For most website, API, and game service providers, the term "DDoS protection" is familiar, yet often confusing: What actually works? Why does my site still slow down or crash even with protection? How can some providers offer "unlimited protection" for $15/month, while others charge hundreds or thousands?

No tech jargon or inflated marketing numbers here.

As a security provider working long-term with website owners, cross-border businesses, and Asia-Pacific projects, we break down practical, valuable, and easy-to-understand information. We start with the five most pressing questions to give you a clear picture of the real DDoS protection landscape today.

Question 1: Why are attacks harder to stop? How sophisticated have DDoS attacks become?

If you've been managing sites for the last 5 years, the intensity of modern attacks will make you feel like times have truly changed.

The reality is:

DDoS has evolved from simple bandwidth floods → into distributed, multi-protocol, AI-driven persistent attack chains.

Today's attacks are characterized by:

1) Peak Size Isn't the Point, Mixed Attacks Are

A "200 Gbps peak" used to be shocking. Now, attack intensity is fluid, featuring:

• UDP, TCP, and HTTP/2 floods launched simultaneously
• Rapid switching between Layer 7 (L7) and Layer 4 (L4) attacks
• Short 30-second bursts with 3-second pauses, repeated

This is devastating for providers without independent, robust scrubbing pools.

2) HTTP/2 Rapid Reset: The Most Troublesome L7 Attack of 2024-2025

This attack doesn't rely on bandwidth but overwhelms server resources by rapidly resetting connections.

CDNs lacking dedicated L7 filtering and edge-level challenges (like JS Challenge) are largely defenseless against it.

3) AI-Powered Attack Tools Are Now Commonplace

Common attack platforms (unnamed here) now support:

• Automatically identifying target WAF behavior patterns
• Automatically switching attack nodes
• Mimicking real browser behavior to evade blocking

This means: Longer attack durations, more flexible strategies, and a higher bar for effective defense.

Question 2: Scrubbing Centers, BGP Protection, Cloud Security... What's the Difference? Which One Should I Buy?

The market primarily offers three types of DDoS protection solutions, but many website owners don't grasp the key differences ------

This knowledge gap is why most people overpay, choose wrong, or end up with ineffective protection.

Let's do a straightforward, easy-to-grasp comparison.

Option 1: Traditional "Scrubbing Centers"

Characteristics:

• Older-style protected data centers
• Traffic is routed to a scrubbing pool first
• Takes 5-15 minutes to switch traffic during an attack
• Primarily handles L3/L4 attacks; weak on L7

Good for:
✔ Game login/port-based services

✘ Not suitable for: Websites, APIs, cross-border e-commerce, dynamic sites

The main issue:
Scrubbing centers often rely on basic connection limiting for L7 ≠ advanced protection.

Option 2: BGP-Protected IPs (Common with local IDCs)

Many think this is a "cure-all," but it has clear limitations.

Pros:
✔ High bandwidth on a single IP
✔ Excellent against UDP, SYN, ACK floods
✔ Commonly used for game ports

Cons:
✘ No CDN acceleration
✘ No global traffic distribution
✘ L7 protection remains weak

So, it's good for:

• Game servers
• Financial IM and other port-based services
  Not suitable for:
• Websites, overseas services, cross-border sites

Option 3: Cloud Security + Protected CDN (The Modern Standard)

This is currently the most comprehensive solution.

Advantages of a Protected CDN:

1) Edge Node Absorption
Attacks are blocked at the nearest edge node, never reaching your origin server.

2) AI Behavior Analysis
Distinguishes between real users, browsers, bots, and attack tools.

3) Deep L4 + L7 Protection
L4 handled by scrubbing pools
L7 handled by CDN + JS Challenge + Rate-limiting
A dual-layer defense.

4) Best-in-class protection for HTTP/2, APIs, and dynamic sites

This solution fits:
✔ Websites
✔ APIs
✔ Websocket
✔ Cross-border services
✔ App backends with multi-region users

The downside? Price is generally higher than basic BGP protection.

Question 3: Can a Protected CDN Truly Hide My Origin Server?

The answer depends on the provider's expertise.

A truly professional Protected CDN will implement:

1) Multi-layered Origin Hiding

• Complete isolation of origin IPs
• Edge-layer proxy for origin communication
• Strict HTTP Host header validation
• Blacklisting origin IPs at edge entry points
• Anti-bypass rules (blocking direct access)

Done right, it means: Your origin can't be scanned and can't be hit directly.

2) Protection for Websocket / API Long-Lived Connections

This is where most budget CDNs fail.

Effective Websocket defense requires:

• Connection frequency control
• Dynamic connection allow-listing
• NAT table protection
• TCP Reset rate limiting

Without this, even low-volume DDoS can take down your service.

