strategies. However, they do not possess strong product portfolio. The vendors generally focus on a specific type of technology related to the product. F5 Networks and Nexusguard are recognized as dynamic differentiators in the DDoS protection and mitigation space. The vendor have an innovative portfolio of solutions and services. They also have an extensive network of channel partners and resellers to integrate in the market and increase the deployment of their solutions across a multitude of vertical markets. Moreover, the business strategy of these companies is strong, and have partnered with strong players to expand their market reach. The dynamic differentiators have been consistent in generating positive revenue growth in the DDoS protection and mitigation market, and their market position is boosted by the organic and inorganic growth ventures undertaken by them.

INNOVATORS

The innovators in the MicroQuadrant are vendors who have demonstrated substantial product innovations in comparison to their competitors. They have focused product portfolios. However, they do not have strong growth strategies for their overall business. Verisign, Fortinet, Cloudflare, and Neustar are recognized as the innovators in the DDoS protection and mitigation space. They possess innovative solutions to cater to future mobility demands. These companies are concerned about their product portfolio, and have a robust potential to build strong business strategies for expanding their business and stay at par with the visionary leaders. These vendors have been consistently offering DDoS protection and mitigation market solutions to fulfill customer demands. Innovators have also been at the forefront for the development of innovative DDoS protection and mitigation solutions.

EMERGING COMPANIES

Emerging companies are vendors with niche product offerings who are beginning to gain their position in the market. They do not have strong business strategies as compared to other established vendors. These companies might be new entrants in the market and require some more time before they gain a significant market traction. Most of the emerging companies have undertaken multiple business strategies to boost their capabilities across regions and offer integrated solutions and services to a wide range of clients. A10 Networks, NS Focus, Radware, Stackpath and Oracle are recognized as emerging companies in the DDoS protection Software and mitigation space.

DDoS attacks disturb the normal functioning of the network by flooding the network and causing congestion. The network-layer and transport-layer functioning gets affected due to attack vectors, such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP) flood, SYN flood, NTP amplification, DNS amplification attacks, and others. The illegitimate traffic on the network over 40 gigabit per second (Gbps) is sufficient enough to cause the entire network breakdown in enterprises. The botnets are computers that are capable of receiving requests without intervention from authorized personnel.

The botnets flood the network with numerous illegitimate requests. Botnets can utilize packets from the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), UDP, and Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP). Some of the major DDoS attacks on the network include DNS amplification attack, NTP attack, smurf attack, ping flood, SYN flood, and RUDY attacks. Smurf attacks broadcast packets to all computers in the network, thereby consuming network bandwidth. Ping flood sends the computer with a number of ping commands, causing a disturbance in the network and also leading to system crash. DNS amplification attacks cause congestion on the target system using DNS response traffic and thereby disturbing the target system.

Advanced DDoS protection Software and mitigation solutions and services are required to safeguard enterprises from the malicious layer 3 and layer 4 protocol packets, packet headers, and the illegitimate requests generated. The advanced solutions and services safeguard enterprises from volumetric attacks and do not allow bandwidth consumption due to illegitimate traffic.

APPLICATION

The layer 7 is widely attacked by cyber threats such as DDoS, malware, APTs, and others. The application layer deals with protocols such as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), HTTP, and HTTPS, which are responsible for managing web browsers, emails, or handling requests for applications.

DDoS attacks aimed at layer 7 try to flood the layer with illegitimate requests and disrupt the application. An HTTP flood attack on the application layer can leverage the same page request over and over again, affect the large pool of IP addresses, and disrupt the functioning of network and resources. WordPress XMLRPC Floods uses WordPress pingback for causing flood requests and disturbances. An attacker can generate, on average, 6,000–7,000 HTTP requests per second, which may be prolonged from 5 minutes to 24 hours.

DDoS Protection Software and services with support from industry experts and support teams are required for advanced protection from DDoS attacks.

DATABASE

Along with the increase in network and application DDoS attacks, database-related DDoS attacks and Structured Query Language (SQL) injections are also increasing. The attacks on the database are difficult to detect and can cause the crashing of the database. Some of the databases have had issues with invalid object pointers, workload manager vulnerability, and also issues related to unrestricted network access, which can lead to file corruption. Complex database queries, usage of infinite for loop, usage of in operator, the Cartesian product on large datasets, and join operation performed on large datasets can exhaust a database’s resources, memory, and also the processing power of the system.

