Today’s web traffic consists of real traffic and bot traffic. Bot traffic isn’t always bad, but it definitely isn’t all good either. While some bots perform essential functions like indexing search engines, malicious bots can perform any number of disruptive actions from launching DDoS attacks to scraping sensitive data. Bad bots can disrupt your website’s operations, compromise security, and negatively impact user experience. As a result, many businesses depend on bot management providers to combat this ongoing problem.

But how do you know if the bot management provider you’re considering is right for your business’s unique needs? Here are the top five questions to help assess whether your bot management provider is the right fit for your business:

1. How Does Your Solution Differentiate Between Good Bots and Bad Bots?

Not all bots are bad. Many businesses rely on legitimate bots to index their sites, monitor uptime, or aggregate content. It’s important that your bot management solution can accurately distinguish between “good” bots (like Googlebot) and “bad” bots (like scrapers or botnets).

• Why this matters: Blocking all bots could negatively impact your site’s performance in search rankings or break critical third-party integrations. On the other hand, giving access to all bots leaves your site vulnerable to attacks.
• Provider tip: Look for a provider that uses advanced detection techniques, such as behavioral analysis and AI, to differentiate between bots rather than relying on static rules alone.

2. What Detection Methods Do You Use to Identify Malicious Bots?

Bot detection is tricky because malicious bots are constantly evolving to mimic legitimate traffic. Common methods include:

• Behavioral analysis: Identifying suspicious patterns, such as non-human browsing speeds or irregular mouse movements.
• Device fingerprinting: Recognizing bots by examining unique device attributes.
• Machine learning: Leveraging data models to predict bot behavior based on historical traffic.
• Why this matters: Relying solely on IP blocking or CAPTCHAs doesn’t do the job. Often, you need multiple layers of defense to keep the bad bots out.
• Provider tip: Ask your provider about the specific detection methods they use to identify these evolving threats. Look for a provider with a multi-layered approach that fits your specific business.

3. How Will This Solution Impact User Experience?

A good bot management system should protect your site without negatively affecting the user experience. At best, you don’t want your customers to know anything is happening in the background. But if you rely on excessive CAPTCHAs or mistakenly block legitimate users, you can drive away customers and hurt your business.

• Why this matters: A solution that compromises user experience can hurt conversion rates and brand reputation. You want a balance between security and seamless user interaction.
• Provider tip: Ask how your provider’s solution minimizes disruptions for real users. Do they use techniques like invisible challenges or risk-based scoring to identify bots without impacting human visitors?

4. How Does Your Solution Scale With Traffic and Changing Threats?

As your business grows, so will your web traffic—and likely, the number of bot attacks you face. It’s essential to choose a bot management provider that can scale as you do.

• Why this matters: A solution that can’t scale or adapt to changing threats will leave your site vulnerable, especially during high-traffic events. Your provider should offer real-time updates and continuous protection as the bot landscape evolves.
• Provider tip: Ask whether their solution can handle spikes in traffic, such as during a marketing campaign or a DDoS attack. Additionally, inquire about how frequently their threat detection algorithms are updated to account for new bot tactics and strategies.

5. What Reporting and Analytics Do You Provide?

Visibility into how bots are interacting with your site is crucial for making informed decisions and improving security. 

Ask about the types of data you’ll have access to, such as:

• The volume and type of bots targeting your site
• Where malicious bots are coming from
• How effective the solution is in mitigating threats
• Why this matters: Detailed reporting helps you understand the bot traffic you’re facing, measure the effectiveness of the solution, and adjust your strategy as needed.
• Provider tip: A strong bot management provider should offer robust reporting and analytics to give you insights into your traffic and bot activity. In addition, make sure their tools are easy to learn and don’t require new, technical headcount to manage and understand.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bot management provider is critical for protecting your business from the growing threat of malicious bots. By asking these five key questions, you can ensure that the solution you choose not only provides robust protection but also supports your business growth and enhances user experience.

From accurate detection methods to scalable solutions and detailed reporting, the right bot management provider will give you the tools you need to stay ahead of evolving threats while keeping your site running smoothly.