Cloud computing offers protection from DDoS attacks

When the controversial WikiLeaks website was targeted by a distributed denial-of-service, it was saved by an interesting source - cloud computing. The whistleblower site uploaded its much-debated data to a cloud service, protecting it from the attackers. David Linthicum of InfoWorld says it is only a matter of time before other websites follow its lead.

While the American cloud hosting service took down WikiLeaks, apparently at the behest of Senator Joe Liebermann, the scenario shows how cloud computing can protect websites from one of the most malicious types of attacks.

“It's interesting to note that sites experiencing DDoS attacks, which saturate server resources, can take refuge in cloud computing providers and their accompanying extra horsepower to outlive the assaults,” Linthicum wrote. “The cloud offers the advantage of elasticity... The cloud all but eliminates worries about a company's ability to meet a rapidly expanding need, including attempts to saturate the infrastructure.”

Cloud computing users have several means to increase their security. Recently, a software was launched that allows users to encrypt their data when it is sent to the cloud, making it unreadable in case it is compromised.