Cost-Benefit Analysis for Small Business

Calculate realistic attack costs for your specific business. Estimate hourly revenue loss from website unavailability. Include customer support costs and potential customer loss. Factor reputation damage for service-dependent businesses. Understanding potential losses justifies protection investments.

Compare protection costs against potential losses. Basic paid protection typically costs less than one hour of downtime losses. Free options provide substantial protection with only time investment. Even premium small business plans cost less than typical attack impacts. Protection investments offer strong returns through prevented losses.

Consider protection as business insurance rather than technical expense. Frame DDoS protection alongside general liability or property insurance. Both protect against business disruption from external threats. Many businesses spend more on traditional insurance than comprehensive DDoS protection would cost.

Start with free protections and upgrade based on experience. Implement available free options immediately. Monitor attack attempts and protection effectiveness. Upgrade to paid services if attacks overwhelm free protections. This staged approach minimizes costs while maintaining appropriate protection levels.

Small businesses can achieve effective DDoS protection without enterprise budgets. Combining free services, affordable paid options, and smart configurations provides comprehensive defense. The key lies in taking action rather than assuming attacks won't happen. The next chapter explores free DDoS protection services in detail, helping organizations maximize protection while minimizing costs.