In today’s cybercrime underground, Initial Access Brokers (IABs) have become a powerful force reshaping how modern breaches are carried out. Instead of breaching and looting networks themselves, IABs specialize in one thing—gaining and selling entry points into corporate environments. These actors use phishing, credential stuffing, exploiting vulnerable VPNs, RDP endpoints, and even purchasing logs from infostealers to gain footholds inside companies. Then, they auction off that access on private Telegram groups, forums, or marketplaces like Genesis and RussianMarket. This division of labor has made breaches faster and more scalable—threat actors can now shop for access as easily as buying items off Amazon. Ransomware gangs, data extortion crews, and nation-state APTs rely on IABs to jumpstart attacks without making noise during the recon or access phase. For defenders, this means you’re not just fighting ransomware or malware—you’re fighting a mature cybercrime supply chain where access is a service, sold to the highest bidder. As long as credentials are leaked, MFA is absent, and remote services are exposed, the IAB market will thrive.