Understanding Cloud DDoS Protection Architecture

Cloud-based DDoS protection operates on a fundamentally different model than traditional on-premises solutions. These services position massive global networks between potential attackers and protected resources. When attacks occur, malicious traffic disperses across the provider's network, preventing concentration at any single point. This distributed architecture can absorb attacks exceeding multiple terabits per second.

The protection process begins with traffic routing through the provider's network. Using BGP announcements or DNS changes, organizations redirect incoming traffic to scrubbing centers. These facilities employ multiple detection and mitigation technologies to identify and filter attack traffic. Clean traffic then forwards to origin servers through secure connections, maintaining service availability during attacks.

Providers maintain Points of Presence (PoPs) worldwide, bringing protection close to both attackers and legitimate users. This geographic distribution reduces latency while improving mitigation effectiveness. Each PoP contains filtering equipment, bandwidth capacity, and security expertise. The collective capacity across all PoPs enables these services to handle the largest attacks.

Integration methods vary by provider and customer requirements. Always-on protection routes all traffic through the provider continuously, enabling instant mitigation. On-demand protection activates during attacks, preserving direct connectivity during normal operations. Hybrid approaches combine both methods, protecting critical services continuously while activating additional protection as needed.