Ransomware continues to evolve as one of the most devastating cyber threats facing organizations in 2026. Criminal groups have become increasingly sophisticated, adopting new techniques and business models that make attacks more damaging and profitable than ever before.

Double extortion has become the standard operating procedure for major ransomware gangs. After encrypting victim data, attackers exfiltrate sensitive information and threaten to publish it unless additional ransom is paid. This puts pressure on organizations even if they have robust backups, as data exposure can result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage.

Ransomware-as-a-Service models have lowered the barrier to entry for cybercriminals. Affiliate programs allow less technical attackers to deploy sophisticated ransomware developed by specialized groups. The developers take a percentage of ransoms while affiliates handle the actual intrusions, creating an efficient criminal ecosystem.

Initial access brokers have emerged as key players in the ransomware supply chain. These specialists compromise organizations and sell access to the highest bidder. Common entry points include phishing emails, exploited VPN vulnerabilities, and compromised Remote Desktop Protocol services exposed to the internet.

Organizations must adopt a comprehensive defense strategy against ransomware. This includes regular patching, network segmentation, offline backups, employee security awareness training, and incident response planning. Endpoint detection and response solutions can catch ransomware before it spreads, while zero-trust architecture limits the blast radius of successful intrusions.