{"id":3649,"date":"2018-08-09T16:27:12","date_gmt":"2018-08-09T16:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hostnoc-revamp.branex.org\/blog\/?p=3649"},"modified":"2025-08-15T12:01:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T12:01:55","slug":"ddos-vulnerabilities-on-separate-layers-of-the-osi-model-how-to-mitigate-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hostnoc-revamp.branex.org\/blog\/ddos-vulnerabilities-on-separate-layers-of-the-osi-model-how-to-mitigate-them\/","title":{"rendered":"DDoS Vulnerabilities on Separate Layers of the OSI Model & How to Mitigate Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have previously worked in the telecommunication field, most vendors you come across make an attempt to explain products and services in terms of the OSI Model. For someone who has some background in the field of networking and communications can understand what the OSI Model is, but in case you don\u2019t belong to the field, you need to develop a bit of an understanding. Although OSI models are important for carrying out discussions and conducting evaluative sessions, it is still not implemented in actual in most cases. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, why particularly is it important to learn what the OSI Model is all about? When we talk about DDoS Attacks they usually target the very layers in the OSI model. Understanding the layers will eventually help users understand where the vulnerabilities lie and how can one keep the infrastructure protected. To give you a brief overview, the OSI model was originally developed by representatives of some of the major telecommunication companies in the year 1983. It was established as a common reference model which standardized the governance of transmission of data packets and was adopted as a standard by the ISO. <\/span><\/p>\n

Explaining the OSI Model Layers<\/h2>\n

The process of communication in networking is dependent on two endpoints. It can be divided into seven different layers based on their relative functions. In the OSI model architecture, each layer is dependent on the layer above it and is equally dependent on the layer below it. If the lower layer doesn\u2019t fulfill the function, the consecutive layer will fail to get executed stopping the whole process in its wake. The data flows up from the source computer across the network and then ultimately flows down through the layers within the receiving computer. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a graphical representation of the OSI Model specifying layers<\/span><\/p>\n

Sending signals over a network using an Ethernet cable or fiber optic cable or WiFi requires a combination of application, operating systems, network card drivers and network hardware. These signals are delivered through seven layers of the function of the OSI Model. <\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s discuss these seven layers in a top to bottom approach.<\/span><\/p>\n

Layer 7: Application Layer<\/b><\/h2>\n

Layer 7 commonly known as the Application Layer is the layer where communication partners are identified. This is the database access level where end-user protocols such as FTP, Telnet, SMTP and RAS perform their respective functionalities. All messages and packet creations begin at this level. Here, the data is expressed visually so the user can understand. Although the layer is not the application itself, it contains a set of services an application can use. <\/span><\/p>\n

Vulnerabilities to DDoS Attack<\/b><\/h2>\n