How We Run DDoS Simulation Tests for Banks
As DDoS attacks continue to grow in sophistication and target high-value financial infrastructure, banks can no longer rely solely on vendor assurances or static configurations. They need proof. DDoS simulation testing provides that assurance by validating the resilience of every layer of their defense stack.
1 – Protection and Needs Analysis: Understanding the Bank’s Risk Surface
We begin every engagement with a detailed collaborative analysis involving the bank’s cybersecurity, network, and application stakeholders. We map out the full protection architecture—CDN/WAF layers, upstream ISP scrubbing, on-prem and cloud environments , DNS infrastructure, and core applications—to identify potential blind spots or choke points.
We also review regulatory and operational constraints. Financial institutions must comply with strict guidelines around resilience testing, data sovereignty, and operational risk. Together, we define what can be tested, what cannot, and under what conditions.
This phase results in a clear understanding of asset criticality, acceptable risk levels, and the most relevant DDoS vectors to simulate.
2 – Pre-Test Coordination
Banks require rigorous coordination before a single packet is fired. We work with the bank to select an approved maintenance window that minimizes customer impact and aligns with Change Advisory Board (CAB) requirements.
We establish clear escalation paths —both technical and managerial—so that we can immediately stop the test when needed.
We notify all relevant third-party providers: ISPs, cloud platforms, DDoS protection vendors, and hosting partners to ensure they are all aware and aligned with the planned attack simulation..
Together with the bank, we select the attack vectors with the highest potential to expose weaknesses:
- Volumetric attacks from multiple global locations to test your ability to withstand extreme and sustained campaigns with massive traffic.
- Protocol (network-layer) attacks such as SYN floods, UDP floods, and others.
- Application-layer attacks that test your resistance to the more difficult-to-detect, layer 7 attacks.
We typically advise that all bank stakeholders—from SOC and NOC teams to application owners—join the simulation in real time.
3 -Test Execution
During the test, all parties connect to a dedicated “war room” call. Using our proprietary platform and globally distributed botnets, we generate traffic gradually, ramping up in controlled stages to evaluate thresholds, failover behavior, and mitigation activation.
We collect a wide range of metrics, including latency, error rates, dropped connections, mitigation timings, and traffic distribution across protection layers. This real-time visibility allows the bank to observe exactly how its defenses behave under realistic, multi-vector pressure.
4 – Analysis, Reporting, and Remediation
Following the simulation, we deliver a detailed technical and executive report outlining:
- Which attacks were successfully mitigated
- Where they bypassed or stressed the protection layers
- Misconfigurations, tuning gaps, or architectural weak points
- Specific, actionable remediation steps for each issue
Most importantly, we provide a prioritized roadmap to improve resilience based on real evidence—not assumptions. Many banks schedule follow-up verification tests to confirm that corrected issues are truly resolved.