I am in search of two possible solutions: one is DDoS protection for an independent server (VPS), while the other is shared hosting that comes with integrated VPS protection services.

Currently, I am experimenting with the EDGE Center protection service, which was an urgent requirement. However, in my opinion, this service cuts down too much traffic, leading to a 7-10% drop in website attendance. Additionally, the statistics provided are very poor and the available settings are almost non-existent- you can only turn countries on or off. To make things worse, legitimate users do not have any captcha verification, and if a website is deemed dangerous, it is immediately made unavailable, which is highly unfavorable. Nevertheless, the initial rate is relatively low.

In comparison, DDoS Guard seems to be a more robust option; however, it is expensive and does not offer me an economically profitable solution. Are there any other viable choices that I can consider?

PS: During a DDoS attack, CloudFlare's protection services were activated, configured, and successfully penetrated through.

To safeguard your VPS from DDoS attacks, it is crucial to identify the type of attack- HTTP, ICMP, UDO, or SYN flood - and take appropriate measures accordingly.

One of the simplest DDoS attacks is HTTP flooding. The attacker forces the server to use maximum resources by sending multiple HTTP requests. Properly configured and optimized servers can prevent HTTP floods. Experts often recommend Nginx over Apache, as it's more stable and less resource-intensive. Analyzing access logs to recognize patterns can help in identifying bots and banning their requests.

During ICMP flooding, an excessive number of ICMP packets, especially pings, are sent to web servers. To improve hosting reliability, it is advisable to ban pings to hide the machine from internet bots scanning networks.

SYN flood is an attack that involves sending repeated SYN packets to each server port with fraudulent IP addresses. Limiting new connections for a particular period from a specific source based on SYN_RECV state connections is necessary to protect the web host.

It is essential to consider UDP flood, where attackers send numerous UDP packets to random ports, creating network congestion. To prevent this kind of attack, limiting connections to the DNS server is highly recommended.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is a type of attack that involves distributed malicious traffic targeting the victim object. Compared to a single-threaded DoS attack, DDoS is harder to detect since the attacker sends traffic from multiple devices, making it more dangerous due to the high number of bots involved. For instance, in September 2022, Google faced a botnet attack that deployed 200,000 bots. While the attack was repelled, such cases are the exception rather than the norm.

DDoS attacks can lead to disastrous consequences such as equipment failure, financial losses, and reputational damage for commercial internet projects. The sheer amount of traffic that such an attack generates can overload and disable business systems, leading to financial loss and the need for infrastructure repairs. The problem becomes particularly acute during peak sales periods when downtime means significant financial losses.

In addition to the financial implications, DDoS attacks may be used to mask other cybercrimes, such as website hacking or data theft. As the system fails to cope with the traffic load, data leakage can occur, often accompanied by extortion. This can lead to a loss of the audience's trust and loyalty, which quickly translates into a loss of the market, as internet users are extremely selective and will not return to a slow or unresponsive resource.

Finally, support staff face a surge of complaints via mail or phone during a DDoS attack, putting them under significant pressure. In cases where the online project collaborates with other businesses, resulting failures could lead to lawsuits.

The choice between dedicated DDoS protection for an independent server (VPS) and shared hosting with integrated VPS protection services requires careful consideration.
In your current experimentation with the EDGE Center protection service, it's understandable that you have concerns about the significant reduction in website attendance, the lack of detailed statistics, and the limited settings available. Furthermore, the absence of effective measures to distinguish legitimate users from malicious ones can lead to user frustration and negatively impact the user experience. While the initial cost may be attractive, these drawbacks are important considerations.

On the other hand, the DDoS Guard appears to offer more comprehensive protection, but the high cost poses an obstacle to achieving an economically sustainable solution for your needs. It's essential to weigh the benefits of robust protection against the financial implications for your particular situation.

Given your experiences with the current solutions, it's prudent to explore other viable choices. Look for DDoS protection services that offer a balance between effectiveness and affordability. Consider services that provide more granular control over traffic filtering and access management, as well as detailed analytics to help you understand the nature of attacks and their impact on your website.

It's also worth investigating whether there are hosting providers that offer integrated DDoS protection as part of their shared hosting plans. This could potentially provide a more cost-effective solution while meeting your security requirements.

Regarding the activation and successful penetration through CloudFlare's protection services during a DDoS attack, it's a clear indicator that multi-layered defense mechanisms may be beneficial. Exploring options that complement each other, such as combining CloudFlare with a dedicated DDoS protection service, could enhance your overall resilience to cyber threats.
The search for the right DDoS protection solution involves balancing effectiveness, cost, and user experience. By exploring alternative options and considering integrated protection within hosting services, you can find a solution that meets your security needs without compromising on website attendance and user satisfaction.