How does Akamai mitigate Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks?

Akamai mitigates Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks primarily by distributing traffic and filtering it automatically. This strategy leverages Akamai's extensive Content Delivery Network (CDN), which consists of a vast number of edge servers strategically located around the globe. When a DDoS attack occurs, the incoming traffic is dispersed across these multiple servers rather than being concentrated on a single origin server. This distribution makes it significantly more challenging for attackers to overwhelm the network or a single server with malicious traffic.

Additionally, Akamai has automated filtering mechanisms in place that detect and neutralize malicious traffic in real-time. These filters can identify patterns indicative of DDoS attacks and intelligently differentiate between legitimate user traffic and harmful requests. By employing both distribution and automation, Akamai enhances its capability to absorb and mitigate the effects of DDoS assaults efficiently while maintaining the performance of legitimate services.

Other options like limiting user requests or increasing server hardware do not address the fundamental nature of DDoS attacks that aim to overwhelm services rather than target specific resources. Features related to user interfaces have no direct relation to the prevention of DDoS incidents. Thus, the comprehensive approach of distributing traffic and automated filtering is essential in effectively combatting DDoS threats.