Ransomware Hot Line: 800-462-8800
24x7 Online Access to a Senior Ransomware Engineer
Ransomware requires time to work its way through a target network. For this reason, ransomware attacks are commonly unleashed on weekends and late at night, when IT staff are likely to be slower to become aware of a break-in and are least able to organize a rapid and forceful defense. The more lateral movement ransomware is able to achieve within a target's system, the longer it takes to restore core operations and damaged files and the more data can be stolen and posted to the dark web.
Progent's Ransomware Hot Line is designed to guide you to carry out the time-critical first step in responding to a ransomware attack by putting out the fire. Progent's remote ransomware experts can help businesses in the Austin metro area to identify and quarantine infected devices and guard undamaged assets from being compromised.
If your system has been breached by any strain of ransomware, act fast. Get immediate help by calling Progent's Ransomware Hot Line at 800-462-8800.
Progent's Ransomware Response Expertise Available in Austin
Current strains of ransomware such as Ryuk, Maze, Netwalker, and Egregor encrypt online files and attack any available system restores and backups. Files synchronized to the cloud can also be impacted. For a vulnerable network, this can make system recovery nearly impossible and basically throws the IT system back to the beginning. Threat Actors (TAs), the hackers responsible for ransomware attack, demand a ransom fee for the decryptors required to unlock encrypted data. Ransomware attacks also try to steal (or "exfiltrate") files and hackers require an extra settlement for not posting this data or selling it. Even if you can rollback your network to an acceptable date in time, exfiltration can pose a major problem according to the nature of the stolen data.
The recovery process subsequent to ransomware incursion involves several crucial phases, the majority of which can be performed in parallel if the response team has a sufficient number of members with the necessary experience.
- Containment: This urgent first step requires blocking the sideways spread of ransomware within your IT system. The more time a ransomware assault is permitted to go unchecked, the longer and more expensive the recovery effort. Because of this, Progent maintains a round-the-clock Ransomware Hotline monitored by veteran ransomware recovery experts. Containment activities include isolating infected endpoints from the rest of network to minimize the contagion, documenting the environment, and securing entry points.
- Operational continuity: This involves bringing back the network to a basic useful level of functionality with the shortest possible downtime. This process is usually the top priority for the targets of the ransomware attack, who often perceive it to be an existential issue for their company. This project also demands the widest array of IT abilities that span domain controllers, DHCP servers, physical and virtual servers, PCs, notebooks and smart phones, databases, productivity and line-of-business applications, network topology, and protected remote access management. Progent's recovery team uses state-of-the-art collaboration platforms to coordinate the multi-faceted restoration effort. Progent understands the importance of working rapidly, continuously, and in concert with a customer's managers and IT group to prioritize tasks and to get essential services back online as quickly as feasible.
- Data restoration: The effort required to restore files damaged by a ransomware attack varies according to the condition of the network, how many files are encrypted, and which restore methods are required. Ransomware attacks can destroy critical databases which, if not carefully shut down, may have to be reconstructed from the beginning. This can apply to DNS and Active Directory (AD) databases. Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server depend on AD, and many ERP and other mission-critical applications depend on SQL Server. Often some detective work may be required to find undamaged data. For example, non-encrypted OST files may exist on staff desktop computers and notebooks that were off line at the time of the attack. Progent's ProSight Data Protection Services offer Altaro VM Backup technology to defend against ransomware attacks via Immutable Cloud Storage. This creates tamper-proof data that cannot be modified by anyone including administrators.
- Implementing advanced AV/ransomware defense: ProSight ASM incorporates SentinelOne's machine learning technology to give small and medium-sized companies the advantages of the same anti-virus tools deployed by some of the world's largest corporations including Netflix, Visa, and Salesforce. By providing real-time malware blocking, identification, containment, repair and analysis in one integrated platform, Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring lowers TCO, streamlines management, and expedites resumption of operations. SentinelOne's next-generation endpoint protection engine built into in Progent's ASM was ranked by Gartner Group as the "most visionary Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)." Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, reseller, and integrator. Learn about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware recovery with SentinelOne technology.
- Negotiating a settlement with the hacker Progent is experienced in negotiating ransom settlements with hackers. This requires close co-operation with the ransomware victim and the cyber insurance carrier, if any. Services consist of establishing the type of ransomware involved in the assault; identifying and making contact with the hacker; verifying decryption tool; budgeting a settlement amount with the victim and the cyber insurance provider; establishing a settlement and timeline with the TA; confirming adherence to anti-money laundering regulations; carrying out the crypto-currency transfer to the hacker; acquiring, learning, and using the decryptor tool; troubleshooting decryption problems; building a clean environment; mapping and connecting datastores to reflect precisely their pre-attack condition; and recovering physical and virtual devices and software services.
- Forensic analysis: This activity is aimed at discovering the ransomware assault's storyline across the targeted network from beginning to end. This history of the way a ransomware attack travelled through the network helps your IT staff to assess the impact and highlights weaknesses in policies or processes that should be corrected to prevent later break-ins. Forensics entails the examination of all logs, registry, Group Policy Object, Active Directory (AD), DNS, routers, firewalls, scheduled tasks, and core Windows systems to detect anomalies. Forensics is usually assigned a high priority by the insurance carrier. Since forensic analysis can be time consuming, it is essential that other key recovery processes such as operational continuity are performed in parallel. Progent maintains an extensive roster of information technology and security experts with the knowledge and experience required to carry out activities for containment, operational resumption, and data recovery without interfering with forensic analysis.
Progent's Background
Progent has provided remote and onsite network services throughout the U.S. for over two decades and has been awarded Microsoft's Gold Partner certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity practice areas. Progent's team of subject matter experts includes professionals who have been awarded high-level certifications in foundation technology platforms including Cisco networking, VMware virtualization, and popular Linux distros. Progent's cybersecurity experts have earned industry-recognized certifications including CISM, CISSP, GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (See certifications earned by Progent consultants). Progent also has guidance in financial management and ERP application software. This broad array of expertise gives Progent the ability to identify and consolidate the surviving pieces of your network after a ransomware attack and reconstruct them rapidly into a functioning system. Progent has worked with top cyber insurance carriers including Chubb to assist businesses recover from ransomware attacks.
Contact Progent for Ransomware System Restoration Services in Austin
For ransomware cleanup consulting in the Austin area, phone Progent at 800-462-8800 or go to Contact Progent.