AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (ANS-C01)Network Security, Compliance, and GovernanceMedium

A media streaming platform needs to protect its content delivery infrastructure on AWS from large-scale Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The platform uses Amazon CloudFront, Application Load Balancers, and EC2 instances. The solution must include advanced DDoS mitigation capabilities, 24/7 access to DDoS experts, and cost protection against scaling charges during an attack. Which AWS service is specifically designed to provide these comprehensive DDoS protections?

  1. AAWS Shield Advanced
  2. BAmazon GuardDuty
  3. CAWS WAF
  4. DAWS Shield Standard
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A. AWS Shield Advanced

AWS Shield Advanced provides enhanced DDoS protection for applications running on AWS, including resources like CloudFront, ALBs, and EC2. It offers always-on detection, inline mitigations, 24/7 access to the AWS DDoS Response Team (DRT), and cost protection against scaling charges incurred due to a DDoS attack, directly addressing all specified requirements.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that monitors for malicious activity and unauthorized behavior, but it does not provide active DDoS mitigation or cost protection.
  • C. AWS WAF protects against common web exploits and Layer 7 attacks, but it is not specifically designed for large-scale volumetric DDoS protection or the other advanced Shield Advanced features.
  • D. AWS Shield Standard provides basic, automatic DDoS protection for all AWS customers but lacks the advanced features, DRT access, and cost protection of Shield Advanced.

AWS Shield Advanced

A paid DDoS protection service that provides enhanced protections for AWS resources, including 24/7 access to the DDoS Response Team and cost protection.

  • Provides always-on detection and inline mitigations against large-scale DDoS attacks.
  • Offers 24/7 access to the AWS DDoS Response Team (DRT).
  • Includes cost protection against scaling charges incurred during a DDoS event.
  • Protects CloudFront distributions, Application Load Balancers, Elastic IP addresses, and EC2 instances.

Memory trick: Shield Advanced defends, responds, and covers costs.

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