Phishing-as-a-Service: The New Cybercrime Business Model and How MSSPs Stop It

Phishing attacks continue to be one of the most pervasive and damaging cyber threats today, and in 2025, a new business model called Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) is accelerating their spread. PhaaS democratizes phishing attacks, turning sophisticated cybercrime into a subscription-based service accessible even to individuals with little technical expertise. In this blog, we will expose the rise of PhaaS, explain why it poses such a serious threat to organizations, and describe how Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) like CyberSecOp implement advanced phishing defenses to protect businesses. 

What is Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS)? 

Phishing-as-a-Service is a cybercrime model where threat actors sell phishing tools, kits, hosting infrastructure, automation, and even customer support to criminals who want to conduct phishing campaigns. These services are often offered via subscription or one-time payments, primarily through underground channels like darknet forums or encrypted messaging platforms such as Telegram. 

The PhaaS providers supply everything needed for a phishing attack, including: 

• Ready-made, convincing email templates mimicking well-known brands 

• Fake login websites that capture user credentials and bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) 

• Tools to manage the stolen data and automate campaigns 

• Customer support to assist less experienced attackers in launching sophisticated scams 

Because of this, even non-technical users can easily deploy large-scale phishing campaigns without building infrastructure or coding, which has led to a surge in phishing incidents globally. 

Why is PhaaS a Growing and Dangerous Threat? 

• Lowering Barriers to Entry: PhaaS attracts a broad spectrum of attackers, from seasoned cybercriminals to novices, increasing the volume of phishing attacks rapidly. 

• Advanced Techniques: Many PhaaS kits now include capabilities like MFA token theft, adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) attacks, and localized content to evade detection. 

• Wide Accessibility: Services are marketed openly on underground platforms, making phishing campaigns easier to launch than ever before. 

• High Success Rate: Even if just a small percentage of targets fall victim, the financial damage can be enormous due to stolen credentials, identity theft, and unauthorized access to critical systems. 

In fact, Barracuda Networks reported that between 60% to 70% of all phishing attacks observed in early 2025 were delivered using the PhaaS model, with platforms like Tycoon 2FA dominating the attack landscape. 

How MSSPs Protect Against PhaaS Attacks 

Managed Security Service Providers like CyberSecOp play a crucial role in defending organizations from the escalating threat of Phishing-as-a-Service. Here’s how MSSPs implement advanced phishing defenses: 

1. Continuous Email Threat Monitoring and Filtering 

MSSPs deploy sophisticated email security gateways that use AI and machine learning to detect and block phishing emails before they reach end users. This includes scanning for malicious URLs, spoofed senders, and suspicious attachments. 

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Enhancements 

While PhaaS often targets MFA mechanisms, MSSPs help businesses implement stronger MFA methods and adaptive authentication policies that reduce the success rate of phishing attempts exploiting stolen credentials or session cookies. 

3. User Awareness and Phishing Simulation Training 

Effective defense starts with informed users. MSSPs conduct regular phishing simulations and cybersecurity awareness training to educate employees on identifying phishing scams, reducing the chances of falling victim. 

4. Threat Intelligence and Rapid Incident Response 

MSSPs leverage global threat intelligence feeds to stay updated on emerging PhaaS kits, phishing campaigns, and attacker techniques. This intelligence enables rapid identification of compromise indicators and swift containment of attacks. 

5. Advanced Endpoint and Network Monitoring 

By monitoring endpoints and network traffic in real time, MSSPs can detect unusual login patterns, lateral movement, or data exfiltration attempts that might indicate successful phishing breaches. 

6. Adversary-in-the-Middle (AiTM) Attack Mitigation 

Specialized defenses focus on blocking AiTM-style phishing attacks that intercept MFA tokens and session data, employing advanced filtering and behavioral analytics. 

Conclusion 

Phishing-as-a-Service has transformed phishing from a technically demanding attack into a scalable, widespread cybercrime capable of bypassing traditional defenses. This new business model has led to a sharp increase in phishing attacks, posing critical risks to organizations of all sizes. 

Partnering with an experienced MSSP like CyberSecOp is essential for navigating the challenges posed by PhaaS. Through a multi-layered defense strategy encompassing email security, user training, real-time monitoring, and threat intelligence, MSSPs protect businesses from falling victim to these evolving attacks. 

Protect Your Organization Today 

Stay one step ahead of phishing threats with CyberSecOp’s managed security services. Contact us to learn how our advanced anti-phishing solutions can defend your enterprise against Phishing-as-a-Service and other cyber threats. 

• Customer Service: 1 866-973-2677

• Sales: Sales@CyberSecOp.com