10 Best Practices to Secure APIs from DDoS Attacks

DDoS attacks on APIs can cripple your services and cost millions. Here's how to protect your APIs:

Set rate limits
Use API gateways
Install web application firewalls (WAFs)
Use content delivery networks (CDNs)
Strengthen login controls
Enable encryption
Monitor for unusual activity
Block by location and IP
Set up decoys
Keep systems updated

Quick comparison of DDoS attack types:

Attack Type	Target	Impact	Defense
Volume-based	Bandwidth	Network overwhelmed	Traffic filtering
Protocol	Server resources	Services crash	Protocol fixes
Application layer	App vulnerabilities	Specific functions fail	Web app firewalls

Key stats:

60% of companies hacked in last 2 years
74% had 3+ API breaches
Average cost per attack: $6.1 million

Implementing these practices creates a multi-layered defense against API DDoS attacks. Focus on prevention, monitoring, and rapid response to keep your APIs secure.

What are DDoS attacks on APIs?

DDoS attacks on APIs try to take services offline by flooding them with fake traffic. These attacks can hurt businesses, expose data, and cost a lot of money.

Common DDoS attack types

There are three main types of DDoS attacks on APIs:

1. Volume-based attacks

These attacks flood APIs with tons of traffic. They eat up bandwidth fast. Here's what they look like:

UDP floods: Tons of UDP packets hit random ports
ICMP floods: Targets get swamped with ping requests

2. Protocol attacks

These attacks find weak spots in network protocols. Two big ones:

SYN floods: Lots of connection requests, but no handshakes
Ping of Death: Oversized ping packets that crash systems

3. Application layer attacks

These go after specific app weak points. Common types:

HTTP floods: Web servers get hit with tons of GET/POST requests
Slowloris: Many connections stay open with partial requests

Why APIs are easy targets

APIs often have problems that make them sitting ducks for DDoS:

They let too many requests come from one IP
They don't check who's using them very well
They don't watch for attacks closely
They can't handle sudden traffic spikes

Here's a real example: In 2018, GitHub got hit with a HUGE 1.35 Tbps DDoS attack. It used Memcached servers to make traffic 50,000 times bigger.

Attack Type	What it hits	What happens	How to stop it
Volume-based	Bandwidth	Network gets swamped	Filter traffic
Protocol	Server resources	Services crash	Fix protocols
Application layer	App weak spots	Specific functions break	Use web app firewalls

To keep APIs safe from DDoS, businesses need to fix these problems and use strong security. Next, we'll look at how to protect your APIs.

10 ways to protect APIs from DDoS attacks

DDoS attacks can knock out APIs, causing downtime and money loss. Here's how to shield your APIs:

1. Set rate limits

Cap traffic to block excess without hurting normal users. Set your network to handle max traffic per session. When exceeded, block the API key temporarily, sending a 429 HTTP error.

2. Use API gateways

These filter and watch traffic. Pick ones that:

Monitor traffic
Spot business logic flaws
Auto-block bad traffic

3. Install web application firewalls (WAFs)

WAFs filter HTTP traffic, stopping DDoS attacks fast. They can block attacks before they hit your server.

4. Use content delivery networks (CDNs)

CDNs spread traffic, cutting DDoS impact. They filter requests early, managing server load and speeding up responses.

5. Beef up login controls

Use strong auth like OAuth. Set tokens to expire. This stops unauthorized access and limits abuse.

6. Turn on encryption

Encrypt all server data. Require HTTPS for API access to secure in-transit requests.

7. Watch for weird activity

Set up systems to spot odd traffic. Create alert plans for potential attacks. This lets you react fast to new threats.

8. Block by location and IP

Limit access based on location and IP. This cuts risk from known trouble spots.

9. Set up decoys

Use honeypots to gather attack data. These fake targets help you study attack patterns safely.

10. Keep systems updated

Regular updates are key. Test API security often. Make sure all defenses work right.

Method	How It Works	Benefits
Rate limits	Caps requests	Stops API abuse
API gateways	Filters traffic	Adds security
WAFs	Blocks bad HTTP	Stops app attacks
CDNs	Spreads traffic	Cuts DDoS impact
Better access controls	Improves auth	Stops unauthorized use
Encryption	Secures data	Protects info
Activity monitoring	Spots odd patterns	Enables fast response
Geo-blocking	Limits by location	Shrinks attack surface
Decoys	Sets up fake targets	Gathers intel
Updates	Fixes vulnerabilities	Keeps system safe

Conclusion

Protecting APIs from DDoS attacks isn't simple. You need a multi-layered approach with various techniques and tools. By using the 10 best practices we've covered, you'll be in a much better position to fend off DDoS attacks on your APIs.

DDoS attacks are expensive. They cost about $40,000 per hour on average, not counting potential ransomware costs. And they're becoming more common - we're looking at 15.4 million DDoS attacks globally in 2023.

To protect your APIs:

Mix preventive measures like rate limiting, API gateways, and web application firewalls.
Set up proactive monitoring to catch and respond to attacks fast.
Keep your systems up-to-date and test your security regularly.

Daniel Paes, a data expert, puts it this way:

"DDoS attacks make your environment unstable, and the attacks do that by firing service calls to a targeted service with non-valid requests."

This shows why you need solid protection at every level of your API setup.

Here are the key actions to take:

Action	Purpose
Implement rate limits	Prevent API abuse
Use API gateways	Filter and monitor traffic
Install WAFs	Block malicious HTTP traffic
Enable encryption	Secure data in transit
Set up monitoring	Detect unusual activity

FAQs

How can we protect against DDoS attacks?

To shield your API from DDoS attacks, focus on these key strategies:

1. Multi-layered Defense

Mix hardware and software solutions. This filters out bad traffic at different network levels.

2. Rate Limiting

Cap the number of API requests a user can make in a set time. It's like putting a speed limit on your API highway.

3. Know Your Enemy

Learn to spot different DDoS attacks. It's like being a security guard who knows all the tricks burglars use.

4. Map Your Weak Spots

Create a threat model. It's like drawing a treasure map of your vulnerabilities so you know where to beef up security.

5. Shrink Your Target

Cut down on exposed services and endpoints. Fewer doors mean fewer ways for attackers to get in.

6. Brace for Impact

Make sure your system can handle sudden traffic spikes. It's like training for a marathon - you need to be ready for the long haul.

Strategy	What it Does
Multi-layered Defense	Blocks bad guys at every turn
Rate Limiting	Stops API hogs
Know Your Enemy	Helps you fight smarter
Map Your Weak Spots	Shows where to fortify
Shrink Your Target	Gives attackers less to aim at
Brace for Impact	Keeps you running when under fire