{"id":3988,"date":"2025-08-25T07:39:41","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T05:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enthec.com\/?p=3988"},"modified":"2025-08-25T07:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T05:39:41","slug":"do-you-know-the-5-phases-of-cyberattacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enthec.com\/en\/do-you-know-the-5-phases-of-cyberattacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you know the 5 phases of cyberattacks?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Cyberattacks have become one of the biggest threats to businesses of all sizes. We’re no longer just talking about large corporations: <\/span>any organization connected to the Internet is a potential target.<\/b><\/p>\n Have you ever wondered<\/span> how cybercriminals act?<\/b>What steps do they take before launching an attack? Understanding the typical phases of a cyberattack is essential to being able to anticipate, protect, and respond effectively. <\/span><\/p>\n The first thing we’re going to look at is how we can get ahead of attackers. This is where are essential tools like <\/span>Kartos, Enthec’s cyber surveillance solution designed specifically for businesses.<\/b>. Kartos enables organizations to perform Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), which means it doesn’t just react to incidents, but analyzes and <\/span>proactively monitors<\/span><\/a> potential attack vectors. Detect, classify, and alert on real risks before they become a problem. <\/span><\/p>\n If you are concerned about the security of your company,<\/span> Kartos can help you understand where you are vulnerable and how to protect yourself best<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Understanding the phases of a cyberattack not only helps us protect ourselves better but also allows us to<\/span> detect anomalies before damage is done.<\/b>. Each phase offers an opportunity to stop the attacker if you have the right tools. From reconnaissance to final execution, there’s a clear strategy that cybercriminals follow time and time again. <\/span><\/p>\n Let’s break down this process so you can identify each step and understand how it affects your business security.<\/span><\/p>\n The first step of any cyberattack is the same as that of any well-planned operation:<\/span> gather information<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Attackers research their target to<\/span> understand its structure, identify its weaknesses, and locate possible entry points.<\/b>. This collection can be done passively, without directly interacting with the organization, using public sources such as:<\/span><\/p>\n During this phase, it is also common to look for<\/span> exposed credentials,<\/b> sensitive data, or behavioral patterns that can be exploited later.<\/span><\/p>\n Kartos automatically detects this type of exposure<\/b> in open and hidden sources, allowing action to be taken before information is located for an actual attack.<\/span><\/p>\n Once the attacker has sufficient information, they move on to the scanning phase. This is a more active interaction with the target infrastructure. <\/span><\/p>\n The most common at this stage is:<\/span><\/p>\n For example, if a company uses an older version of software that has security flaws, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability to plan their entry.<\/span><\/p>\n These types of actions can go unnoticed if there are no monitoring systems in place. <\/span>Continuous monitoring, <\/b>such as that offered by Kartos, alerts you to abnormal changes or unusual access.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n At this point, the attacker has already identified where to sneak in. This is the most delicate phase, as it <\/span>involves the login<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n It can be done in multiple ways:<\/span><\/p>\n Once inside, the objective is clear:<\/span> maintain undetected access <\/b>and move towards more critical systems.<\/span><\/p>\n At this point, if you do not have a well-configured alert system or<\/span> active surveillance of the digital perimeter,<\/span><\/a> the attacker can operate without raising suspicion for days or even weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n It’s not enough to just get in. Now it’s time to <\/span>explore the network from within<\/b>, search for administrator credentials, access sensitive databases, servers, or storage systems.<\/span><\/p>\n The attacker tries to<\/span> escalate privileges and move through systems stealthily.<\/b>. His goals can range from data breaches to creating ransomware that shuts down the entire network.<\/span><\/p>\n This is where many companies realize the attack is too late. However, <\/span>continuous management of threat exposure,<\/b> as we find in Kartos, allows us to detect suspicious signs much earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n The last phase varies depending on the attacker’s intention:<\/span><\/p>\n This is the most destructive stage, and often the only time the victim even realizes the problem. Response time is crucial. <\/span><\/p>\nWhy is it important to know the phases of a cyberattack?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Phase 1: Recognition (or passive recognition)<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Phase 2: Vulnerability Scanning and Analysis<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
<\/p>\nPhase 3: Initial Access (Exploitation)<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Phase 4: Up and lateral movements<\/b><\/h3>\n
Phase 5: Execution and final objectives<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n