Ransomware Hot Line: 800-462-8800
24x7 Online Access to a Top-tier Ransomware Engineer
Ransomware requires time to steal its way across a network. Because of this, ransomware assaults are commonly unleashed on weekends and late at night, when support personnel may be slower to become aware of a break-in and are less able to mount a rapid and coordinated defense. The more lateral progress ransomware is able to make within a victim's system, the longer it will require to restore basic operations and scrambled files and the more data can be stolen and posted to the dark web.
Progent's Ransomware Hot Line is intended to guide you to complete the urgent first step in mitigating a ransomware attack by putting out the fire. Progent's online ransomware engineers can help businesses in the Chesapeake metro area to identify and isolate breached devices and protect undamaged resources from being compromised.
If your network has been penetrated by any strain of ransomware, don't panic. Get immediate help by calling Progent's Ransomware Hot Line at 800-462-8800.
Progent's Ransomware Response Expertise Available in Chesapeake
Modern strains of crypto-ransomware like Ryuk, Sodinokibi, DopplePaymer, and Nephilim encrypt online files and attack any available system restores. Data synchronized to the cloud can also be impacted. For a vulnerable environment, this can make system restoration almost impossible and basically throws the datacenter back to square one. So-called Threat Actors (TAs), the cybercriminals behind a ransomware attack, demand a ransom payment for the decryptors required to recover encrypted files. Ransomware assaults also try to steal (or "exfiltrate") files and TAs require an additional settlement for not posting this information on the dark web. Even if you can rollback your system to an acceptable point in time, exfiltration can be a major issue depending on the sensitivity of the stolen information.
The restoration work subsequent to ransomware breach involves a number of crucial phases, the majority of which can proceed in parallel if the response workgroup has enough people with the required skill sets.
- Quarantine: This urgent initial step requires arresting the lateral spread of ransomware within your IT system. The longer a ransomware attack is allowed to run unrestricted, the longer and more expensive the recovery effort. Recognizing this, Progent maintains a 24x7 Ransomware Hotline monitored by veteran ransomware response engineers. Containment processes consist of cutting off affected endpoint devices from the rest of network to block the contagion, documenting the IT system, and protecting entry points.
- Operational continuity: This involves bringing back the IT system to a minimal useful level of capability with the shortest possible delay. This process is typically the top priority for the targets of the ransomware assault, who often perceive it to be an existential issue for their business. This activity also demands the widest range of IT skills that cover domain controllers, DHCP servers, physical and virtual machines, desktops, notebooks and smart phones, databases, productivity and line-of-business applications, network architecture, and safe remote access management. Progent's recovery team uses state-of-the-art workgroup tools to coordinate the complicated restoration process. Progent understands the urgency of working rapidly, continuously, and in concert with a customer's management and network support group to prioritize activity and to put critical services back online as quickly as possible.
- Data recovery: The work necessary to recover data impacted by a ransomware assault depends on the condition of the systems, the number of files that are affected, and which recovery techniques are required. Ransomware assaults can take down key databases which, if not gracefully closed, might need to be reconstructed from the beginning. This can include DNS and Active Directory (AD) databases. Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server rely on Active Directory, and many financial and other business-critical platforms are powered by SQL Server. Often some detective work could be required to locate clean data. For example, undamaged OST files may have survived on employees' desktop computers and laptops that were not connected at the time of the assault. Progent's ProSight Data Protection Services utilize Altaro VM Backup technology to defend against ransomware attacks by leveraging Immutable Cloud Storage. This produces tamper-proof backup data that cannot be erased or modified by any user including root users.
- Setting up advanced AV/ransomware protection: ProSight ASM utilizes SentinelOne's machine learning technology to offer small and medium-sized companies the advantages of the identical anti-virus tools implemented by some of the world's biggest enterprises such as Netflix, Visa, and NASDAQ. By providing in-line malware filtering, classification, containment, restoration and analysis in one integrated platform, Progent's Active Security Monitoring lowers TCO, streamlines management, and promotes rapid resumption of operations. SentinelOne's next-generation endpoint protection engine built into in ProSight Active Security Monitoring was listed by Gartner Group as the industry's "most visionary Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)." Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, reseller, and integrator. Read about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware defense with SentinelOne technology.
- Negotiating a settlement with the hacker Progent is experienced in negotiating settlements with threat actors. This calls for close co-operation with the ransomware victim and the cyber insurance provider, if any. Activities consist of establishing the kind of ransomware used in the assault; identifying and establishing communications the hacker; verifying decryption tool; deciding on a settlement amount with the victim and the cyber insurance carrier; negotiating a settlement amount and timeline with the TA; confirming compliance with anti-money laundering sanctions; carrying out the crypto-currency disbursement to the TA; receiving, reviewing, and using the decryptor utility; troubleshooting failed files; building a clean environment; mapping and connecting datastores to match precisely their pre-attack condition; and reprovisioning physical and virtual devices and software services.
- Forensic analysis: This process is aimed at uncovering the ransomware assault's storyline throughout the network from start to finish. This history of the way a ransomware attack progressed within the network helps your IT staff to evaluate the impact and brings to light vulnerabilities in policies or processes that should be corrected to avoid later breaches. Forensics entails the review of all logs, registry, Group Policy Object, AD, DNS, routers, firewalls, schedulers, and core Windows systems to detect anomalies. Forensic analysis is typically given a high priority by the insurance carrier. Since forensic analysis can take time, it is critical that other important activities such as operational continuity are performed concurrently. Progent maintains an extensive roster of information technology and security experts with the skills needed to carry out activities for containment, operational resumption, and data restoration without disrupting forensic analysis.
Progent's Background
Progent has delivered online and on-premises network services across the U.S. for more than 20 years and has earned Microsoft's Partner certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's roster of subject matter experts includes consultants who have earned advanced certifications in core technology platforms including Cisco infrastructure, VMware virtualization, and popular Linux distros. Progent's data security consultants have earned prestigious certifications such as CISM, CISSP, CRISC, and CMMC 2.0. (Refer to Progent's certifications). Progent also offers guidance in financial and Enterprise Resource Planning application software. This breadth of skills allows Progent to identify and consolidate the undamaged pieces of your information system after a ransomware attack and reconstruct them quickly into a functioning network. Progent has collaborated with top insurance carriers like Chubb to help businesses clean up after ransomware assaults.
Contact Progent for Ransomware Cleanup Services in Chesapeake
For ransomware recovery services in the Chesapeake metro area, call Progent at 800-462-8800 or see Contact Progent.