A Denial of Service (DOS) attack is a cyber-attack that targets the normal traffic of a particular service. In a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, a network website is overloaded by a botnet that simultaneously sends requests to the victim. The result may be that the availability of a particular service can no longer be guaranteed. The service is then unavailable for a period of time. There are several types of DDoS attacks.

In the event of a DDoS attack, there are several steps that a victim and/or an ISP can take to effectively prevent and stop a DDoS attack. This document provides more detailed technical information on how to respond to a DDoS attack and what measures can be taken to prevent a DDoS attack.

The guide is advisory in nature and will help to prepare and respond to a DDoS attack. This technical guide on DDoS mitigation measures has been developed in the context of the Belgian 2024 elections. At federal level, various stakeholders play an important role in the electoral process. Effective protection against DDoS attacks requires a coordinated approach between the different stakeholders. 

This document has been prepared with valuable input from Belnet.