Understanding DNS traffic spikes is crucial for network administrators, as not every surge in traffic necessarily indicates a DDoS attack. Often, when faced with a sudden increase in inbound traffic, network administrators may instinctively suspect a DDoS attack. However, it is essential to delve into the root cause before jumping to conclusions.

The proliferation of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks is a growing concern. According to GovTech, both the frequency and magnitude of these attacks have been increasing significantly each year. However, attributing a traffic spike to a DDoS attack without concrete evidence can lead to unnecessary panic and misallocation of resources.

IBM’s NS1 Connect DNS Insights provides crucial data for understanding DNS traffic. By analyzing this data, it’s become evident that many traffic spikes are not related to DDoS attacks but are often caused by misconfigurations or internal routing errors.

The Real Causes of DNS Traffic Spikes

IBM’s DNS Insights has revealed that a significant percentage of spikes in overall traffic or error-related responses are not due to DDoS activity but are instead the result of misconfigurations. For instance, a high percentage of NXDOMAIN responses experienced by a company with remote workers was traced back to its own Active Directory zones, indicating internal misconfigurations rather than external attacks.

IBM also uncovered that an organization experiencing increased NXDOMAIN traffic following M&A activities was not under a dictionary attack as presumed, but rather suffered from misconfigured redirects and exposure of internal zone information. In another case, a company mistook internal misconfigurations for an external DDoS attack, highlighting the importance of accurate analysis.

Identifying Root Causes with DNS Data

These examples emphasize the importance of delving into DNS data to accurately identify the root causes of traffic anomalies. IBM’s DNS Insights provides granular, detailed data that helps network teams distinguish between performance-hampering misconfigurations and actual DDoS attacks.

DNS Insights equips network administrators with the necessary information to differentiate between misconfigurations and malicious traffic, ensuring that resources are allocated accurately and network security is maintained.

FAQ

Question: How common are DDoS attacks?

Answer: DDoS attacks are increasingly common, with both the number and scale of attacks rising significantly every year, according to GovTech.

Question: How does DNS Insights help in identifying the root causes of DNS traffic spikes?

Answer: DNS Insights captures a wide range of data points directly from NS1 Connect’s global infrastructure, providing network administrators with crucial information to differentiate between misconfigurations and actual DDoS attacks.

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