What Happens During a Cyber Attack?
Cyber attacks are no longer something that only affects large organisations. Every day, businesses across the UK are targeted by phishing emails, ransomware, malware and data breaches. Whether you're a small business or a growing organisation, understanding what happens during a cyber attack is one of the most effective ways to reduce your cybersecurity risk.
Many cyber attacks happen silently. Criminals can spend days or even weeks inside a business network before anyone notices a problem. By the time systems stop working or files become encrypted, the attack is often well underway.
In this guide, we'll explain exactly what happens during a cyber attack, how cyber criminals gain access to business systems, and the practical steps you can take to protect your organisation.
What Is a Cyber Attack?
A cyber attack is any deliberate attempt to gain unauthorised access to computer systems, networks or business data.
Cyber attacks are designed to:
Steal confidential information
Encrypt business files with ransomware
Disrupt business operations
Demand ransom payments
Access financial information
Damage a company's reputation
Modern cyber attacks don't always rely on sophisticated hacking techniques. In many cases, criminals simply exploit weak passwords, outdated software or unsuspecting employees.
This is why proactive cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important for businesses of every size.
(Cybersecurity awareness training is one of the most effective ways to reduce cyber risk. At Sunrise Technologies, we provide Cyber Security Awareness Training for businesses across Essex, helping employees recognise phishing emails, identify suspicious activity and become your first line of defence against cyber attacks).
Step 1: How Cyber Criminals Gain Access
Every cyber attack begins with an entry point.
Some of the most common methods include:
Phishing Emails
Phishing remains one of the biggest cybersecurity threats facing UK businesses. Attackers send emails pretending to be trusted organisations, suppliers or colleagues. These emails encourage users to click malicious links, download infected attachments or enter passwords into fake login pages.
A single click can provide attackers with access to your entire business network.
Weak or Stolen Passwords
Many successful cyber attacks begin because passwords have been reused, guessed or stolen during previous data breaches. Without Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), attackers can often gain access using nothing more than a username and password.
Unpatched Software
Software developers regularly release security updates to fix vulnerabilities. Businesses that delay installing updates leave those vulnerabilities open for cyber criminals to exploit. This is why regular patch management forms part of the UK Government-backed Cyber Essentials certification.
Remote Access Vulnerabilities
Remote working has transformed how businesses operate, but poorly configured remote access systems can create significant cybersecurity risks if left unsecured.
Step 2: Establishing a Foothold
Once attackers gain access, they rarely launch an attack immediately.
Instead, they begin gathering information.
Typical activities include:
Identifying administrator accounts
Mapping the business network
Searching shared folders
Looking for financial information
Finding customer databases
Accessing Microsoft 365 accounts
Locating backup systems
At this stage, employees may notice nothing unusual.
Step 3: Moving Through the Network
Cyber criminals rarely stop with one computer.
Their goal is usually to compromise as much of the organisation as possible.
They may attempt to:
Steal administrator credentials
Access servers
Compromise cloud services
Spread malware across devices
Disable security software
Locate backup systems
This process is known as lateral movement.
The more systems attackers compromise, the greater the potential damage.
Step 4: Launching the Cyber Attack
Once attackers have achieved their objective, the real attack begins.
Common outcomes include:
Ransomware
Business files become encrypted. Employees lose access to documents, systems and applications. A ransom demand appears requesting payment in exchange for a decryption key.
Data Theft
Instead of encrypting files, some attackers quietly steal sensitive information.
This may include:
Customer records
Financial information
Employee data
Contracts
Intellectual property
Increasingly, ransomware groups steal data before encrypting it, allowing them to threaten businesses with both downtime and public data leaks.
Business Email Compromise
Attackers may also gain control of company email accounts.
They can then:
Send fraudulent invoices
Trick customers into making payments
Steal sensitive conversations
Launch further phishing attacks
Step 5: Business Disruption
The effects of a cyber attack often extend far beyond the IT department.
Businesses may experience:
Lost productivity
System downtime
Financial losses
Damaged customer relationships
Regulatory investigations
GDPR reporting requirements
Reputational damage
For many organisations, the indirect costs of a cyber attack are significantly higher than the ransom itself.
How Can Businesses Protect Themselves Against Cyber Attacks?
While no organisation can eliminate cyber risk entirely, the majority of common cyber attacks can be prevented by following recognised cybersecurity best practices.
These include:
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Adding an additional layer of security makes stolen passwords significantly less valuable.
Regular Software Updates
Keeping operating systems, servers and applications fully patched closes known security vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Employees remain one of the strongest defences against phishing attacks.
Regular training helps staff identify suspicious emails before they become security incidents.
Secure Backups
Backups should be:
Regularly tested
Stored securely
Protected from ransomware
Separate from your production systems
Without reliable backups, recovery following a cyber attack becomes far more difficult.
Email Security
Technologies such as:
SPF
DKIM
Advanced spam filtering
help prevent phishing attacks and email impersonation before they reach employees.
Cyber Essentials Certification
Cyber Essentials provides a government-backed framework that helps businesses implement fundamental cybersecurity controls.
For many organisations, Cyber Essentials forms the foundation of a strong cybersecurity strategy.
Why Proactive IT Support Makes a Difference
Many businesses only discover weaknesses after a cyber attack has occurred.
A proactive IT support provider continuously monitors systems, installs security updates, identifies vulnerabilities and helps reduce the likelihood of cyber incidents before they cause disruption.
Rather than simply fixing problems after they happen, proactive IT support focuses on prevention, resilience and long-term business continuity.
Protect Your Business Before a Cyber Attack Happens
Cyber attacks continue to evolve, but many of the techniques used by cyber criminals remain surprisingly simple.
By understanding how cyber attacks happen and investing in proactive cybersecurity, businesses can significantly reduce their risk, protect sensitive information and keep employees productive.
Whether you're reviewing your existing IT environment or looking to strengthen your cybersecurity, taking action today is always easier, and considerably less expensive, than recovering from a successful cyber attack tomorrow.
Your Free Business IT Risk Assessment
At Sunrise Technologies, we help businesses identify vulnerabilities before cyber criminals do.
Our proactive IT support, cybersecurity services and Business IT Risk Assessment help organisations improve security, reduce risk and build technology that supports long-term growth.