What is Ransomware as a Service RaaS?

Understanding Ransomware as a Service RaaS

Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) represents the dark side of the software-as-a-service business model, where ransomware developers lease their malicious code to affiliates who handle the actual attacks. This arrangement has dramatically lowered the technical barrier to entry for cybercriminals—you no longer need to know how to code ransomware to deploy it. The developers handle the complex work of creating reliable encryption, secure payment systems, and victim communications, while taking a percentage of each ransom payment. Affiliates focus on gaining access to target networks, often through phishing, RDP exploitation, or purchasing access from initial access brokers. Some RaaS operations have become surprisingly professional, with dedicated help desks, affiliate portals, and even performance bonuses for successful attacks. This business model has fueled the explosive growth in ransomware attacks, as skilled developers can scale their operations through dozens or hundreds of affiliates rather than conducting attacks themselves.