API Gateway Throttling Incident Revenue Loss.

## The Architecture of Self-Sabotage

AWS API Gateway and Cloudflare enforce strict Rate Limits (Throttling) to protect your backend databases from DDoS attacks. However, when a legitimate traffic spike occurs (like Black Friday or a viral TikTok), these defense mechanisms activate blindly.

### FAQ

**Q: What happens when the limit is breached?**
A: If your API limit is 10,000 RPS and 25,000 RPS of valid traffic hits your servers, the Gateway instantly returns "HTTP 429 Too Many Requests" to the remaining 15,000 users. Your servers remain online and healthy, but you simultaneously block millions of dollars of legitimate customer transactions at the network edge.