Phishing-as-a-Service and Ransomware-as-a-Service Drive Surge in Attacks
Ransomware attacks surged fourfold in 2024, fueled by the rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms, according to Barracuda’s latest XDR report. The study highlights how cybercriminals are using as-a-service models to execute highly sophisticated, evasive attacks at an unprecedented scale.
“Ransomware and phishing are evolving faster than ever—businesses must stay ahead.”
Eric Russo, Director, SOC Defensive Security, Barracuda
Email threats also saw a sharp increase, with Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) attacks slipping past security measures and ranking among the top five detected threats. These findings signal a growing need for advanced security solutions to counter evolving cyber threats.
Key Takeaways from Barracuda’s XDR Data
🔹 Ransomware quadruples – The surge in attacks aligns with the widespread use of RaaS, making ransomware more accessible to cybercriminals.
🔹 Common security gaps – Attackers exploited weak authentication, poor password policies, under-protected VPNs, and lack of cybersecurity awareness.
🔹 Email threats persist – Phishing emails bypassing security filters ranked among the most frequent threats, underscoring the impact of PhaaS services.
Stronger Defenses Needed
“The rise of as-a-service platforms is making cyberattacks more sophisticated, agile, and evasive,” said Eric Russo, Director, SOC Defensive Security at Barracuda. “Organizations need deep, extended security to strengthen their defenses and cyber resilience.”
Barracuda’s XDR solution provides comprehensive protection by integrating network, endpoint, server, cloud, and email security, ensuring businesses stay ahead of evolving threats.