Some of the methodologies adopted in mitigating database DDoS attacks include limiting resources on a per-user basis, active monitoring, patching, database firewalls, web application firewalls, and database abstraction layer hardening.

ENDPOINT

DDoS attacks on endpoints such as workstations, servers, and mobile devices aim to waste the CPU resources and memory and cause system breakdown. The DDoS attacks can flood the endpoint resources with illegitimate traffic and can also target vulnerabilities in the application stack, which can block legitimate traffic from completing its cycle.

The stages of deadlock can utilize the resources and can cause system breakdown. With rise in IoT, BYOD, and ubiquitous communication on smart devices, the threat of advanced attacks such as DDoS has increased. Advanced DDoS protection Software and mitigation solutions and services with threat detection and behavioral analytics are required to safeguard the endpoints from advanced threats.

Best DDoS Protection Software

Comparing 42 vendors in DDoS Protection and Mitigation Solutions across 76 criteria.
All vendors(30)
Selected by small-360Analysts
NFOCUS is a company that provides various kinds of hybrid security solutions for any enterprise-level. The company incorporates Intelligent Detection, behaviour-based detection, intelligent learning solutions, and application threat detection to provide users with optimum security. NFOCUS makes use of AI-based smart threat detection system, which allows it to find out malicious threats to the users in a quick and fast way. The company offers various variations of security protection; one can choose as per their needs.
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Netscout Systems is a leading provider of application and network performance management solutions and products. It's product portfolio comprises business assurance, service assurance, and security assurance along with advanced DDoS attack, and threat solutions and Business Intelligence (BI) solutions.
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Akamai Technologies offers various solutions, including security solutions, web performance, media delivery solutions, and network operator solutions. Akamai Technologies specializes in web and mobile acceleration, DNS and traffic management, media delivery, cloud security, and CDN.
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Imperva, Inc. is one of the major vendors offering cybersecurity solutions to assist enterprises to protect their data and applications. The solutions offered enable the organizations to discover risks and safeguard valuable business-critical information by enforcing policies and audit controls. Imperva provides cloud security solutions through its offerings, namely, Incapsula and SecureSphere for AWS.
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Huawei is a privately held global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solution provider that offers a wide range of cybersecurity solutions for industries. The company specializes in the areas of cloud computing, big data, connectivity, IoT, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with integrated solutions across 4 key domains, namely, telecom networks, IT, smart devices, and cloud services. Its partner ecosystem comprises Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), consulting companies, system integrators, Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs), channel partners, service partners, and talent alliance partners.
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Cloudflare is a security and internet performance company. It develops solutions to speed up and protect millions of websites, APIs, SaaS services, eCommerce websites, and mobile applications. Cloudflare offers services in CDN, DDoS protection, secure DNS, and security and web optimization. Moreover, the company provides enterprise-grade security and performance management solutions for large enterprises.
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Neustar Inc's DDoS Protection Software is capable of converting customer intelligence and media with a personalized touch for marketing to mobile devices or any other communication channel. The platform provides users with the opportunity to create new, effective, and customized campaigns that come with the ability to work on any mobile, online or offline.

