A Cyberattack Doesn’t Start With a Hack — It Starts Here

Описание: Cyberattacks don’t happen in one moment — they unfold step by step. This video explains the exact stages attackers follow and where you can stop them.

In this Cybersecurity 101 episode, Mark Hemingway from Archer Energy Solutions breaks down the Cyber Kill Chain, a model that shows how a cyberattack develops from early planning to final impact. Instead of seeing breaches as sudden events, this framework reveals them as a structured process — and that changes how we defend.

Here’s what the video walks through in plain language:

First, attackers gather information about their target — people, systems, and weaknesses. Then they prepare tools like malware or exploits designed to take advantage of what they find. The attack is delivered, often through phishing emails, malicious links, or other common entry points. If a vulnerability is successfully triggered, the attacker gains access, installs a foothold to stay in the system, and sets up communication back to their own infrastructure. Finally, they carry out their objective — stealing data, disrupting operations, or causing damage.

The key takeaway: every attack depends on multiple stages. If defenders interrupt even one of them, the attack can fail.

The video also explains why this model matters for real-world security teams:
• It helps organizations detect threats earlier
• It shows where security controls are strongest — and where gaps exist
• It shifts the focus from reacting to breaches to preventing them
• It highlights the role of patching, monitoring, access control, and user awareness

You don’t have to memorize all seven stages to benefit. The big idea is simple: attacks are processes, and processes have weak points.

If you’re responsible for cybersecurity, IT, OT, or critical infrastructure protection, understanding this lifecycle helps you know what to watch for, when to act, and how to break the chain before real damage occurs.

----About Archer Energy Solutions----
Archer helps critical infrastructure organizations manage security risk across cyber, physical, and operational environments. We work with utilities, energy providers, and other essential sectors to strengthen resilience, improve visibility, and stay aligned with evolving regulatory and compliance requirements — including NERC CIP and other industry standards.

Our focus is practical, real-world security risk management:
• Cybersecurity for IT & OT environments
• Physical security strategy and integration
• Compliance and audit readiness
• Risk assessment and program development
• Bridging the gap between operations, security, and leadership

Because protecting infrastructure isn’t just about technology — it’s about people, processes, and preparedness.

Archer — Managing Tomorrow’s Risks, Today!

📩 Connect with our team to continue the conversation:
🌐 Website: www.archerint.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
🔗 LinkedIn:   / archer-energy-solutions-llc  
🔗 Facebook:   / archerinternational  

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