How to Add DDoS Protection to Your
Consulting Services (And Charge for It)

If you consult for hosting providers, ISPs, data centers, or any organization with public-facing IP space, their network is a target. DDoS attacks are not a hypothetical risk. They happen, and most mid-market infrastructure operators do not have adequate detection in place.

That gap is your opportunity. DDoS detection and mitigation consulting is a service you can add to your practice today with minimal overhead. The tooling is lightweight. The installs are fast. And the recurring revenue model means you are not just billing project hours.

Why DDoS Protection Is an Easy Add

Unlike complex security engagements that require months of scoping, DDoS detection deployments are straightforward:

• Simple install. A single lightweight agent (ftagent) on a Linux VM. No inline hardware. No traffic rerouting. No downtime.
• Fast time to value. Clients see traffic data and baseline analysis within hours of deployment, not weeks.
• Ongoing relationship. DDoS monitoring is not a one-time project. It is a managed service. Threshold tuning, alert management, and mitigation policy updates keep you engaged monthly.
• Clear ROI story. "How much does one hour of downtime cost you?" is a conversation every infrastructure operator understands.

What the Install Actually Looks Like

Here is the realistic scope of a Flowtriq deployment. This is what you would bill for.

Phase 1: Assessment (1-2 hours)

• Inventory the client's flow sources (routers, switches exporting sFlow/NetFlow/IPFIX)
• Map the IP space and identify critical assets
• Review existing mitigation capabilities (do they have BGP FlowSpec-capable routers? upstream RTBH support?)

Phase 2: Deploy ftagent (30 minutes)

curl -sL https://get.flowtriq.com/agent | sudo bash
# Configure flow source IPs
# Verify flow data is arriving

That is the core install. A single command to install the agent, then point your client's routers to export flow data to it. Most consultants have this running in under 30 minutes.

Phase 3: Configure Detection (1-2 hours)

• Set up alert channels (Slack, PagerDuty, email, webhooks)
• Configure notification rules and escalation contacts
• Let dynamic baselines establish normal traffic patterns (24-48 hours)
• Review initial thresholds and adjust sensitivity

Phase 4: Mitigation Setup (2-4 hours)

• Configure BGP FlowSpec or RTBH integration with the client's edge routers
• Set up auto-escalation policies (FlowSpec first, RTBH if FlowSpec fails, cloud scrubbing as last resort)
• Enable Service Port Detection so mitigation only protects active services
• Test with a controlled rule to verify the mitigation path works end-to-end

Phase 5: Handoff (1 hour)

• Walk the client through the dashboard
• Document threshold settings, alert routing, and escalation procedures
• Set up the first monthly review call

Total billable scope: 6-10 hours for a standard deployment. At typical consulting rates, that is a healthy project fee. And then you have the recurring management relationship on top.

How to Price It

Most consultants structure DDoS protection services in two parts:

1. Deployment Project Fee

Bill for the initial install, configuration, and handoff. 6-10 hours at your standard rate. For a typical hosting provider, this lands in the $1,500-$4,000 range depending on complexity (number of routers, mitigation integrations, multi-site setups).

2. Ongoing Management Retainer

Monthly retainer for threshold tuning, alert management, quarterly reviews, and on-call support during attacks. This is where the real value compounds. Clients stick because switching costs are high and the service is invisible when it works (which is the point).

On top of your consulting fees, the Flowtriq affiliate program pays 15% recurring commission on referred customer subscriptions. That stacks with your consulting revenue.

Get Certified in 20 Minutes

The Certified Flowtriq Consultant (CFC) credential exists specifically for this. Take a 25-question exam covering deployment, configuration, mitigation, and client success. It is free and takes about 20 minutes.

When you pass:

• Add it to LinkedIn with one click. It shows up in your certifications section and gives you a shareable post to announce it.
• Download a PDF certificate to attach to proposals, RFPs, and your website.
• Get listed in the Consultant Directory on the Flowtriq Trusted Network page. We send inbound leads to listed consultants.
• Qualify for partner benefits including the affiliate program, priority support, and co-marketing.

The CFC credential tells a prospect: "This person knows how to deploy and support this platform." That is a meaningful differentiator in a crowded consulting market.

Display It Everywhere

The credential is designed to be visible. Here is where to put it:

• LinkedIn Certifications section - One-click add from the results page. Shows organization (Flowtriq), issue date, and verification link.
• LinkedIn post - Pre-written share text announces the credential to your network. Good for visibility with prospects who follow you.
• Your website - Download the PDF and add it to your credentials/about page. Link to the verification URL so visitors can confirm it.
• Proposals and SOWs - Reference the CFC in the "qualifications" section of client proposals. "Certified Flowtriq Consultant" is concrete and verifiable.
• Email signature - Add "CFC | Certified Flowtriq Consultant" after your name. Subtle but effective.

The Revenue Math

Consider a consultant who deploys Flowtriq for three hosting provider clients per quarter:

• Deployment fees: 3 projects x $2,500 avg = $7,500/quarter
• Monthly management: 3 clients x $500/month retainer = $4,500/quarter (and growing as clients accumulate)
• Affiliate commission: 15% recurring on each client's Flowtriq subscription

After a year of three deployments per quarter, you would have 12 clients on management retainers. That is $6,000/month in recurring revenue from management alone, plus ongoing affiliate commissions. All from a service line that takes an afternoon to set up per client.

Getting Started

1. Take the CFC exam - flowtriq.com/certifications/flowtriq-consultant. Free, 20 minutes.
2. Add it to LinkedIn - One click from the results page.
3. Join the affiliate program - flowtriq.com/affiliate. Get your referral link.
4. Pitch your first client - Start with your existing hosting/ISP contacts. "Do you have DDoS detection in place?" is a conversation starter that almost always reveals a gap.
5. Deploy and manage - Use the Quick Start Guide for the technical install. Bill for your time.

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