• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Project of the Week
  • About Us
    SEARCH
Compliance, IT Infrastructure, Network Security, News

7 Layers of DDoS Attacks and How To Prevent Them

DDoS attacks can derail profits; safeguard your business against them with these prevention methods across different layers.

December 28, 2023 Mia Turlington Leave a Comment

DDoS, NETSCOUT Arbor Insight

As businesses grow to gain traction and revenue from the Internet, the increasing reliance is an easy target for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Like any new venture, risks are an undeniable part that comes with it.

For eCommerce businesses, the main risk is DDoS attacks. Known as a dangerous and malicious attack to destabilize and halt services or products, its biggest drawback is disrupting operations. By making products or services utterly inaccessible to consumers, DDoS attacks effectively eliminate any incoming profits.

The key lies in understanding how it works to protect your business and keep out these intrusions. In this article, we will review the different layers and ways to prevent them.

7 Layers of DDoS Attacks

1. Physical Layer Attacks

These DDoS attacks target the network or infrastructure of a business. By using a range of techniques: overloading network switches, jamming wireless signals, or physically cutting cables, attackers can cut income streams if they can access a business’s location. The difficulty in preventing it lies in how unpredictable people can be. One of the best ways to combat this is by installing surveillance that regularly monitors and alerts owners of suspicious activities. This can mitigate risks, especially if alerts go directly to the police.

2. Data Link Layer Attacks

Unlike physical layer attacks, data link attacks target how network devices communicate. With a MAC (Media Access Control) address, attackers can trick digital devices into communicating with a fake network device. In other cases, it is also common to use STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) attacks to manipulate how the network switches forward traffic. The only way to manage this is by ensuring businesses have a foolproof authentication mechanism, including MAC filtering that drives smooth configuration.

3. Network Layer Attacks

Network layer attacks work by affecting data that is transmitted across the Internet. Through IP (Internet Protocol) fragmentation attacks, data is sent in small batches to overwhelm network devices. Or, attackers can engage in ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) floods where a target is drowned with ICMP messages. To prevent such occurrences, firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be utilized to block or flag uncommon network traffic.

4. Transport Layer Attacks

As the name suggests, transport layer attacks target how data is transmitted between network devices. By engaging in techniques such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) SYN floods, attackers send a high volume of TCP SYN requests to a target. On the other hand, they can also use UDP (User Datagram Protocol) floods, where a high volume of UDP packets is sent to the target. Hence, businesses need to implement load balancers and rate limiters to reduce and prevent possible transport layer attacks to halt a high volume of traffic from overwhelming their network devices.

5. Session Layer Attacks

Not limited to network devices, DDoS attacks can also occur in applications by targeting how they communicate. Using techniques such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) attacks, attackers exploit vulnerabilities in SSL/TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols to intercept data, or they can drown a target with SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) messages. The easiest way to prevent session layer attacks is by ensuring applications are securely configured with updated SSL/TLS certificates.

6. Presentation Layer Attacks

As the name implies, presentation layer attacks work by attacking how information is presented to users. Through techniques such as XML (Extensible Markup Language) attacks, attackers either exploit vulnerabilities in XML parsers to execute malicious code or implement XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attacks, where they inject malicious scripts into web pages. Firms can avoid presentation layer attacks with secure coding practices and frequent vulnerability scans.

7. Application Layer Attacks

For the application layer attacks, its emphasis lies in attacking the way applications function. Using techniques such as SQL (Structured Query Language) injection attacks, attackers inject malicious SQL queries into a target application to gain unauthorized access to data. In other cases, they can also use RFI (Remote File Inclusion) attacks to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications to execute malicious code. Unlike the other solutions, you can educate employees to prevent these attacks. You can eradicate this possibility by focusing on coding practices, phishing awareness, and password hygiene.

DDos Protection

DDoS Protection takes a community of conscious efforts to keep firms up and running. For businesses to excel, driving revenue and consumers to the store is no longer an option. Cybersecurity is vital to help safeguard existing assets and keep revenue flowing. Hence, implementing these features should be paramount to stay vigilant for businesses to flourish.

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!

Tagged With: DDoS Attacks

Related Content:

  • Cloud, SASE, Aryaka How the Cloud is Redefining Media Production and…
  • Singlewire Software mass notification interview Singlewire Software on Mass Notification Solutions
  • URI catchbox 1 Catchbox Plus: The Mic Solution That Finally Gave…
  • Engaging virtual meeting with diverse participants discussing creative ideas in a bright office space during daylight hours Diversified Survey: Workplace AV Tech is Falling Short,…

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • Practical Design Guide for Office SpacesPractical Design Guide for Office Spaces

    Recent Gartner research shows that workers prefer to return to the office for in-person meetings for relevant milestones, as well as for face-to-face time with co-workers. When designing the office spaces — and meeting spaces in particular — enabling that connection between co-workers is crucial. But introducing the right collaboration technology in meeting spaces can […]

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Downloads

Practical Design Guide for Office Spaces
Practical Design Guide for Office Spaces

Recent Gartner research shows that workers prefer to return to the office for in-person meetings for relevant milestones, as well as for face-to-fa...

New Camera Can Transform Your Live Production Workflow
New Camera System Can Transform Your Live Production Workflow

Sony's HXC-FZ90 studio camera system combines flexibility and exceptional image quality with entry-level pricing.

Creating Great User Experience and Ultimate Flexibility with Clickshare

Working and collaborating in any office environment today should be meaningful, as workers today go to office for very specific reasons. When desig...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Contact Us
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!
Emerald Logo
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSYour Privacy ChoicesTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

© 2025 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.