Ransomware Hot Line: 800-462-8800
24x7 Online Help from a Top-tier Ransomware Engineer
Ransomware requires time to steal its way across a target network. Because of this, ransomware attacks are commonly launched on weekends and at night, when IT personnel are likely to be slower to become aware of a breach and are less able to mount a quick and coordinated defense. The more lateral movement ransomware can achieve within a target's network, the longer it takes to recover core IT services and scrambled files and the more information can be exfiltrated to the dark web.
Progent's Ransomware Hot Line is intended to help you to carry out the time-critical first step in responding to a ransomware attack by containing the malware. Progent's remote ransomware experts can help organizations in the Addison metro area to locate and isolate breached devices and protect clean resources from being compromised.
If your network has been breached by any strain of ransomware, act fast. Get help quickly by calling Progent's Ransomware Hot Line at 800-462-8800.
Progent's Ransomware Response Expertise Offered in Addison
Modern variants of crypto-ransomware such as Ryuk, Maze, Netwalker, and Nephilim encrypt online data and invade any available system restores. Data synched to the cloud can also be corrupted. For a poorly defended network, this can make system restoration nearly impossible and basically knocks the datacenter back to the beginning. Threat Actors (TAs), the hackers responsible for ransomware assault, demand a settlement fee for the decryption tools needed to unlock encrypted data. Ransomware assaults also attempt to steal (or "exfiltrate") information and TAs require an additional settlement for not posting this information on the dark web. Even if you can restore your network to an acceptable point in time, exfiltration can pose a major issue depending on the nature of the downloaded information.
The recovery process after a ransomware incursion involves a number of distinct phases, most of which can proceed in parallel if the response team has a sufficient number of people with the necessary skill sets.
- Containment: This urgent initial step involves arresting the lateral spread of the attack within your IT system. The more time a ransomware attack is allowed to go unchecked, the more complex and more expensive the recovery effort. Recognizing this, Progent keeps a 24x7 Ransomware Hotline monitored by seasoned ransomware response experts. Containment activities include isolating affected endpoint devices from the rest of network to restrict the spread, documenting the IT system, and securing entry points.
- System continuity: This covers restoring the network to a minimal useful level of functionality with the least downtime. This effort is usually the highest priority for the victims of the ransomware assault, who often see it as a life-or-death issue for their company. This activity also demands the broadest array of IT abilities that span domain controllers, DHCP servers, physical and virtual machines, PCs, notebooks and smart phones, databases, productivity and line-of-business apps, network architecture, and safe endpoint access management. Progent's ransomware recovery team uses advanced workgroup platforms to coordinate the complicated recovery effort. Progent appreciates the urgency of working quickly, continuously, and in concert with a customer's management and network support group to prioritize activity and to get vital services on line again as fast as possible.
- Data restoration: The effort necessary to recover data impacted by a ransomware attack varies according to the state of the network, the number of files that are affected, and which recovery methods are required. Ransomware attacks can destroy critical databases which, if not properly shut down, may have to be rebuilt from scratch. This can apply to DNS and Active Directory databases. Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server rely on Active Directory, and many financial and other business-critical applications depend on Microsoft SQL Server. Some detective work may be needed to find clean data. For example, undamaged Outlook Email Offline Folder Files may exist on staff desktop computers and laptops that were off line at the time of the ransomware assault. Progent's ProSight Data Protection Services utilize Altaro VM Backup technology to protect against ransomware attacks by leveraging Immutable Cloud Storage. This creates tamper-proof backup data that cannot be erased or modified by any user including root users.
- Implementing advanced antivirus/ransomware defense: Progent's ProSight ASM incorporates SentinelOne's behavioral analysis technology to give small and mid-sized companies the benefits of the same AV tools implemented by many of the world's largest corporations including Walmart, Visa, and Salesforce. By providing in-line malware filtering, detection, mitigation, recovery and analysis in one integrated platform, Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring cuts TCO, streamlines administration, and promotes rapid resumption of operations. SentinelOne's next-generation endpoint protection engine incorporated in Progent's ProSight ASM was ranked by Gartner Group as the industry's "most visionary Endpoint Protection Platform." Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. Read about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware recovery with SentinelOne technology.
- Negotiation with the threat actor (TA): Progent has experience negotiating settlements with hackers. This requires working closely with the ransomware victim and the insurance provider, if there is one. Activities include determining the kind of ransomware involved in the attack; identifying and establishing communications the hacker; verifying decryption capabilities; budgeting a settlement with the victim and the cyber insurance provider; negotiating a settlement amount and schedule with the TA; confirming adherence to anti-money laundering sanctions; carrying out the crypto-currency transfer to the TA; acquiring, reviewing, and using the decryptor utility; troubleshooting failed files; creating a clean environment; remapping and reconnecting drives to reflect precisely their pre-encryption condition; and recovering computers and services.
- Forensic analysis: This process involves discovering the ransomware assault's storyline throughout the targeted network from start to finish. This audit trail of how a ransomware assault travelled through the network helps your IT staff to evaluate the damage and uncovers vulnerabilities in policies or work habits that should be rectified to prevent later breaches. Forensics involves the review of all logs, registry, Group Policy Object, Active Directory, DNS servers, routers, firewalls, schedulers, and core Windows systems to look for anomalies. Forensics is typically assigned a high priority by the cyber insurance carrier. Since forensic analysis can be time consuming, it is vital that other important recovery processes such as operational resumption are performed in parallel. Progent maintains an extensive team of information technology and data security experts with the knowledge and experience required to perform activities for containment, operational resumption, and data restoration without interfering with forensic analysis.
Progent's Background
Progent has delivered remote and on-premises IT services throughout the U.S. for more than 20 years and has been awarded Microsoft's Gold Partner designation in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's team of subject matter experts includes professionals who have been awarded advanced certifications in core technologies such as Cisco networking, VMware virtualization, and major Linux distros. Progent's cybersecurity experts have earned prestigious certifications including CISM, CISSP, GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (See certifications earned by Progent consultants). Progent also has guidance in financial and ERP application software. This broad array of skills allows Progent to identify and integrate the undamaged parts of your network following a ransomware attack and reconstruct them rapidly into a functioning network. Progent has collaborated with leading cyber insurance providers including Chubb to help businesses clean up after ransomware assaults.
Contact Progent for Ransomware System Recovery Consulting Services in Addison
For ransomware system recovery consulting services in the Addison metro area, call Progent at 800-462-8800 or go to Contact Progent.