GRE Tunnel DDoS Protection — Protect Any Server's IP (2026)
A GRE tunnel lets you put enterprise-grade DDoS protection in front of a server you can't (or don't want to) move — a home box, a remote dedicated server, or a whole network. Traffic is routed through a filtered, protected IP; attacks are scrubbed before they ever reach your real one. Here's how it works and when to use it.
GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) builds a virtual point-to-point link between your server and our anti-DDoS network. Players and clients connect to a protected IP we give you; that traffic is filtered and forwarded to your server through the tunnel, and your replies go back the same way. Your real IP stays hidden, and floods are scrubbed on our side.
When to use a GRE tunnel
- You have a dedicated or home server with a great spec but no DDoS protection, and don't want to migrate it.
- You run a game, voice or web server that keeps getting knocked offline and need a filtered IP in front of it.
- You want to protect a whole network or several services behind one protected route.
- You need extra clean IPs or IPv6 in front of an existing box.
How it protects you
| Layer | What happens |
|---|---|
| Protected IP | Clients connect to the filtered IP we assign, never your real one. |
| Scrubbing | Traffic is profiled and Layer-4 floods (SYN, UDP, GRE-abuse, amplification) are dropped at the edge. |
| GRE tunnel | Clean traffic is forwarded to your server over the tunnel; your real IP stays masked. |
| Return path | Your server's replies route back through the tunnel, so the protection is transparent to players. |
What you keep
- Your existing server — no migration; the box stays exactly where it is.
- Low latency — a European scrubbing edge keeps the added hop small.
- Your real IP hidden — attackers only ever see the protected IP.
- Flexibility — protect one service, a full port range, or an entire network.
Because the filtering happens on our network before the tunnel, a DDoS aimed at your protected IP is absorbed on our side — your server (and your home or office connection) never sees the flood. That's the whole point of a GRE tunnel versus hosting an unprotected IP directly.
Related networking & protection
Prefer a fully-hosted protected server instead of tunnelling your own? See our game server hosting and Anti-DDoS options — every IP we deliver already runs behind the same filtered network.
Protect your server with a GRE tunnel
Put our filtered network in front of your existing server — a protected IP, Layer-4 scrubbing and your real IP hidden, without migrating anything. Ask us about GRE tunnel routing and protected IP transit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a GRE tunnel for DDoS protection?
It's a virtual point-to-point link (GRE = Generic Routing Encapsulation) between your server and a filtered anti-DDoS network. Clients connect to a protected IP we assign; the traffic is scrubbed and forwarded to your server through the tunnel, keeping your real IP hidden and attacks off your line.
Can I protect a server I already have with a GRE tunnel?
Yes — that's the main use. A GRE tunnel puts DDoS protection in front of an existing dedicated or home server without moving it. You keep your box and spec; you just route its public traffic through the protected IP.
Does a GRE tunnel hide my real IP?
Yes. Clients only ever see the protected IP we assign. Your real server IP stays masked behind the tunnel, so attackers can't target it directly.
Will a GRE tunnel add a lot of latency?
Only a small amount — traffic takes one extra hop through the scrubbing edge. On a low-latency European network the added delay is minimal, and it's far better than being knocked offline by an attack.
What can a GRE tunnel protect — just games?
Anything reachable over IP: game servers, voice servers, web servers, or a whole network. You can protect a single service and port range or route an entire network through the protected IP.
How is a GRE tunnel different from an anti-DDoS VPN?
A VPN protects and masks your own outgoing/incoming connection (good for a client or a single machine). A GRE tunnel protects a server you host by routing its inbound traffic through a filtered IP — better for protecting a service other people connect to.
Go deeper on this
Guides and explainers that pair with this fix — from our guides and blog.
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