Ransomware Hot Line: 800-462-8800
24x7 Remote Access to a Top-tier Ransomware Consultant
Ransomware requires time to work its way across a network. For this reason, ransomware assaults are commonly launched on weekends and late at night, when IT staff are likely to take longer to become aware of a break-in and are less able to mount a rapid and forceful response. The more lateral movement ransomware is able to make within a target's system, the longer it will require to recover basic operations and scrambled files and the more data can be exfiltrated to the dark web.
Progent's Ransomware Hot Line is intended to guide you to take the time-critical first step in responding to a ransomware assault by putting out the fire. Progent's remote ransomware engineers can assist organizations in the Kansas City metro area to identify and quarantine infected servers and endpoints and guard undamaged resources from being penetrated.
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 Kansas City
Modern strains of ransomware like Ryuk, Maze, Netwalker, and Nephilim encrypt online data and invade any available system restores. Data synched to the cloud can also be impacted. For a poorly defended network, this can make system restoration nearly impossible and effectively sets the IT system back to the beginning. So-called Threat Actors (TAs), the hackers responsible for ransomware attack, insist on a ransom fee for the decryptors required to unlock encrypted files. Ransomware assaults also try to exfiltrate files and TAs demand an extra payment for not publishing this information or selling it. Even if you are able to rollback your network to an acceptable date in time, exfiltration can pose a major problem according to the nature of the stolen data.
The restoration work subsequent to ransomware penetration involves a number of distinct phases, most of which can be performed in parallel if the response team has enough people with the required experience.
- Containment: This time-critical first step requires blocking the sideways spread of the attack within your IT system. The more time a ransomware attack is allowed to go unrestricted, the longer and more expensive the restoration effort. Recognizing this, Progent keeps a 24x7 Ransomware Hotline staffed by seasoned ransomware response engineers. Containment activities include isolating affected endpoint devices from the rest of network to restrict the spread, documenting the IT system, and securing entry points.
- Operational continuity: This involves bringing back the IT system to a basic acceptable level of functionality with the shortest possible delay. This process is typically the highest priority for the targets of the ransomware assault, who often perceive it to be a life-or-death issue for their company. This project also requires the widest array of IT skills that cover domain controllers, DHCP servers, physical and virtual servers, desktops, laptops and smart phones, databases, productivity and line-of-business applications, network topology, and secure remote access management. Progent's recovery team uses advanced workgroup tools to organize the multi-faceted recovery process. Progent appreciates the urgency of working rapidly, tirelessly, and in unison with a customer's managers and network support group to prioritize tasks and to put essential services back online as fast as possible.
- Data recovery: The work required to restore data damaged by a ransomware attack varies according to the condition of the systems, how many files are affected, and which recovery methods are needed. Ransomware assaults can take down key databases which, if not gracefully shut down, may need to be rebuilt from scratch. This can apply to DNS and Active Directory (AD) databases. Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server rely on Active Directory, and many manufacturing and other business-critical platforms depend on Microsoft SQL Server. Often some detective work may be needed to locate undamaged data. For example, undamaged OST files (Outlook Email Offline Folder Files) may have survived on employees' PCs and notebooks that were off line at the time of the assault.
- Setting up advanced AV/ransomware protection: ProSight ASM uses SentinelOne's behavioral analysis technology to give small and medium-sized businesses the benefits of the identical AV tools deployed by many of the world's largest enterprises including Walmart, Visa, and NASDAQ. By providing in-line malware blocking, identification, mitigation, restoration and forensics in one integrated platform, Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring reduces total cost of ownership, streamlines management, and expedites recovery. SentinelOne's next-generation endpoint protection (NGEP) incorporated in ProSight Active Security Monitoring was ranked by Gartner Group as the "most visionary Endpoint Protection Platform." Progent is a SentinelOne Partner. Read about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring endpoint protection and ransomware defense with SentinelOne technology.
- Negotiating a settlement with the threat actor (TA): Progent is experienced in negotiating settlements with hackers. This calls for working closely with the victim and the insurance carrier, if there is one. Services include establishing the type of ransomware used in the attack; identifying and making contact with the hacker persona; testing decryption tool; budgeting a settlement amount with the ransomware victim and the insurance provider; negotiating a settlement and timeline with the hacker; checking adherence to anti-money laundering sanctions; overseeing the crypto-currency payment to the TA; receiving, reviewing, and operating the decryptor utility; debugging decryption problems; creating a pristine environment; remapping and reconnecting drives to match exactly their pre-attack state; and recovering computers and software services.
- Forensic analysis: This process is aimed at learning the ransomware assault's storyline throughout the targeted network from start to finish. This history of the way a ransomware assault progressed within the network helps you to assess the damage and uncovers gaps in policies or processes that should be rectified to prevent future breaches. Forensics entails the examination of all logs, registry, GPO, AD, DNS servers, routers, firewalls, scheduled tasks, and core Windows systems to check for changes. Forensics is typically assigned a high priority by the cyber insurance provider. Since forensic analysis can take time, it is critical that other key recovery processes like operational continuity are performed in parallel. Progent maintains an extensive roster of IT and cybersecurity experts with the knowledge and experience needed to carry out the work of containment, business resumption, and data recovery without interfering with forensics.
Progent's Qualifications
Progent has delivered online and on-premises network services throughout the United States for more than 20 years and has earned Microsoft's Gold Partner certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity practice areas. Progent's roster of subject matter experts includes consultants who have earned advanced certifications in core technology platforms including Cisco networking, VMware virtualization, and major Linux distros. Progent's data security experts have earned prestigious certifications including CISM, CISSP, and CRISC. (Refer to certifications earned by Progent consultants). Progent also has guidance in financial and ERP software. This broad array of skills gives Progent the ability to identify and consolidate the surviving parts of your network following a ransomware attack and rebuild them quickly into an operational system. Progent has worked with leading insurance providers including Chubb to assist organizations recover from ransomware attacks.
Contact Progent for Ransomware Recovery Services in Kansas City
For ransomware system restoration expertise in the Kansas City metro area, phone Progent at 800-462-8800 or see Contact Progent.