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Fortinet is a global leader in cybersecurity solutions provided to a wide variety of businesses, such as enterprises, communication service providers, and small businesses. Its cybersecurity solutions are designed to provide broad visibility and segmentation of the digital attack surface through their integrated Security Fabric platform, which features automated protection, and detection, and responses.
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Verisign is a global provider of DDoS Protection Software and internet security solutions. The company’s domain name registry services permit individuals and enterprises to set up their online identities. They have an exclusive registry of domain names within the .com, .net, and .name generic top-level domains. Verisign also offers disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities through techniques, such as synchronous mirroring and remote replication, to meet with the data center security loss.
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Nexusguard offers a proprietary distributed denial of service DDoS Protection and Mitigation Solutions that are used by some of the most reputed companies in the world. Nexusguard’s Cybersecurity Platform has a scrubbing network that is distributed worldwide which is used for automated threat detection. This is used for the protection of networks, websites, applications and DNS service from the DDoS attacks.
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F5 Networks DDoS Protection Software can be used in the most demanding of deployments. It uses both software and hardware to tackle the attacks in an efficient way. BIG-IP® Advanced Firewall Manager™ (AFM) by F5 is a product that provides protection against network-layer DDoS attacks for its customers. It also gives protection against session-layer attacks like SSL floods. BIG-IP® Application Security Manager™ (ASM) by F5 helps in protection against HTTP-based attacks.
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StackPath is a podium of computing structure and services that are built in the cloud and therefore does not require much hardware infrastructure. The use of StackPath ensures that customers using your app, website, API, content, built in the cloud do not circle the world before they reach you; it also makes sure that they have a fast, secure, and seamless experience.
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A10 Networks specializes in the manufacturing of application delivery controllers (software and hardware). A10 Networks has integrated intelligence and automation in its portfolio of secure application services. It promises to enable intelligent automation with deep ML to ensure business-critical applications are protected, reliable, and always available.
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Radware specializes in application delivery and load balancing, application and network security, and cloud security. The company offers a wide range of DDoS protection software and DDoS mitigation products, such as DefensePro, Cloud DDoS Protection Service, and DefenseFlow.
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Oracle Corporation has one of the best solutions for distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks which is time tested now. The Oracle Communications Session Border Controller (SBC) is not only flexible but also efficient in meeting the requirements of the customers in dealing with DDoS attacks. The DDoS attacks are getting sophisticated and SBC is capable of dealing with complex attacks by providing a complete set of configurations that are helpful in combating these attacks.
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AhnLab ranks at the top, while talking about the real-time software for security on the internet. The company's security software is capable of monitoring cyber threats, analyze traffic incongruities, detect traffic, and respond to files that are suspicious. Other attractions of the software are analytical protection and network firewalls. The security software provides the users with an impressive and detailed scanning and algorithmic data.
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Networks of enterprises are under constant attack from some of the biggest and most disrupting Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS). They threaten the performance of the system, availability and integrity, and have also restricted the networks of numerous multinational organizations. Allot DDoS identifies inbound and outbound attack traffic and mitigates it immediately, providing robust security for the firm.
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When talking about video, broadband, and IP technology, Arris Group Inc ranks among the pioneers. The company continuously works for transforming the experience of the customers in communications and entertainment globally. Arris has delivered digital TV, wireless broadband networks, and other standardized pathways providing the customers with a tailored multiscreen, cloud services, and Ultra HD. By collaborating with the customers, Arris is passionately working to solve technical challenges in the future.

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Cisco Systems Inc is a pioneer in distributed denial of service (DDoS)  Protection and mitigation software and some of the largest enterprises globally are using the products of Cisco for the purpose. It addresses multiple threats and targets and provides protection against all of them. Its product has the capacity to block high volume and massive botnets of attackers.
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Comodo products are focused on computer and internet security. The company operates Certificate Authority issuing SSL certificates and information security products for both enterprises and consumers. Comodo group helps in setting standards by contributing resource records to IETF the DNS Certification Authority Authorization.
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DOSarrest Internet security service is a cloud-based API Protector, which practices on API security and global security with minimal efforts. The DDoS Protection And Mitigation software automatically protects the entire internet infrastructure with their cloud-based DDoS protection. It is also the best for hosting providers, Telcos, and mission-critical corporate networks. The software of DOSARREST also helps defend the cyber-attack and prepares a platform defending the same. It tests DDoS defence readiness and also checks the stress testing.
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DDoS mitigation is the process by which a targeted server or network is protected from a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. It is achieved by using specially designed equipment in the system or a cloud-based protection service. ERCOM uses this technology to mitigate any attack on the system, thereby protecting the data stored in the device and preventing any data loss.

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Flowmon is an advanced DDoS Protection And Mitigation software which works by utilizing the flow monitoring technology of avant-garde IP. The solution provides the users with complete visibility of their networks. Flowmon comes with the necessary tools required for boosting the network and application presentations, along with maintaining the perfect functioning. With Flowmon, the organizations are assured with rapid solutions to the networking issues with reliable troubleshooting tools and resolutions based on tickets.
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KPN is recognized as one of the best companies for Cloud Infrastructure and Hosting. The DDoS Protection And Mitigation software comes with the capability of managing different applications with the help of a Hybrid Cloud. It also provides an excellent combination of public and private clouds. The plus point of the software is your data remains safe in the house.

