AWS Shield

Automatic network-layer DDoS attack detection and mitigation for cloud applications

Also known as
aws-shield

Available worldwide

What is AWS Shield?

A managed DDoS protection service that provides automatic, real-time defense against distributed denial-of-service attacks. Offers a free standard tier for basic infrastructure protection and a premium tier with advanced threat detection, application-layer defense, and expert incident response.

Independently observed

AWS Shield pricing

Plans, per-tier features and add-ons, dated and linked to live pricing. Pricing changes often; always verify at source before you rely on it.

Pricing as of verify at live pricing ↗Independently observed
HybridFree tier

Free tier included with AWS account; Advanced tier available (pricing not specified in documentation)

AWS Shield Standard

Free
Free

Automatic DDoS protection included at no charge for all AWS customers

  • Protection against common network and transport layer DDoS attacks
  • Deterministic packet filtering
  • Priority-based traffic shaping
  • Works with CloudFront and Route 53

AWS Shield Advanced

-

Enhanced DDoS protection with customized detection and 24/7 expert support

  • Automatic mitigation of sophisticated DDoS events
  • Customized detection based on traffic patterns
  • Application-layer attack detection (HTTP floods, DNS query floods)
  • Real-time notifications via CloudWatch
  • 24/7 Shield Response Team support
  • Integration with AWS WAF and Firewall Manager
  • Health check-based detection optimization

Platform & deployment

Independently observed
Deployment
  • Cloud / SaaS

Integrations (8)

Independently observed
  • AWS WAF
  • Amazon CloudFront
  • Amazon Route 53
  • Elastic IP
  • Elastic Load Balancing
  • AWS Global Accelerator
  • Amazon CloudWatch
  • AWS Firewall Manager

AWS Shield alternatives

Other ddos protection we track, ranked by the same independent score.

All AWS Shield alternatives, ranked →

Compare AWS Shield

Side by side against other ddos protection, attribute by attribute, with a source on every value.

Independent · unbought · dated

The Vioscale score: one lens on the evidence

Not user reviews and not a paid placement: a confidence-weighted blend of the independent signals below (adoption, activity, security posture, and more), which you can sort and re-weight yourself. Vendors can correct their listing but can never move their rank, and stars are weighted low as a vanity metric. It is one way to read the evidence for AWS Shield, not the verdict.

Balanced composite 38 / 100
low · 42%updating
Signal contributions to the composite score
SignalScoreWeightContributionEvidence
Price level800.054.2
Security posture300.072.2
Pricing transparency250.082.1
Integrations270.041.1
Reliability00.070.0-
Capabilities00.050.0-

Computed . Re-weight it by intent, or see the full method.

All data & sourcesshow ↓

Every value we hold, with its source, retrieval date, and confidence. This is the evidence behind the score: don't trust it, verify it.

Integrations

AttributeValueEvidence
Count8mediumsource · 2026-08-18 · 60%

Market

AttributeValueEvidence
AvailabilityHqCountry: US · PrimaryMarkets: … · AvailabilityScope: global · AvailableCountries: … · NotAvailableCountries: …highsource · 2026-08-18 · 75%

Pricing

AttributeValueEvidence
Free tierYesmediumsource · 2026-08-18 · 60%
Modelfreemiummediumsource · 2026-08-18 · 60%
Price levellowmediumsource · 2026-08-18 · 60%
TransparentNomediumsource · 2026-08-18 · 60%

Security

AttributeValueEvidence
FedrampYeshighsource · 2026-08-18 · 75%
GdprYeshighsource · 2026-08-18 · 75%
HipaaYeshighsource · 2026-08-18 · 75%
PciYeshighsource · 2026-08-18 · 75%