Attacks on availability happen when cybercriminals intentionally make systems or data unavailable to the people who need them. These attacks specifically target the availability component of the CIA triad. Common examples include Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and ransomware, which can cause serious interruptions.
As reported by TechRepublic, nearly 9 million DDoS attacks occurred in the second half of 2024 alone. These attacks disrupted several events like elections and policy debates, highlighting how damaging they can be. (Abdullahi, 2025) In a typical DDoS attack, hackers use bots from multiple sources to overwhelm a system with so much traffic that it can’t handle normal requests anymore. The hardest part about DDoS attacks is that they are impossible to predict. Hackers look for gaps or weak spots in the system and strike when least expected. This will overwhelm the system to a point where it can’t handle any other requests, shut down, and overwhelm it completely.
The broader implication of these types of attacks on an organization is that they can result in significant operational downtime and financial losses. When all systems go offline, employees are not able to perform their jobs, which ultimately leads to delays and lost productivity.
Organizations need a combination of tools and strategies to protect themselves against these types of attacks. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency provided the following examples that organizations can use: technologies like intrusion detection systems, DDoS prevention services, and strong access controls (like multi-factor authentication) can help reduce vulnerabilities. Regular risk assessments, employee training, DDOS mitigation services, and up-to-date incident response plans are essential to minimize the potential damage of a DDoS attack.
References:
Abdullahi, A. (2025, April 4). DDoS attacks now key weapons in geopolitical conflicts, netscout warns. TechRepublic. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-ddos-cyberattacks-political-conflicts-netscout
Understanding and responding to distributed denial-of-service attacks: CISA. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA. (2025, February 4). https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/understanding-and-responding-distributed-denial-service-attacks