Non-disruptive DDoS Testing via Coordination Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional DDoS testing methods are disruptive to IT infrastructure, providing only periodic and limited assessments of DDoS mitigation systems, leading to gaps in cybersecurity posture and increased vulnerability to attacks, as they require maintenance windows and can only test a small subset of potential attack vectors due to resource constraints.
Innovation Solution
A non-disruptive DDoS testing method that involves configuring a coordination device on a production network to emulate network services, receive pre-attack notification information, and collect operation data during simulated attacks, allowing for ongoing and recurring testing without service disruption, enabling the evaluation of DDoS mitigation effectiveness and identifying potential weaknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional DDoS testing is performed, then DDoS mitigation effectiveness can be validated, but service disruption and downtime occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordination device as an intermediary component deployed within the production network. This device coordinates between the DDoS simulation traffic and the production services, enabling testing without direct disruption to production systems. The coordination device monitors network conditions and manages test traffic to prevent service disruption while maintaining validation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the production network environment by deploying a coordination device that mirrors production network services. This allows DDoS testing to be performed on the copied environment rather than directly on production systems, eliminating service disruption while maintaining test validity through accurate environment replication.
2Measurement precision
If disruptive DDoS testing is performed, then comprehensive attack vector verification is possible, but testing frequency must be limited to quarterly or less
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous DDoS testing by deploying coordination devices that operate within the production network without causing disruption. This allows testing to be performed continuously or at frequent intervals rather than quarterly, maintaining comprehensive attack vector verification while eliminating the frequency limitation imposed by service disruption requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination device performs preliminary monitoring and assessment of network conditions before initiating DDoS test traffic. This preliminary action ensures that testing can proceed without disrupting production services, enabling more frequent testing cycles while maintaining comprehensive attack vector verification.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If staging environment is used for DDoS testing, then production service disruption is avoided, but test accuracy is reduced due to environment differences
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a separate staging environment, the patent deploys coordination devices directly within the production network that create local copies of production services. This approach maintains test accuracy by testing in the actual production environment while preventing service disruption through the coordination mechanism, eliminating the accuracy loss associated with staging environment differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination device acts as an intermediary within the production network that enables accurate testing without disrupting services. It provides the same level of test accuracy as production environment testing while preventing the harmful service disruption that would otherwise occur, making staging environments unnecessary.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If maintenance windows are scheduled for DDoS testing, then service disruption is minimized, but testing logistics complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous DDoS testing without requiring scheduled maintenance windows. The coordination device manages test traffic continuously or at frequent intervals without disrupting production services, eliminating the logistics complexity of scheduling and coordinating maintenance windows while maintaining minimal service disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination device autonomously manages DDoS testing within the production network without requiring external coordination or maintenance window scheduling. It self-manages test traffic, monitoring, and disruption prevention, eliminating the logistics complexity associated with scheduled maintenance window coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
DDoS testing service features testing and verifying the integrity of a DDoS mitigation strategy of an organization while maintaining operation of the targeted organization's IT infrastructure. This facilitates ongoing and recurring operation and integrity of the DDoS mitigation strategy, at regular intervals and without causing service disruption to the IT infrastructure. Testing can include an array of DDoS attack vectors allowing the risk assessment of the organization to be fully visible for the production environment concerning successful DDoS attack being launched against the organization.