What is an objective of implementing rate limiting?

Implementing rate limiting serves the objective of controlling traffic and mitigating Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Rate limiting restricts the number of requests a user can make to a service within a specified timeframe. This is especially crucial during DDoS attacks, where an overwhelming amount of traffic is directed at a target, potentially causing resource exhaustion and service unavailability. By limiting the rate of incoming requests, the server can maintain response capabilities, ensuring that legitimate users still have access to the service.

The other options do not align with the primary purpose of rate limiting. Speeding up data transfer rates is contrary to the nature of rate limiting, which intentionally places restrictions on data flow. Improving network availability is a potential secondary benefit of rate limiting, but it is a broader goal than the specific action of rate limiting. Enhancing data encryption is unrelated to rate limiting, as encryption deals with securing data rather than controlling traffic volume. Thus, the correct choice reflects the essential function of rate limiting in network security.