Cyber Security and Startups - Case Study Example

Cyber Security and Start-ups What is a DDoS attack? A DDoS Attack is an attempt to make an online service inaccessible by overpowering it through the obstruction from various sources. The motive of the attacker is to receive payments in Bitcoins before releasing the service to resume its normal functions. The attack targets significant resources used by business organizations, security firms or schools by making it a challenge to access the information. The authors indicate that the charges requested normally range between $100 and $300, but there are fears it could be increased in the future to extort more users (Perlroth & Wortham, 2014).

How can a small company protect itself from DDoS attacks?A small company can protect itself from DDoS attacks by registering for website hosting services with giant organizations like Amazon and Google that can hold bulky flows of attack transfer. Another way to protect against DDoS attacks can be through subscribing for mitigation services that monitor the flow of data from servers and other data sources (Perlroth & Wortham, 2014). These strategies enable smaller companies to block the viruses that block the smooth scream of information or access to important resources.

Who has become a frequent victim of DDoS attacks?Small tech start-ups have become frequent targets of the attacks because they possess valuable data that the DDoS attack can hurt (Perlroth & Wortham, 2014). New companies attract numerous users who visit their websites for information concerning the firm. They do not also install security measures to protect against such attacks, which make them vulnerable to pay the ransom demanded. It is apparent that the attackers target new establishments that do not have the experience of dealing with modern elements of cyber attacks.

Comments on the PostThe post clearly illustrates the meaning of DDoS attack and the various ways of avoiding such challenges. However, the writer does not give a detailed analysis of the attack and how small companies are the prime targets. This causes confusion, especially regarding the ransom charges since the post indicates two conflicting charges of $20 and $2000. The charges posted here reflect the ones that future DDoS attackers might demand and not the current rate. ReferencePerlroth, N.

& Wortham, J. (2014). “Tech Start-Ups are Targets of Ransom Cyber attacks.” The New York Times. Business of technology Column. Retrieved from