3) Strict Anti-Bypass Measures

Bypass attacks are common:

Attacker finds your origin IP → attacks it directly → makes your CDN useless.

A professional provider implements:

• Strict TLS SNI validation
• Origin server only accepts traffic from specific CDN nodes
• Blocks unauthorized IPs
• L7 path signature verification (optional)

With a secure chain, bypass attacks are virtually eliminated.

Question 4: Do AI Filtering, Infrastructure, and Node Distribution Really Matter? (The Real Industry Gap)

1) Having a Scrubbing Pool != Strong Protection

Real protective strength comes from three things:

(1) Scrubbing Hardware Architecture

• Does it support L7 layer-aware analysis?
• Can it handle HTTP/2 connection floods?
• Can it perform behavioral modeling?

(2) Node Count & Geographic Spread

Especially in the Asia-Pacific region:

• Are Hong Kong nodes independently protected?
• Does Singapore have premium network routes?
• Is Japan connected to backbone networks?
• Do Taiwan, Philippines have edge scrubbing capacity?

More nodes → shorter paths → higher attack resistance.

(3) Edge Processing Capability

For example:

• Support for Edge JS Challenge
• Rules to detect headless browser bots
• Adaptive rate limiting for APIs

Many "cheap" solutions lack edge processing, so they just block IPs → causing high false-positive rates.

Question 5: How Should I Choose My Protection? Matching Budget & Needs

Here's a practical, real-world, cost-effective guide.

Just match your business type.

[Plan A] Rare Attacks, Occasional Probes (Budget: Low)

Needs:

• Some DDoS risk, but not frequent
  Recommendation:
• Basic CDN Protection (50-200 Gbps L3/L4)
• Coupled with basic JS Challenge

Good for: Blogs, small sites, early-stage e-commerce sites.

[Plan B] Frequent, Medium-Level Attacks (Budget: Medium)

Needs:

• Requires both L4 & L7 protection
• Regular 2-20 Gbps mixed attacks

Recommendation:

• Protected CDN (Regional: Asia-Pacific or Global)
• Must have independent scrubbing nodes + AI-powered L7 behavioral analysis

Good for:
APIs, ERP systems, member portals, cross-border projects, live-streaming pages.

[Plan C] Constantly Targeted, Heavy Attacks (Budget: Medium-High)

Needs:

• Frequent 100G+ attacks or massive L7 assaults
• Targeted by competitors, gray/black market actors, organized groups

Recommendation:

• Protected CDN + Dedicated Protected IP
• With dedicated entry points, private line origin routing, and locked-down origin

Good for: Gaming, core APIs, large platforms, industry portals.

[Industry Tip: Stability Matters More Than Price]

Choosing protection isn't about the biggest number, it's about:

✔ Node stability
✔ Low-latency origin routing
✔ L7 capacity to handle HTTP/2 attacks
✔ Availability of JS Challenge
✔ Adaptive attack behavior recognition
✔ Guaranteed origin hiding

This is more important than any "50G, 100G, 1T" number.

The Real State of the Industry:

1. The biggest shift in attacks: They are more persistent, intelligent, and harder to distinguish from real traffic.
2. Traditional scrubbing and BGP protection are struggling against complex L7 attacks.
3. The truly effective solution is a Protected CDN with global nodes, edge scrubbing, and L7 intelligence.
4. The gap between providers is huge: nodes, algorithms, and origin protection are key, not "bandwidth numbers."
5. The most common mistake? Choosing a "cheap provider with no edge capabilities."

FAQ:

1. Is a Protected CDN absolutely necessary for DDoS protection?

Not always, but website-based businesses largely depend on it, especially APIs, App backends, and sites with international visitors.

2. Can bypass attacks be completely prevented?

Yes, via: Origin locking, SNI validation, authorized backhaul links, WAF rules, etc.

3. Why are HTTP/2 attacks increasingly difficult to stop?

They exploit protocol mechanics to create massive numbers of connections, without needing huge bandwidth. Smaller providers often lack L7 behavioral modeling capability.

4. Can a BGP-protected IP defend against website attacks?

It can handle L3/L4, but not complex L7 attacks, making it suboptimal.

5. How can I tell if a provider is reliable?

Check their nodes → review their protection rules → test origin latency → see if they provide real attack logs.

Further Reading:

How to Choose a Protected CDN? Understand These 5 Key Metrics to Avoid Getting Misled.

Overseas CDN Pricing Models: Bandwidth, Usage, or Fixed Plans?

Which Protected CDN is Best? Recommendations for Reliable & Secure Defense & Acceleration Solutions