The era when DDoS attacks were used primarily by pranksters is over. DDoS attacks now rank among the most persistent cybersecurity threats. They are part of the arsenal regularly deployed by cyberattackers with criminal or political aims, as well as for extortion or competitive advantage. And the cadence of attacks is on the increase: Half of the respondents in a recent IDG survey of IT managers, for instance, report having suffered DDoS attacks on at least an occasional-or more frequent-basis.