The Lifecycle of a Cyberattack and How to Stop It

Cyberattacks don’t happen in an instant, they unfold in carefully planned stages. Understanding the full lifecycle of a cyberattack gives your business the upper hand. It allows you to spot early warning signs, put safeguards in place, and respond quickly to minimize damage.

At Combined Technology, we help businesses build layered defenses by understanding how attackers operate. We’ve written extensively about cybersecurity threats facing Tulsa businesses and ransomware protection strategies, but this article focuses on how a typical attack unfolds.

The Step-by-Step Breakdown of a Cyberattack

Each cyberattack follows a predictable path, even if the tactics change. By knowing what attackers typically do, and when, they can be stopped before real damage is done. Mapping out the attack timeline gives your business the opportunity to identify vulnerabilities, strengthen defenses, and reduce response time. Here’s a breakdown of each stage of a typical cyberattack, and how to stop it at every step.

Stage 1: Reconnaissance

Before anything malicious happens, attackers do their homework. They scan your website, social media, employees’ LinkedIn profiles, and public records to gather information. Their goal? Find weak spots like outdated software, exposed credentials, or open ports.

How to stop it:

• Conduct regular vulnerability assessments
• Limit public-facing employee and tech info
• Use external monitoring tools to detect scanning behavior

Stage 2: Initial Intrusion

Once a weakness is found, the attacker gains entry. This often comes through:

• Phishing emails with malicious links or attachments
• Exploiting unpatched software vulnerabilities
• Brute force attacks on poorly secured passwords

How to stop it:

• Train employees to recognize phishing
• Keep all systems up to date
• Enforce strong passwords and multi-factor authentication

Stage 3: Establishing a Foothold

Now inside, the attacker tries to stay undetected. They may install malware or create hidden backdoors to return later. The goal is persistence.

How to stop it:

• Monitor endpoints for unauthorized activity
• Use behavioral-based antivirus tools
• Regularly audit software and admin accounts

Stage 4: Privilege Escalation

With basic access, attackers look to gain more control, like admin privileges. This allows them to move deeper into your systems and access more sensitive data.

How to stop it:

• Limit user permissions based on roles
• Monitor for unusual access patterns
• Separate admin accounts from daily-use accounts

Stage 5: Lateral Movement

Attackers now explore your network. They jump from system to system, looking for valuable data, like customer records, intellectual property, or financial information.

How to stop it:

• Segment your network to limit access between systems
• Monitor internal traffic for anomalies
• Isolate critical systems from general use machines

Stage 6: Data Exfiltration or Attack Execution

This is where the damage is done. Attackers may steal your data (exfiltration), deploy ransomware, or destroy backups. Their goal is to get paid, or cause disruption.

How to stop it:

• Use data loss prevention tools
• Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit
• Maintain off-site, immutable backups

Stage 7: Covering Tracks

Before leaving, attackers try to erase signs of their presence. They may delete logs, remove malware, or alter system configurations.

How to stop it:

• Keep detailed, tamper-resistant logs
• Monitor for unauthorized log clearing
• Use forensic tools during incident response

Why Understanding the Lifecycle Matters

Many businesses think cybersecurity means having a firewall and antivirus, but that’s only part of the picture. Modern attacks are sophisticated and stealthy. Recognizing each phase helps you:

• Build smarter defenses
• Reduce response time
• Minimize data loss
• Improve compliance readiness

It’s not just about tools, it’s about timing and visibility. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Schedule a free cybersecurity assessment with Combined Technology and learn how to detect and stop threats at every stage of the attack lifecycle.

How Combined Technology Helps You Prepare

We don’t just deploy tools, we help you develop a full security strategy. Our cybersecurity services include:

• 24/7 threat monitoring
• Endpoint protection
• Phishing simulation and training
• Vulnerability assessments
• Backup and disaster recovery planning

With Combined Technology, your business is protected before, during, and after a cyberattack.

Ready to Strengthen Your Defenses?

Understanding how attackers operate is the first step. Putting the right security measures in place is the next. Let’s talk about how we can help your business stay one step ahead.

Book a free consultation and get peace of mind today.