Public cloud ransomware is ransomware that targets and encrypts data stored in public cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure (Azure), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). While the public cloud offers lots of advantages, confusion around security responsibilities creates protection gaps that hackers are quick to exploit.

Service provider attacks. As technology and threats become ever more complex, companies are increasingly outsourcing their IT to specialist managed service providers (MSPs). Cybercriminals have realized that targeting MSPs enables them to hold multiple organizations hostage with a single attack. One attack, many ransoms.

Encryption-free attacks. The ability to encrypt files was one of the original core capabilities needed to make ransomware a viable cybercrime. Today cybercriminals no longer need to encrypt your files to hold you hostage. Why? Because they’ll think you’ll pay up just to stop your data going public.