Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) is a criminal business model: developers supply or lease ransomware tools to affiliates or other criminals, who use them in attacks. The parties may share ransom proceeds, or the developer may charge fees. It is a way to divide criminal work, not a single attack script. The term “service” does not make it legitimate software-as-a-service.
How the RaaS model works
RaaS separates the people who maintain ransomware capabilities from those who carry out or arrange attacks. The exact division of labor differs by operation; in some cases, an affiliate brings access to a victim network that they obtained separately.
Developers supply tools and sometimes support
A core operator may develop or maintain ransomware and provide affiliates with tools, infrastructure, an administration interface, or support. CISA’s June 14, 2023 advisory described those features in the LockBit operation; they are an example, not a universal package offered by every RaaS group. CISA’s LockBit advisory
Affiliates conduct or arrange intrusions
Affiliates use the supplied capabilities in attacks, but they may not depend on the developer to obtain access. FinCEN’s 2021 definition describes developers delivering ransomware to criminals who have separately gained illicit access to a victim network. The roles and tactics vary by operation. FinCEN’s November 8, 2021 advisory
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The parties arrange payment in different ways
Developers may receive a share of ransom proceeds, charge fees, or use a combination. FinCEN describes profit sharing, while CISA’s LockBit advisory lists multiple possible arrangements. No single fee or percentage is standard across RaaS operations.
By making ransomware capabilities available to people with varying technical skills, the model can lower the barrier to carrying out attacks. The FBI has described leasing or selling tools as reducing the technical savvy needed for ransomware campaigns; FinCEN has said RaaS can help criminals of varying skill levels monetize illicit access.
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What an attack can do to a victim
In many incidents, attackers gain access to a network, steal data, and encrypt systems or files, making them inaccessible. The sequence and methods are not fixed. RaaS describes how criminal work and proceeds may be organized, not a required chain of events.
Encryption and double extortion
Double extortion combines encryption with data theft: attackers threaten to publish or sell stolen information as well as leaving systems inaccessible. The added threat can create pressure even if an organization has backups. CISA and FBI guidance on ransomware describes these extortion risks. CISA’s StopRansomware Guide and FBI ransomware guidance
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Some extortion uses data theft without encryption
Not every extortion incident encrypts files. CISA’s guide also recognizes data extortion in which stolen information is used as leverage without encryption. Ransomware and extortion tactics can overlap, but they are not identical in every case.
Why there is no single RaaS playbook
Affiliates may use different access methods and tactics, so one operation’s observed behavior should not be treated as a template for all RaaS attacks. CISA’s June 14, 2023 LockBit advisory specifically noted that attacks could vary significantly because affiliates were not all connected and could use different tactics. That is a dated, group-specific observation, not a description of every current operation.
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Recent joint agency notices illustrate why dates and group names matter when interpreting threat reports:
- Gunra: In an advisory dated August 10, 2026, CISA and the FBI said Gunra emerged in April 2025 and had expanded to a formal affiliate program. The notice described double extortion and recommended patching known exploited vulnerabilities in internet-facing systems, network segmentation, and tested offline immutable backups stored separately. These are findings and recommendations in that advisory, not timeless properties of RaaS. Joint Gunra advisory
- Medusa: On August 18, 2026, CISA, the FBI, and HHS said Medusa was first identified in June 2021 and had impacted more than 500 victims across multiple critical infrastructure sectors as of April 2026. The notice described initial access through brokers, phishing, and exploitation of unpatched internet-facing vulnerabilities, as well as double extortion. The victim count is specific to Medusa and its stated time frame; it is not a total for ransomware or RaaS. Joint Medusa advisory
How organizations can reduce risk and limit damage
No single control guarantees that an organization will avoid a ransomware attack. A layered approach can reduce exposure and make recovery more practical.
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- Patch exposed systems: Keep operating systems and internet-facing software updated on risk-informed timelines, prioritizing known exploited vulnerabilities.
- Limit pathways into the network: Segment networks and restrict unnecessary remote access so that a compromise in one area is less likely to spread.
- Maintain isolated, tested backups: Keep backups separate from the systems they protect and test restoration, rather than assuming that a backup is usable. CISA, the FBI, and partners recommended offline, immutable backups in a physically separate, segmented location in their August 10, 2026 Gunra notice. An external drive can be one component of an offline backup practice, but a consumer drive alone does not ensure immutability or resilience.
- Prepare to respond: Maintain continuity and incident-response plans so people know how to coordinate recovery and seek specialist help.
What to do if a ransomware incident occurs
Contact law enforcement and qualified incident responders. The FBI advises reporting ransomware incidents to a local field office or through IC3. Its guidance states: “The FBI does not support paying a ransom in response to a ransomware attack.” It also warns that payment does not guarantee data recovery and can incentivize further crime. Neither paying nor refusing to pay guarantees a particular recovery outcome. FBI ransomware guidance
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