A new discussion paper, “Estimating the Societal Cost of DDoS Attacks: A Dual-Lens Model for National Impact Assessment,” authored by Carlos Alvarez, Director of the Hub for the Americas and the Caribbean, has been released by the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), aiming to spark crucial conversations within the international cybersecurity community. This document represents the GFCE’s commitment to providing thought leadership in the field, as well as its intent to foster dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address the evolving nature of cyber threats.
The paper highlights that traditional methods often underestimate the true impact of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, dismissing them as mere nuisances. By analyzing networks like NoName057, the discussion paper reveals that these operations possess a strategic purpose that can lead to significant systemic effects. It proposes a dual-lens model for assessing the cost of DDoS campaigns, distinguishing between quantifiable monetary damages and qualitative impacts on national stability, public trust, and geopolitical standing, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of their societal implications.
This document is designed to serve as a practical guide for countries and societies worldwide, enabling them to actively participate in defining the actual cost of DDoS attacks on their own societies. By doing so, it helps in identifying and prioritizing critical capacity building needs across various areas. These areas include, but are not limited to:
- Updating legal frameworks to effectively address the hybrid nature of ideologically motivated cyber operations.
- Providing targeted training for law enforcement to better combat cybercrime.
- Establishing robust international cooperation mechanisms for a more coordinated response to distributed campaigns.
- Fostering strong public-private partnerships to enhance collective defense.
- Investing in national digital resilience programs that strengthen both technical defenses and societal preparedness, ultimately contributing to a more secure and stable digital future.
The paper can be downloaded here: Societal Cost DDoS Attacks – Carlos Alvarez
