Why has Edgio's bot management solution detected a 30% increase in malicious traffic attempts this month compared to last?

Introduction

The recent 30% increase in malicious traffic attempts detected by Edgio's bot management solution is a significant concern that requires immediate attention and thorough analysis. This surge in malicious activity not only threatens the integrity of our clients' digital assets but also challenges the effectiveness of our security measures. To address this issue, I'll employ a systematic approach to identify the root cause, validate our findings, and develop both short-term and long-term solutions.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Given the sudden spike, I'm wondering about recent changes. Have there been any significant updates to Edgio's bot management solution in the past month?

Why it matters: Recent changes could introduce vulnerabilities or trigger false positives. Expected answer: No major updates. Impact on approach: If yes, we'd focus on rollback or patch strategies.

• Considering the scale of increase, I'm curious about the distribution. Is this 30% increase uniform across all clients or concentrated in specific sectors?

Why it matters: Helps determine if it's a targeted attack or a broader issue. Expected answer: Varied across sectors. Impact on approach: Concentrated increases would suggest targeted attacks, requiring sector-specific strategies.

• Thinking about detection methods, has there been any change in how we define or categorize malicious traffic recently?

Why it matters: Changes in classification could artificially inflate numbers. Expected answer: No recent changes in categorization. Impact on approach: If yes, we'd need to recalibrate our baseline metrics.

• Reflecting on external factors, have any major cybersecurity events or new attack vectors been reported in the industry recently?

Why it matters: External events could explain the sudden increase. Expected answer: No significant industry-wide events. Impact on approach: If yes, we'd need to rapidly adapt our defenses to new threat patterns.