What is BGP-Based DDoS Protection?

An autonomous network (AS) can be protected from DDoS attacks in a number of ways by rerouting traffic. One of these is the use of the BGP protocol. Since BGP is one of the main Internet traffic routing protocols, it is an effective tool in the fight against cyber threats. This article will look at the features of traffic redirection as a DDoS attack defence, the situations in which providers use it, and different DDoS protection scenarios.

What is BGP-Based DDoS Protection?

BGP-based DDoS protection leverages the BGP routing protocol to mitigate and block DDoS attacks before they can overwhelm a network. It involves dynamically altering the routing of network traffic based on real-time analysis, effectively diverting malicious traffic away from the targeted network.

This method of DDoS protection is often implemented in cooperation with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or third-party DDoS mitigation services that monitor traffic and provide the necessary infrastructure to handle the diverted traffic.

What is BGP routing?

The foundation of BGP routing is the idea of exchanging network route data between and among different independent systems or networks. To share route information, the protocol uses TCP sessions between BGP peers or neighbors. BGP neighbours exchange reachability messages with one another. We call this time frame "keep alive."

Hold time is an extra period that keeps the TCP session going. This amount of time is needed to locate an inactive BGP neighbour. The router gets removed from the routing process if no communications are received from it within this period. While exchanging routes between ASs, the number of each system the packet passes through is always logged. BGP neighbors exchange details regarding the network address throughout this procedure.

How Does BGP-Based DDoS Protection Work?

The basic principle behind BGP-based DDoS protection is relatively straightforward:

Traffic Monitoring: The network continuously monitors inbound traffic, analyzing patterns and volumes for signs of abnormal behavior. Many solutions use machine learning algorithms to identify potential DDoS attacks by distinguishing between legitimate traffic and attack traffic.
Attack Detection: When a DDoS attack is detected, the BGP-based protection system takes action. This involves identifying the source of the malicious traffic, often by looking at the IP prefixes and Autonomous Systems (AS) responsible for sending the traffic.
Traffic Diversion: Once the attack has been identified, the network administrator (or automated system) uses BGP to alter the network's routing tables. By announcing new BGP routes, the network effectively redirects the traffic through a mitigation service that can absorb and filter out the malicious traffic.
Traffic Scrubbing: The diverted traffic is sent to a scrubbing center, a location with the capacity to handle large volumes of data. Here, sophisticated filters separate legitimate traffic from malicious traffic. The legitimate traffic is then forwarded to its intended destination, while the malicious traffic is discarded.
Restoration: After the DDoS attack has subsided, the routing tables are updated to restore normal traffic flows, ensuring that the network resumes operations without further disruption.

Benefits of BGP-Based DDoS Protection

BGP-based DDoS protection offers several benefits, making it an attractive solution for businesses and organizations:

Scalability: One of the most significant advantages of BGP-based protection is its scalability. It can handle massive volumetric attacks by diverting traffic to external scrubbing centers with vast capacity.
Real-Time Mitigation: BGP-based systems can detect and respond to DDoS attacks in real time, significantly reducing downtime and minimizing the impact of the attack.
Global Coverage: By leveraging the global nature of BGP routing and third-party mitigation providers, businesses can defend against attacks originating from anywhere in the world.
Cost-effective: Unlike some on-premise solutions that require expensive hardware investments, BGP-based protection often leverages existing infrastructure and third-party services, reducing costs.
ISP Collaboration: Many ISPs offer BGP-based DDoS protection as a service, allowing organizations to benefit from their network infrastructure and security expertise without having to build their own systems.

Why Customers Choose LeasePacket for DDoS Protection?

With years of experience in cybersecurity and DDoS mitigation, Lease Packet has a proven track record of effectively defending businesses against a wide range of DDoS attacks. Our team of security experts continuously monitors and adapts our defences to combat evolving threats. We offer comprehensive DDoS protection solutions that cover all layers of the OSI model.

A dedicated support team is available round-the-clock
Cloud-based infrastructure for traffic analysis and anomaly detection
Distributed network across multiple data centers globally
Solutions that provide robust security without compromising on affordability
Continuous surveillance and proactive mitigation
Clear, transparent pricing models with no hidden fees

Conclusion

Today, DDoS attacks are common and disruptive. BGP-based DDoS protection offers a scalable and effective solution for mitigating these threats. By leveraging BGP’s routing capabilities and working with ISPs and scrubber centres, organizations can protect their networks from even the most massive volumetric attacks. While it may not be a one-size-fits-all solution, it plays a crucial role in a multi-layered security strategy, providing peace of mind and ensuring business continuity in the face of evolving threats.