AWS Shield Advanced is a managed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection service that safeguards applications hosted on AWS against a wide range of threats. This premium offering provides advanced detection capabilities and integrates seamlessly with other AWS services, such as AWS WAF and CloudFront.
One of its standout features is the Shield Response Team (SRT), a 24/7 team of security experts dedicated to assisting customers during an active attack. With proactive engagement options, customers receive immediate support in mitigating even the most sophisticated DDoS incidents. Shield Advanced offers not just protection but also the expertise needed to maintain uptime and mitigate risks effectively.
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The Role of the Shield Response Team (SRT)
The SRT specializes in analyzing DDoS threats and implementing mitigation strategies in real time. When a DDoS attack is detected, the team collaborates with the client’s security and operations teams to block malicious traffic while ensuring legitimate users remain unaffected.
SRT experts leverage AWS WAF rules and adjust network ACLs (NACLs) to tailor responses to the specific attack. Proactive engagement is available for customers who enable it, ensuring that clients are contacted as soon as unusual traffic patterns arise. This dedicated support reduces the time it takes to mitigate attacks and prevents downtime or data breaches. The SRT also provides post-attack analysis to enhance future protections.
Responding to an Attack: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Detection: AWS Shield Advanced automatically identifies unusual traffic patterns. It uses integrated monitoring systems to detect network-level (Layer 3/4) or application-layer (Layer 7) attacks.
- Notification: AWS sends immediate alerts through the AWS Personal Health Dashboard and CloudWatch alarms, ensuring transparency.
- Initial Mitigation: Automated protections, such as packet filtering and rate-based rules in AWS WAF, kick in to filter traffic.
- Engagement: The SRT reaches out to the client, reviews traffic data, and obtains consent to deploy custom mitigations as needed.
- Resolution: Mitigation techniques, such as blocking IP addresses or redirecting traffic, are applied dynamically. Clients are kept informed throughout the process.
Benefits of AWS Shield Advanced and SRT Support
- Protection from Downtime and Performance Issues: Shield Advanced helps prevent downtime and slowdowns caused by DDoS attacks.
- Fast Detection: Automatic detection at the network edge means threats are identified quickly.
- Continuous Service: Shield Advanced ensures that legitimate users can continue accessing services, even during an attack.
- Simplified Management: AWS experts handle DDoS response, letting companies focus on their core business.
- Cost Protection: Customers are shielded from high bandwidth charges during an attack.
- Proactive Support: The Shield Response Team (SRT) provides expert help, giving additional peace of mind.
Shield Onboarding with TrackIt
TrackIt can assist clients in seamlessly onboarding AWS Shield Advanced, ensuring quick and efficient deployment of DDoS protection. We help integrate Shield with other AWS services like WAF and CloudFront to maximize security coverage. Our team also provides guidance on enabling proactive engagement with the Shield Response Team (SRT), ensuring that you are fully equipped to handle attacks.
About TrackIt
TrackIt is an international AWS cloud consulting, systems integration, and software development firm headquartered in Marina del Rey, CA.
We have built our reputation on helping media companies architect and implement cost-effective, reliable, and scalable Media & Entertainment workflows in the cloud. These include streaming and on-demand video solutions, media asset management, and archiving, incorporating the latest AI technology to build bespoke media solutions tailored to customer requirements.
Cloud-native software development is at the foundation of what we do. We specialize in Application Modernization, Containerization, Infrastructure as Code and event-driven serverless architectures by leveraging the latest AWS services. Along with our Managed Services offerings which provide 24/7 cloud infrastructure maintenance and support, we are able to provide complete solutions for the media industry.