Ransomware is not a new threat in the cybersecurity business. The first instance of this class of cybersecurity threat was launched in the Federal Republic of Russia over a decade ago. However, the resurgence of these threats has revealed a cunning way which malicious attackers are using ransomware to launch cyber-extortion businesses. You need to be aware of the fact that these malicious hackers are constantly releasing new ransomware on the market. You can protect your business by hiring a skilled IT support provider in Denver— like us at AccountabilIT— to protect your corporate network against these deadly cyber threats.

The Workings of Ransomware as a Service (RaaS)

Believe it or not, ransomware is now being distributed using affiliate programs, similar to those used by legitimate profit-sharing affiliate programs. Authors of RaaS host their code in some portal, which can be accessed by RaaS affiliates and deploy it from their back offices. The code is authored in such a way that anyone without any coding expertise can launch an attack without having to change anything in the code.

In our experience as a leading IT support provider in Denver, we have found that most of these RaaS programs are free to deploy and the affiliates share the loot (ransom paid) with the authors according to some pre-agreed ratio. The affiliate share can be as high as 80 percent, making this illegal business very lucrative both to affiliates and authors.

The Dangers of RaaS

As seen above, ransomware attacks have now been transformed into commodities giving rise to a crop of lethal and dedicated cybercriminals, whose sole aim is to attack and extort businesses. Today, some RaaS authors sell their ransomware codes in the darknet leaving the customer with the freedom to choose the organization that he or she will target using the ransomware. Most dangerously, anyone who can afford to purchase the code can get it exposing corporate networks to threats that can come from ex-employees or aspiring cybercriminals.

How to Protect Yourself Against RaaS

  • As a business owner, you have to be aware of the fact that RaaS is quickly becoming commonplace. Here, we suggest some steps you can take to protect your corporate network from ransomware:
  • Educate your employees on cyber risks and how to avoid them. You need to ensure that all your employees have been trained on how to identify and avoid ransomware. You should also remind them to ensure that all email attachments and downloaded files are scanned for this malware.
  • Backup, backup, backup. Make sure that your data is regularly backed up. Ransomware attackers will only hold power over you if you have no alternative ways to access your data.
  • Invest in network monitoring and a robust antivirus software. Make sure that you have the technology which can detect and immobilize ransomware attempts before they infect your network.

Why Hire Us

At AccountabilIT, we believe that every business is at risk of a ransomware attack. As a leading IT support provider in Denver, we are ready to help you conduct a risk assessment for your corporate network and design ways of sealing any loopholes. Contact us today and let us help secure your IT network.