Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

What does the acronym DDoS stand for in cybersecurity?

1. Distributed domain of service

2. Distributed denial-of-service

3. Direct denial-of-service

4. Device denial-of-service

The correct answer is: Distributed denial-of-service

The acronym DDoS stands for "Distributed Denial of Service." This term refers to a malicious cyber-attack in which multiple compromised systems, often part of a botnet, are used to flood a target system, such as a server or network, with overwhelming traffic. The goal of a DDoS attack is to render the target unavailable to its intended users, typically by exhausting its resources. The term "distributed" highlights that the attack involves multiple sources working together to carry out the attack, making it more challenging to defend against compared to a traditional denial-of-service attack that originates from a single source. In this context, "denial of service" signifies that legitimate users are unable to access the service or resource due to the overwhelming amount of illegitimate requests being processed. Understanding the implications of a DDoS attack is vital for cybersecurity professionals, as these attacks can have significant ramifications for businesses and online services, leading to downtime, loss of revenue, and damage to reputation. The other options provided do not accurately capture the widely accepted definition and mechanics of the DDoS attack within the cybersecurity landscape.