Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Mastering Your Certification!

The scenario described refers to a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, which involves multiple compromised systems, often referred to as a botnet, coordinated to overwhelm the target with excessive traffic. This flood of incoming messages, connection requests, or malformed packets can incapacitate the target's ability to handle legitimate requests, leading to service disruption.

In the case of a DDoS attack, the attacker usually gains control over numerous devices, typically through malware, and simultaneously directs them to send requests to the target. The sheer volume of traffic generated can paralyze servers, disrupt business operations, and cause significant downtime, which is the primary goal of such an attack.

Other types of attacks, such as phishing, man-in-the-middle, or insider threats, operate on different principles and mechanisms. Phishing primarily manipulates users into providing sensitive information. Man-in-the-middle attacks rely on intercepting communication between two parties without their knowledge. Insider threats involve individuals within an organization abusing their privileges, which does not characterize the mass-scale disruption seen in a DDoS attack.