AWS Shield

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Score6.8

Rank#4 of 31

From$3,000/mo

Free planYes

Runs onAPI, Web

Summary

AWS Shield helps AWS customers identify network security configuration issues and defend applications against web exploitation and distributed denial of service events. Shield Standard is automatically configured for AWS customers and provides common network- and transport-layer DDoS protection at no charge. Shield Advanced adds detection and automatic inline mitigation for sophisticated events across network, transport, and application layers. It monitors application traffic patterns for anomalies such as HTTP floods and DNS query floods, and supports EC2, Elastic Load Balancing, CloudFront, Global Accelerator, and Route 53. Advanced integrates with AWS WAF and AWS Firewall Manager, with event visibility through Amazon CloudWatch. It also includes DDoS cost protection for qualifying usage spikes and up to 50 billion AWS WAF requests per subscribed payer account per calendar month for protected resources. The Advanced subscription costs 3,000.00 USD per month, requires a one-year commitment, and usage fees may apply. Network security director is in preview and is not included with either listed plan.

Who it is for

Shield suits AWS customers protecting websites and applications. Shield Advanced is aimed at internet-facing applications on eligible AWS resources that need broader DDoS mitigation and monitoring.

What is good

Standard provides common network- and transport-layer DDoS protection.
Advanced automatically mitigates events across three network layers.
Advanced supports EC2, CloudFront, Route 53, and other AWS resources.
Advanced includes up to 50 billion AWS WAF requests monthly.

What to know first

Advanced costs 3,000.00 USD per month.
Advanced requires a one-year subscription commitment.
Usage fees may apply to Advanced.
Custom event mitigations require Business or Enterprise support.

Verdict

Shield Standard offers baseline DDoS protection without a charge, while Advanced adds mitigation and monitoring for eligible resources. Advanced has a substantial monthly fee, a one-year commitment, and support conditions for custom mitigations.

AWS Shield plans and pricing

All plans

AWS Shield Standard Free Common network and transport layer DDoS protection · Automatically configured for AWS customers · Does not include network security director aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026

AWS Shield Advanced $3,000/mo Monthly fee; requires a 1-year subscription commitment; usage fees may apply Advanced DDoS protection · Up to 50 billion AWS WAF requests per subscribed payer account per calendar month · Network security director not included aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026

Compared on DDoS protection software

Free plan: Yesaws.amazon.com
Paid from: $3,000/moaws.amazon.com
Attack layers: bothaws.amazon.com
Mitigation mode: always-onaws.amazon.com
Deployment model: cloudaws.amazon.com
Managed mitigation: Yesaws.amazon.com
WAF included: Yesaws.amazon.com

Facts

Purpose: AWS Shield identifies network security configuration issues and defends applications against active web exploitation and distributed denial of service events.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Network security analysis: Network security director, which is in preview, analyzes AWS resources, visualizes network topology, identifies configuration issues, and offers remediation recommendations.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Automatic mitigation: Shield Advanced detects and blocks sophisticated DDoS events across network, transport, and application layers with automatic inline mitigation.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Traffic monitoring: Shield Advanced baselines application traffic patterns to detect anomalies such as HTTP floods and DNS query floods.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Protected services: Shield Advanced supports protected resources including EC2, Elastic Load Balancing, CloudFront, Global Accelerator, and Route 53.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Integrations: Shield Advanced integrates with AWS WAF and AWS Firewall Manager, and provides event visibility through Amazon CloudWatch.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Incident support: Shield Advanced provides 24/7 access to the Shield Response Team for Business or Enterprise support customers.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Support limitation: Custom mitigations from the Shield Response Team during events require Business or Enterprise support.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Cost protection: Shield Advanced includes DDoS cost protection for qualifying usage spikes on protected EC2, ELB, CloudFront, Global Accelerator, and Route 53 resources.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
WAF allowance: The Shield Advanced subscription includes up to 50 billion AWS WAF requests per subscribed payer account in a calendar month for protected resources.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Subscription commitment: Shield Advanced requires a one-year subscription commitment and renews annually.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
Intended users: Shield is for AWS customers protecting websites and applications, with Shield Advanced covering internet-facing applications on eligible AWS resources.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026
AWS launch: Amazon Web Services says it launched in 2006.aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026