CASP+ Definitions: Load Balancer
A load balancer is a device or software application that distributes network traffic across multiple servers to ensure efficient use of resources and optimal performance. In terms of cybersecurity, load balancers can also play an important role in protecting against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
A DDoS attack is a type of cyber attack in which an attacker attempts to overwhelm a website or online service with a flood of traffic from multiple sources, making it unavailable to legitimate users. Load balancers can help mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks by distributing traffic across multiple servers and filtering out traffic from malicious sources.
Load balancers can also provide other security benefits, such as SSL termination and encryption, which can protect against man-in-the-middle attacks and other types of cyber threats. In addition, load balancers can be configured to monitor network traffic and detect anomalies, such as suspicious patterns of traffic, which can help to identify and mitigate potential security threats before they become a problem.
