Ransomware Hot Line: 800-462-8800
24x7 Online Access to a Senior Ransomware Consultant
Ransomware requires time to steal its way across a network. Because of this, ransomware assaults are typically launched on weekends and at night, when support personnel are likely to take longer to recognize a penetration and are less able to mount a rapid and coordinated response. The more lateral progress ransomware can manage within a target's network, the longer it will require to restore core operations and scrambled files and the more information can be stolen and posted to the dark web.
Progent's Ransomware Hot Line is intended to guide you to complete the time-critical first phase in responding to a ransomware assault by putting out the fire. Progent's remote ransomware experts can help businesses in the Scottsdale metro area to identify and isolate infected servers and endpoints and guard undamaged assets from being penetrated.
If your network has been penetrated by any strain of ransomware, don't panic. Get help quickly by calling Progent's Ransomware Hot Line at 800-462-8800.
Progent's Ransomware Response Expertise Offered in Scottsdale
Modern variants of ransomware like Ryuk, Maze, Netwalker, and Nephilim encrypt online files and attack any accessible backups. Data synched to the cloud can also be impacted. For a vulnerable environment, this can make system recovery nearly impossible and basically throws the datacenter back to square one. So-called Threat Actors (TAs), the cybercriminals responsible for ransomware attack, demand a ransom payment in exchange for the decryptors required to unlock encrypted files. Ransomware attacks also try to steal (or "exfiltrate") files and TAs require an additional settlement in exchange for not publishing this information or selling it. Even if you are able to restore your network to an acceptable point in time, exfiltration can pose a major issue depending on the sensitivity of the stolen information.
The restoration work after a ransomware penetration involves several distinct phases, the majority of which can proceed concurrently if the response workgroup has a sufficient number of people with the required skill sets.
- Containment: This urgent first step involves blocking the lateral spread of ransomware across your network. The longer a ransomware assault is permitted to run unrestricted, the more complex and more expensive the restoration effort. Recognizing this, Progent keeps a round-the-clock Ransomware Hotline staffed by seasoned ransomware response experts. Containment processes include cutting off affected endpoint devices from the rest of network to restrict the spread, documenting the environment, and securing entry points.
- Operational continuity: This involves bringing back the IT system to a minimal useful degree of capability with the shortest possible downtime. This effort is usually at the highest level of urgency for the victims of the ransomware assault, who often perceive it to be a life-or-death issue for their company. This project also demands the widest range of IT skills that span domain controllers, DHCP servers, physical and virtual machines, desktops, laptops and mobile phones, databases, office and mission-critical apps, network architecture, and secure remote access management. Progent's ransomware recovery experts use advanced workgroup tools to organize the multi-faceted restoration effort. Progent appreciates the urgency of working quickly, tirelessly, and in concert with a customer's management and IT group to prioritize tasks and to put critical resources back online as quickly as feasible.
- Data restoration: The work required to restore files damaged by a ransomware attack varies according to the condition of the network, how many files are affected, and what recovery methods are required. Ransomware assaults can destroy critical databases which, if not gracefully closed, may need to be rebuilt from scratch. This can apply to DNS and Active Directory (AD) databases. Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server rely on Active Directory, and many ERP and other mission-critical applications are powered by SQL Server. Often some detective work could be needed to find undamaged data. For instance, non-encrypted Outlook Email Offline Folder Files may have survived on employees' PCs and notebooks that were not connected during the attack.
- Implementing advanced AV/ransomware protection: Progent's ProSight ASM incorporates SentinelOne's machine learning technology to offer small and mid-sized companies the benefits of the identical AV tools implemented by some of the world's largest enterprises including Netflix, Citi, and Salesforce. By delivering in-line malware blocking, classification, containment, recovery and forensics in one integrated platform, Progent's Active Security Monitoring reduces TCO, streamlines administration, and expedites resumption of operations. SentinelOne's next-generation endpoint protection engine incorporated in ProSight ASM was ranked by Gartner Group as the "most visionary Endpoint Protection Platform." Progent is a certified SentinelOne Partner. Read about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware recovery with SentinelOne technology.
- Negotiation with the hacker Progent has experience negotiating settlements with hackers. This calls for close co-operation with the victim and the insurance carrier, if any. Services include determining the type of ransomware involved in the assault; identifying and making contact with the hacker persona; verifying decryption capabilities; deciding on a settlement with the ransomware victim and the insurance provider; negotiating a settlement amount and schedule with the TA; checking adherence to anti-money laundering (AML) regulations; carrying out the crypto-currency disbursement to the hacker; receiving, reviewing, and operating the decryption utility; debugging decryption problems; creating a clean environment; mapping and reconnecting datastores to reflect precisely their pre-encryption condition; and restoring computers and services.
- Forensic analysis: This activity is aimed at uncovering the ransomware assault's progress across the network from start to finish. This history of how a ransomware attack travelled within the network helps your IT staff to assess the impact and uncovers gaps in policies or work habits that need to be rectified to avoid future break-ins. Forensics involves the examination of all logs, registry, Group Policy Object (GPO), AD, DNS servers, routers, firewalls, schedulers, and basic Windows systems to look for anomalies. Forensics is commonly given a top priority by the cyber insurance carrier. Since forensics can be time consuming, it is critical that other important recovery processes like operational continuity are pursued in parallel. Progent maintains an extensive roster of information technology and cybersecurity professionals with the knowledge and experience required to perform activities for containment, business resumption, and data restoration without interfering with forensics.
Progent's Background
Progent has delivered remote and on-premises IT services throughout the U.S. for more than 20 years and has earned Microsoft's Gold Partner certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity practice areas. Progent's team of subject matter experts includes professionals who have earned high-level certifications in foundation technologies including Cisco infrastructure, VMware virtualization, and major distributions of Linux. Progent's data security consultants have earned industry-recognized certifications such as CISA, CISSP, and GIAC. (See Progent's certifications). Progent also offers guidance in financial and Enterprise Resource Planning application software. This scope of skills gives Progent the ability to identify and integrate the surviving pieces of your IT environment following a ransomware attack and reconstruct them rapidly into a viable network. Progent has worked with top insurance providers like Chubb to assist businesses clean up after ransomware attacks.
Contact Progent for Ransomware System Recovery Consulting Services in Scottsdale
For ransomware system recovery expertise in the Scottsdale metro area, phone Progent at 800-462-8800 or visit Contact Progent.