Why modern networks are moving DDoS defense to the edge

DDoS attacks nearly doubled in 2025, with hyper-volumetric attacks peaking at 31 Tbps. Cisco Secure DDoS Edge Protection addresses these threats by deploying containerized detection and mitigation directly on IOS XR routers at the network edge, eliminating the need for centralized scrubbing centers. Key capabilities include sub-30-second detection and mitigation, zero added latency, ML-based anomaly detection, and support for inbound, outbound, and east-west traffic scenarios. The solution claims up to 60% TCO reduction compared to traditional scrubber-based deployments and includes built-in multi-tenancy support for MSSPs to offer tiered DDoS protection services to 10,000+ customers.