Ransomware Surge Targets Small Firms Through MSP Remote Tools

Why attacks against MSP remote tools are suddenly in the spotlight

Attackers are going after managed service providers (MSPs) because one stolen login can open the door to many small businesses at once. As a result, abuse of remote monitoring and management (RMM) platforms has become a powerful way to deploy ransomware at scale.

Introduction

Security researchers have reported a spike in ransomware gangs abusing RMM platforms. In these attacks, criminals increasingly target MSP credentials so they can quietly push malware across many small‑business clients at the same time.

Because of this trend, more leaders are now worried about vendor supply‑chain risk and how secure their MSP really is. Therefore, it is a good time to review how your business and your MSP protect remote access tools and endpoints.

Why It Matters Now

These attacks matter now because they strike at the tools that keep your business running. When an attacker takes over an RMM platform, they can use the same features your MSP relies on for support to instead deploy ransomware across multiple systems.

According to reporting from Krebs on Security, ransomware gangs are focusing on MSPs so they can hit many small firms at once. This trend is accelerating concern about vendor‑supply‑chain risk, since your exposure now includes not just your own systems but also the remote tools and practices of your IT partners.

Therefore, SMBs should review:

• MFA enforcement on every remote access path
• Privileged access management around admin‑level accounts
• Endpoint isolation policies within RMM tools

By tightening these areas, you reduce the chance that one stolen MSP credential turns into a company‑wide ransomware shutdown.

Business Risks of Ignoring This Issue

If you ignore the surge in RMM‑based ransomware, you may be taking on silent but serious risk. Because MSP tools often have high levels of access, a single compromise can quickly become a full‑scale incident across servers, workstations, and remote users.

When RMM platforms are not secured with strong MFA, attackers can log in just like your trusted MSP. Then they can push malware, disable protections, or move laterally before anyone notices. Similarly, if privileged access is too broad, a single admin account can become a powerful weapon in the wrong hands.

You also face risk if your endpoint isolation policies are weak. Without clear rules and technical controls to quarantine suspicious devices, ransomware can spread rapidly through your network. In addition, if you never perform RMM security audits, you may not notice misconfigurations or missing tamper protections until after an attack.

Key risks of ignoring RMM‑based ransomware threats include:

• Mass infection across clients: One compromised MSP login can deploy ransomware across many small‑business networks.
• Extended downtime and lost revenue: Even a short outage can stop billing, sales, and operations.
• Data loss and recovery costs: Restoring systems and data after a large‑scale attack can be complex and disruptive.
• Regulatory and contractual exposure: If partners or customers are affected, questions about vendor‑supply‑chain risk and due diligence will follow.
• Reputational damage: Clients and stakeholders may lose trust if a preventable RMM issue leads to a major incident.

By acting now, you can reduce these risks before attackers find the same gaps that your team has not reviewed.

How Dynamic Solutions Group Is Solving This for Clients

Dynamic Solutions Group (DSG) focuses on cybersecurity for small and mid‑sized businesses, so this RMM‑driven ransomware surge is front and center in our work with clients. We treat MSP tools not just as convenience software, but as high‑value security assets that demand strict controls.

First, we help clients review and strengthen MFA enforcement across all RMM access points. Because attackers are targeting MSP credentials, we emphasize that multi‑factor authentication should be mandatory for every admin and technician account. This way, stolen passwords alone are not enough to unlock remote control of your environment.

Second, DSG works with organizations to tighten privileged access management. We help define which accounts truly need elevated rights within RMM tools, and we ensure those accounts are limited and clearly tracked. By reducing unnecessary privileges, we shrink the blast radius if an account is ever compromised.

Third, we focus on endpoint isolation policies within RMM platforms. When a device behaves suspiciously, it should be possible to isolate it quickly so ransomware cannot move freely. We also look at tamper‑protection configurations, helping clients make sure security settings and agents cannot be easily disabled by attackers.

Because this threat landscape is shifting, DSG recommends and can help deliver quarterly RMM security audits. During these reviews, we examine access controls, policy settings, and changes over time, so we can catch issues early. This regular cadence also gives SMB leaders a clear view into how their MSP tools are being governed.

Throughout this process, we keep the conversation grounded in business impact. We explain how stronger controls around RMM platforms directly reduce vendor‑supply‑chain risk and help protect revenue, reputation, and operations from modern ransomware tactics described by sources like Krebs on Security.

Questions SMB Leaders Should Ask Their MSP

You do not need to be a security expert to hold your MSP accountable. However, you do need to ask direct questions and expect clear, practical answers. You can copy and paste the questions below into an email or meeting agenda with your provider:

1. How are you enforcing MFA on all RMM tools and MSP credentials that can access our environment?
2. What privileged access management controls do you use to limit and monitor admin‑level accounts in your RMM platforms?
3. How do you configure endpoint isolation policies to contain potential ransomware or malware on our devices?
4. Do you perform quarterly RMM security audits, and can you share the results and remediation steps with us?
5. What tamper‑protection configurations are in place to prevent attackers from disabling security controls through your RMM tools?
6. How do you evaluate and manage vendor‑supply‑chain risk related to your own tools and platforms?

If your MSP cannot answer these questions clearly, or if they downplay the RMM ransomware trend, it may be time to reconsider how your remote access and support are managed.

Call to Action

Ransomware gangs are turning MSP tools into high‑impact delivery systems, and small firms are squarely in their sights. By tightening MFA enforcement, privileged access management, endpoint isolation policies, and tamper‑protection configurations, you can reduce your exposure to the types of attacks described in Krebs on Security.

If you want a partner who treats RMM security as a core part of your defense, not an afterthought, Contact Dynamic Solutions Group today. We can review your current setup, help design quarterly RMM security audits, and align your remote management practices with the level of protection your business now requires.