Ransomware attacks follow structured patterns. Understanding these phases improves early detection and response.
Stage 1: Initial Access
- Phishing emails
- Weak remote access security
- Stolen credentials
Stage 2: Privilege Escalation
Attackers attempt to gain administrative control.
Stage 3: Lateral Movement
Moving across systems to expand impact.
Stage 4: Data Exfiltration
Modern ransomware steals data before encryption.
Stage 5: Encryption
Systems are locked and ransom demands are issued.
Conclusion
Prepared organizations break the attack chain early and recover faster through tested backups and monitoring.
Written by Gerald Gedeon