Cyber threats are something that most business owners have on their minds. These security threats can take many forms, but regardless of what form they take, it is imperative to know who to spot them. In general, there are seven steps taken by a cyber attacker.

Infographic with the following information: Seven steps of a cyberattack Reconnaissance: Hackers identify a vulnerable target and look for ways to exploit it. The attacker is only looking for a single point of entry to get started. Weaponization: The hacker uses the information gathered in reconnaissance to create ways into the target's network and collect the tools to exploit any vulnerabilities they find. Attack: The hacker attacks. Phishing emails are sent, 'watering hole' web pages are posted to the internet, and the attacker waits for the data they need. Exploitation: The hacker starts to see the rewards of their work. Usernames and passwords begin to arrive, and the hacker tries them against web-based email systems or virtual private network (VPN) connections to the company network. If there were malware-infected attachments, the attacker will remotely access the affected computers. This is where the hacker will explore the network to find a way to exploit the systems connected to it. Installation: The attacker installs a persistent backdoor, creates administrator accounts on the network, and disables firewall rules so they can ensure continued access to the network. Control: The hacker has unrestrained access to the entire network and administrator accounts. These are the tools they need for the control phase. The attacker can see everything, impersonate any user on the network, and do things like send emails from the CEO to employees. Since they have control, the hacker can also lock a company's IT users out of the organization's network and demand a ransom to restore access. Objective: This can vary by the hacker. It could be stealing employee information, customer designs, disrupting company operations, etc. While some hackers are money motivated, some just want to cause chaos.

What this means for you

It is important to understand the seven steps of a cyberattack so that you, and your employees, can recognize the signs. A cyberattack can bring your operations to a screeching halt and compromise your business reputation.

How Anteris can help

At Anteris, we believe in prevention. We do this in two ways. First, our security services support your business and protect your data from outside threats. This includes services like PII Protect and Active Dark Web monitoring and scanning. Second, we believe that education and training are just as important as monitoring in preventing attacks. We provide education and training to make employees aware of the security dangers and provide them with the knowledge of the best practices for protecting against cyber threats. Schedule an appointment with us to find out how we make technology freeing (and safe), not frustrating.

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