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 commonly unleashed on weekends and late at night, when support staff may take longer to recognize a breach and are least able to mount a quick and coordinated response. The more lateral movement ransomware is able to achieve inside a target's network, the longer it takes to restore basic IT services 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 organizations 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 assist organizations in the Columbus metro area to locate and isolate breached servers and endpoints and guard undamaged assets from being penetrated.
If your network has been penetrated by any version of ransomware, don't panic. Get help quickly by calling Progent's Ransomware Hot Line at 800-462-8800.
Progent's Ransomware Recovery Expertise Offered in Columbus
Modern variants of crypto-ransomware like Ryuk, Maze, Netwalker, and Egregor encrypt online files and attack any available backups. Data synchronized to the cloud can also be impacted. For a vulnerable network, this can make system recovery almost impossible and effectively throws the datacenter back to square one. So-called Threat Actors (TAs), the hackers behind a ransomware attack, demand a ransom payment for the decryption tools needed to unlock encrypted files. Ransomware attacks also try to exfiltrate information and hackers require an extra payment in exchange for not posting this information on the dark web. Even if you can restore your system to an acceptable point in time, exfiltration can pose a major problem according to the nature of the stolen information.
The recovery work after a ransomware penetration has several crucial phases, the majority of which can proceed in parallel if the recovery team has enough members with the required skill sets.
- Containment: This time-critical initial response requires blocking the lateral spread of the attack across 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 staffed by seasoned ransomware recovery experts. Containment activities include cutting off affected endpoints from the network to block the spread, documenting the IT system, and securing entry points.
- System continuity: This involves restoring the IT system to a basic useful level of functionality with the shortest possible delay. This process is usually at the highest level of urgency for the targets of the ransomware attack, who often see it as a life-or-death issue for their business. This project also requires the broadest range of technical abilities that cover domain controllers, DHCP servers, physical and virtual machines, desktops, notebooks and smart phones, databases, productivity and line-of-business apps, network architecture, and protected endpoint access. Progent's recovery team uses advanced collaboration platforms to coordinate the multi-faceted restoration process. Progent appreciates the importance of working quickly, tirelessly, and in concert with a customer's managers and IT staff to prioritize tasks and to get vital services back online as quickly as possible.
- Data recovery: The work necessary to recover data impacted by a ransomware attack varies according to the state of the systems, the number of files that are affected, and what recovery techniques are required. Ransomware attacks can take down key databases which, if not properly closed, might need to be rebuilt from the beginning. This can apply to DNS and Active Directory databases. Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server depend on Active Directory, and many ERP and other mission-critical applications depend on SQL Server. Often some detective work may be required to locate undamaged data. For instance, undamaged OST files may have survived on staff desktop computers and laptops that were off line at the time of the attack.
- Deploying modern antivirus/ransomware defense: Progent's Active Security Monitoring uses SentinelOne's behavioral analysis technology to offer small and medium-sized companies the benefits of the same anti-virus technology used by many of the world's biggest enterprises such as Netflix, Citi, and Salesforce. By providing real-time malware blocking, detection, containment, repair and analysis in one integrated platform, ProSight Active Security Monitoring reduces TCO, simplifies administration, and expedites operational continuity. SentinelOne's next-generation endpoint protection engine incorporated in Progent's ProSight ASM was ranked by Gartner Group as the "most visionary Endpoint Protection Platform." Progent is a SentinelOne Partner. Find out about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware recovery with SentinelOne technology.
- Negotiation with the hacker Progent has experience negotiating settlements with threat actors. This calls for working closely with the victim and the insurance provider, if any. Services include determining the type of ransomware used in the attack; identifying and making contact with the hacker; testing decryption capabilities; deciding on a settlement amount with the ransomware victim and the insurance provider; establishing a settlement amount and timeline with the TA; confirming compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) sanctions; carrying out the crypto-currency transfer to the hacker; acquiring, reviewing, and using the decryption utility; debugging decryption problems; building a pristine environment; remapping and connecting datastores to match exactly their pre-attack state; and reprovisioning physical and virtual devices and services.
- Forensic analysis: This activity is aimed at uncovering the ransomware attack's storyline throughout the targeted network from beginning to end. This history of the way a ransomware attack progressed through the network helps your IT staff to assess the impact and uncovers vulnerabilities in policies or work habits that need to be corrected to prevent future break-ins. Forensics involves the examination of all logs, registry, GPO, AD, DNS, routers, firewalls, scheduled tasks, and basic Windows systems to check for variations. Forensics is usually assigned a top priority by the insurance carrier. Since forensics can take time, it is critical that other key activities such as operational continuity are executed concurrently. Progent maintains an extensive team of IT and cybersecurity professionals with the skills needed to perform activities for containment, business continuity, and data restoration without interfering with forensics.
Progent's Qualifications
Progent has provided online and onsite network services across the U.S. for more than 20 years and has been awarded Microsoft's Gold Partner certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's team of subject matter experts includes consultants who have been awarded high-level certifications in foundation technology platforms such as Cisco infrastructure, VMware virtualization, and popular distributions of Linux. Progent's data security experts have earned internationally recognized certifications including CISA, CISSP, and GIAC. (See certifications earned by Progent consultants). Progent also has guidance in financial and Enterprise Resource Planning applications. This scope of skills allows Progent to salvage and consolidate the surviving parts of your information system following a ransomware intrusion and rebuild them quickly into an operational system. Progent has collaborated with leading insurance carriers like Chubb to assist organizations recover from ransomware assaults.
Contact Progent for Ransomware Cleanup Services in Columbus
For ransomware cleanup expertise in the Columbus metro area, phone Progent at 800-462-8800 or visit Contact Progent.