The acronym 'DDoS' represents Distributed Denial of Service, a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server or network. Attackers overwhelm the target with a flood of traffic, rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users. DDoS attacks are a significant threat to online services, causing potential financial loss and reputational damage. Organizations must implement effective cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls and traffic analysis, to defend against these attacks.