In network security, what does DDoS stand for?

In network security, DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. This term describes a type of cyberattack in which multiple compromised systems are used to flood a targeted server, service, or network with a massive amount of traffic. The goal of a DDoS attack is to overwhelm the target's resources, making it unavailable to legitimate users.

The term "distributed" highlights that the attack originates from many different locations, involving numerous devices, rather than a single source. This makes it more difficult to defend against because the incoming traffic is harder to differentiate from legitimate traffic. A successful DDoS attack can have severe consequences for organizations, including downtime, loss of revenue, and damage to reputation.

Understanding this concept is crucial for anyone working in network security, as it emphasizes the need for robust mitigation strategies and incident response plans to preserve service availability and protect against such threats.