ENISA’s report on Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks reveals persistent security threats, with attackers leveraging cost-effective means. The global landscape, fueled by ongoing conflicts, witnesses waves of DoS attacks, with political motives driving retaliation against government services, the most targeted sector at 46%. Spanning January 2022 to August 2023, the report examines 310 verified DoS incidents, highlighting a lack of maturity in reporting compared to other cybersecurity threats. As 66% of attacks are politically motivated, and 50% are linked to the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the findings underscore the need for robust defenses amid evolving cyber warfare dynamics.
The report introduces a novel classification scheme for systematic analysis, categorizing DoS attacks based on information about attacks and targets. It delves into the motivations and goals of DoS attacks, emphasizing the importance of analyzing both technical evolution and root causes. With 56.8% of attacks causing total disruption, the study underscores cyber’s role as a force multiplier in warfare, emphasizing the necessity for organizations to prepare effective prevention and remediation strategies. The report contributes to raising awareness of the evolving DoS threat landscape and the imperative for organizations to enhance their readiness against such attacks.
