How does Akamai help mitigate DDoS attacks?

Akamai plays a crucial role in mitigating DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks primarily through the method of absorbing and distributing attack traffic. This approach leverages Akamai's extensive global network, which is strategically positioned to handle large volumes of incoming traffic. During a DDoS attack, malicious traffic is redirected to multiple edge servers across the network rather than allowing it to overwhelm a single point of origin.

By spreading the traffic load, Akamai can effectively filter out harmful requests from legitimate users, ensuring that critical services remain operational even during an attack. This capability is particularly vital because it maintains service availability for users and minimizes the risk of downtime or service disruption.

The other strategies, while they might seem beneficial, do not encompass the proactive and robust nature of Akamai’s DDoS mitigation strategy. For example, blocking offending servers permanently may hinder legitimate traffic and does not address the surge of attack traffic effectively. Similarly, diverting data traffic to local ISPs or shutting down affected services temporarily could both lead to service interruptions and would not adequately protect against future attacks.