Critical networks face unprecedented threat as DDoS attacks are getting shorter and more intense

""Connectivity powers everything from public safety and financial transactions to digital identity," said Kal De, senior vice president, product and engineering, cloud and network services at Nokia. "Recent attacks have reached lawful interception systems, leaked sensitive subscriber data, and disrupted emergency services.""

"And with 78% of DDoS attacks now ending within five minutes - up from 44% in 2024 - and 37% wrapping up in under two minutes, detection and mitigation need to be fast."

"Terabit-scale DDoS attacks are now happening five times more frequently, and with greater peak strength than last year. DDoS peaks in the 5 to 10Tbps range are 'the new normal', said Nokia."

"Nearly 60% of high-cost breaches take place thanks to insider actions or mistakes, with complex supply chains further increasing exposure to credential misuse, privilege escalation and physical access breaches."

Critical networks face an unprecedented surge in DDoS attacks driven by large numbers of compromised home internet connections. Attackers have penetrated core telecom systems, including lawful interception platforms and subscriber databases, causing data leaks and service disruptions. Most operators experienced 'living off the land' intrusions, with many seeing multiple incidents. Terabit-scale DDoS events are now five times more frequent and commonly reach 5–10Tbps. Attacks are shorter and more intense, with 78% ending within five minutes. Nearly 60% of costly breaches stem from insider actions or mistakes, while 76% of vulnerabilities arise from missing patches and application-layer flaws. Telecoms are prioritizing AI/ML for threat detection and analysis.

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