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Kudelski group is one of the most renowned security service providers. They have thirty years of experience in designing software and hardware security solutions. It provides security solutions and is also a convergent media solution. Their technologies are put to use in a broad spectrum of services and applications that require access control and rights management. It provides software protection solutions to digital firms.
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Link11 is a leading cyber security provider specialized in DDoS protection for websites and IT infrastructures. Besides the patent-pending DDoS Protection And Mitigation Software, the company offers additional services such as a WAF or a CDN, ensuring 360° protection and performance for its international customers.
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Mobile Telephone Network Pvt Ltd provides mobile communication products and services to businesses and individuals. The company has various services offering the best platform to work with speed and easy equipment. The company provides voice services that are prepaid and postpaid airtime through second-generation and third-generation networks. The company is also perfect rendering interconnection services to other telecom networks as well as international roaming and teleconferencing.
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Mobily offers web security solutions, tailor-made to combat today’s cyber threats. The use of Mobily helps the users to secure their websites and helps them to make their experience more straightforward and secure. Mobily offers genuine services, including cloud-based security solutions, to eliminate threats, malicious bots, spams, viruses and much more. The company also helps in successfully removing adware threats, URL threats and ATPs (Advanced Persistent Threats). Mobily has a bunch of various services and solutions for every kind of enterprise.
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The rapidly growing threat of activists and hackers attacking the deploying Denial of services of the network and infrastructure has led to the necessity of Ooredoo. Ooredoo is today's leading security provider for telecommunications and networks. The software offers a world-class, full suite of solutions to monitor the network availability, provide a system to mitigate and enable company's or enterprises to protect their network operation and analyses real-time security of networks.
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The PLDT Enterprise is a network that helps enterprises to bring their business to a higher level with their innovative solutions. The company caters to all kinds of solutions to enterprises of all sizes, may it be a small enterprise or a large corporation, PLDT enterprise helps empowers the customer in their digital transformation. The company offers connectivity and reliable technology to enable and achieve efficiently the desired business targets.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The global Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection and mitigation market size is expected grow from USD 2.4 billion in 2019 to USD 4.7 billion by 2024, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.0% during the forecast period. With an increase in the number of multi-vector DDoS attacks, the demand for DDoS solutions is also expected to go up. Therefore, this demand might cause a significant growth of the DDoS protection and mitigation market.
Major vendors in the DDoS protection and mitigation market are NETSCOUT (US); Akamai Technologies (US); Imperva (US); Radware (Israel); Corero Network Security (US); Cloudflare (US); Link11 (Germany), Nexusguard (Hong Kong); A10 Networks, (US); Fortinet (US); Huawei Technologies (China); Verisign (US); Sucuri (US); SiteLock (US); Flowmon Networks (Czech Republic); StackPath, (US); DOSarrest Internet Security (Canada); NSFOCUS (US); and Seceon (US).
The recent developments in the market are: In May 2019, Link11 offered its solutions and services to Cologne Broadcasting Center (CBC), a broadcast company in Germany. This offering has expanded Link11’s business operations reach to the media vertical. In April 2019, Huawei partnered with Infosys, wherein Infosys will join the Huawei Cloud Partner Network. The partnership was aimed to develop new cloud solutions to help enterprises fast track their digital transformation. In January 2019, Akamai completed the acquisition of Janrain. The acquisition helps Akamai to add Customer Identity Access Management (CIAM) to its Intelligent Edge Platform.
The market growth is attributed to increasing instances of application and network layer attacks on enterprises. The massive use of IoT devices across verticals and threat of botnets are expected to be the major growth drivers for the adoption of DDoS protection and mitigation solutions. The rise in the adoption of Bring Your Own Network (BYOD) and work from home trends and the increasing number of botnet and Mirai botnet attacks due to IoT, cloud storage data leaks, and fragile datacenter security have placed the infrastructure at risk. Cumbersome administration is projected to drive the market after threat detection.
The hybrid deployment mode is gaining high traction in the market, as mitigating all DDoS attacks is challenging. The hybrid deployment mode safeguards critical enterprise data on-premises and stores other data in the cloud environment. Hybrid deployment solutions protect organizations’ Information Technology (IT) infrastructure from multi-vector DDoS attacks before these attacks snowball into a huge problem. Enterprises can retain all their critical data and intellectual properties within their premises and ensure their safety from network-based, protocol-based, and application-based DDoS attacks.
The solutions which DDoS mitigation software provides are: Network Layer Null Routing Sinkholing Scrubbing Application Layer Domain Name System (DNS) routing Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing