Almost every business relies on being online – for communication, transactions, remote access, or cloud applications.
But what happens when that connection suddenly slows to a crawl, your systems freeze, and even your phones stop working?
For many, that’s the first real encounter with a DDoS attack – and by then, the damage is already being done.
What Exactly Is a DDoS Attack?
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack floods your network with so much fake traffic that genuine users can’t get through –
like thousands of cars blocking every lane on the motorway so nothing moves.
And these attacks are happening more and more often – not just to big corporations, but to schools, small businesses, care homes, and local councils.
Anyone with an internet connection can be a target.
Motives vary:
- Simple disruption or revenge from a disgruntled ex-employee, student, or competitor.
- Smokescreens to hide more serious activity such as data theft or ransomware.
- Or even state-sponsored and organised cyber groups testing defences or demanding ransom payments.
Whatever the cause, the impact is the same:
downtime, lost productivity, reputational damage, and operational chaos.
Why Just Changing Your IP Address Isn’t the Answer
It’s common to think, “Can’t we just change the IP?”
While that can temporarily hide your system, it’s rarely effective.
An IP change on BTnet for example, can take up to 10 working days and almost certainly incurs a fee – but more importantly, attackers can quickly discover the new address using automated scans. So, even after the effort and downtime, the attack can simply start again.
The real solution is to prevent the flood before it reaches your network – not react after it’s hit.
Why Network-Level DDoS Protection Matters
Firewalls and antivirus tools are essential, but they can only protect what they can see.
Once a DDoS flood hits your circuit, your line is already saturated and legitimate traffic is blocked.
That’s where network-side DDoS mitigation comes in.
Solutions like BT Managed DDoS Security filter malicious traffic within BT’s core network, upstream from your site – keeping your connection clean before it ever reaches your equipment.
When combined with your on-site firewall, you get layered protection end to end:
- BT’s network-level defences keep connectivity alive and stable.
- Your firewall and endpoint tools protect data, devices, and users.
It’s not one or the other – it’s both, working together.
The stronger your layers, the more resilient your business becomes.
Prevention Beats Panic
Recovering from a cyber incident is always more stressful and expensive than preventing one.
A single DDoS attack can halt trading, interrupt remote work, and shake customer confidence.
By putting protection in place proactively, you minimise risk, avoid downtime, and stay operational – even when the internet is under attack.
If you DO have someone nefarious knocking at your door however, we may be able to help you by implementing DDOS protection as soon as possible.
Stay Connected, Stay Protected
If this resonates – or you’d like to explore how DDoS protection could fit your BTnet or dedicated internet connection – we’re here to help.
At HM Network, we work directly with BT to provide Managed DDoS Security (Lite through to Gold tiers), alongside cyber-awareness training and device protection to keep your team and connections secure.
Let’s have a chat about keeping your business connected, protected, and one step ahead.
HM Network
“Keeping businesses connected, protected, and one step ahead.”