Ransomware Hot Line: 800-462-8800
24x7 Remote Help from a Senior Ransomware Engineer
Ransomware requires time to steal its way through a target network. For this reason, ransomware assaults are typically launched on weekends and at night, when support staff may take longer to recognize a penetration and are less able to mount a quick and coordinated response. The more lateral progress ransomware is able to make inside a victim's system, the longer it will require to recover core IT services and damaged files and the more data can be exfiltrated to the dark web.
Progent's Ransomware Hot Line is designed to assist organizations to take the time-critical first phase in responding to a ransomware attack by stopping the bleeding. Progent's online ransomware experts can help businesses in the Clearwater area to locate and quarantine infected devices and protect undamaged assets from being penetrated.
If your system 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 Services Available in Clearwater
Modern variants of crypto-ransomware such as Ryuk, Sodinokibi, DopplePaymer, and Nephilim encrypt online files and infiltrate any available system restores. Data synchronized to the cloud can also be corrupted. For a poorly defended network, this can make system restoration nearly impossible and basically throws the IT system back to the beginning. So-called Threat Actors, the cybercriminals responsible for ransomware assault, insist on a settlement payment in exchange for the decryption tools needed to recover encrypted data. Ransomware assaults also try to steal (or "exfiltrate") information and hackers demand an extra settlement for not publishing this data on the dark web. Even if you are able to rollback your system to an acceptable point in time, exfiltration can pose a big issue depending on the nature of the stolen data.
The restoration work subsequent to ransomware penetration involves a number of crucial phases, the majority of which can be performed in parallel if the recovery workgroup has a sufficient number of members with the required experience.
- Containment: This urgent initial step involves arresting the lateral spread of ransomware across your network. The longer a ransomware assault is allowed to go unrestricted, the longer and more expensive the restoration effort. Recognizing this, Progent maintains a 24x7 Ransomware Hotline staffed by seasoned ransomware recovery experts. Containment activities include isolating affected endpoint devices from the network to restrict the spread, documenting the IT system, and protecting entry points.
- Operational continuity: This covers bringing back the network to a basic useful degree of functionality with the shortest possible delay. This effort is typically at the highest level of urgency for the targets of the ransomware assault, who often perceive it to be a life-or-death issue for their business. This project also requires the widest range of technical abilities that cover domain controllers, DHCP servers, physical and virtual machines, desktops, notebooks and mobile phones, databases, office and line-of-business applications, network architecture, and safe endpoint access. Progent's ransomware recovery team uses advanced workgroup tools to organize the multi-faceted restoration effort. Progent understands the importance of working rapidly, continuously, and in unison with a customer's managers and IT staff to prioritize activity and to get essential services on line again as fast as possible.
- Data recovery: The work required to restore files damaged by a ransomware assault varies according to the condition of the systems, how many files are affected, and what recovery methods are required. Ransomware attacks can take down critical databases which, if not properly shut down, might need to be reconstructed from the beginning. This can apply to DNS and AD databases. Exchange and SQL Server depend on Active Directory, and many ERP and other business-critical applications are powered by SQL Server. Often some detective work could be required to locate undamaged data. For example, undamaged OST files may have survived on staff desktop computers and laptops that were not connected at the time of the ransomware assault. Progent's Altaro VM Backup experts can assist you to deploy immutable backup for cloud storage, allowing tamper-proof data for a set duration so that backup data cannot be modified or deleted by any user including administrators. This provides another level of security and recoverability in the event of a successful ransomware attack.
- Implementing modern antivirus/ransomware protection: Progent's Active Security Monitoring utilizes SentinelOne's behavioral analysis technology to offer small and mid-sized businesses the benefits of the identical anti-virus technology used by some of the world's biggest corporations including Netflix, Visa, and Salesforce. By providing real-time malware filtering, identification, mitigation, recovery and analysis in a single integrated platform, ProSight Active Security Monitoring cuts TCO, simplifies administration, and expedites resumption of operations. SentinelOne's next-generation endpoint protection (NGEP) incorporated in Progent's 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 (ASM) endpoint protection and ransomware defense with SentinelOne technology.
- Negotiation with the hacker Progent is experienced in negotiating ransom settlements with hackers. This calls for working closely with the victim and the cyber insurance carrier, if there is one. Services include determining the type of ransomware involved in the assault; identifying and establishing communications the hacker; testing decryption tool; budgeting a settlement with the ransomware victim and the insurance provider; negotiating a settlement and schedule with the TA; confirming adherence to anti-money laundering (AML) sanctions; overseeing the crypto-currency disbursement to the hacker; receiving, learning, and operating the decryptor utility; debugging decryption problems; creating a clean environment; remapping and connecting datastores to match exactly their pre-attack condition; and reprovisioning physical and virtual devices and software services.
- Forensics: This activity involves discovering the ransomware assault's progress throughout the targeted network from start to finish. This audit trail of how a ransomware attack progressed within the network helps your IT staff to evaluate the impact and uncovers vulnerabilities in rules or processes that need to be corrected to prevent future break-ins. Forensics involves the review of all logs, registry, Group Policy Object, AD, DNS, routers, firewalls, schedulers, and basic Windows systems to detect anomalies. Forensic analysis is typically given a high priority by the cyber insurance provider. Because forensic analysis can be time consuming, it is vital that other important recovery processes such as business continuity are performed in parallel. Progent has an extensive roster of IT and cybersecurity professionals with the skills needed to perform the work of containment, business continuity, and data recovery without interfering with forensic analysis.
Progent's Background
Progent has provided remote and onsite IT services throughout the U.S. for over two decades and has been awarded Microsoft's Gold Partner certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's roster of subject matter experts (SMEs) includes consultants who have been awarded advanced certifications in core technology platforms including Cisco infrastructure, VMware, and major distributions of Linux. Progent's cybersecurity consultants have earned internationally recognized certifications including CISA, CISSP-ISSAP, and CRISC. (Refer to certifications earned by Progent consultants). Progent also offers guidance in financial and Enterprise Resource Planning application software. This breadth of skills allows Progent to identify and integrate the surviving pieces of your IT environment following a ransomware attack and reconstruct them rapidly into an operational network. Progent has worked with top insurance providers including Chubb to help businesses clean up after ransomware assaults.
Contact Progent for Ransomware System Recovery Expertise in Clearwater
For ransomware system restoration consulting in the Clearwater metro area, phone Progent at 800-462-8800 or see Contact Progent.