24/7 San Antonio Immediate Crypto
Malware Damage Assessment and Repair Experts

Crypto-Ransomware : Your Crippling Information Technology Nightmare
Ransomware has become a too-frequent cyberplague that presents an extinction-level danger for organizations poorly prepared for an assault. Different iterations of crypto-ransomware such as CrySIS, Fusob, Locky, SamSam and MongoLock cryptoworms have been circulating for many years and continue to inflict destruction. More recent strains of crypto-ransomware such as Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, DopplePaymer, Conti or Egregor, along with additional unnamed malware, not only encrypt online data files but also infect all configured system backup. Files synchronized to off-site disaster recovery sites can also be encrypted. In a vulnerable environment, it can render any restore operations useless and effectively sets the datacenter back to square one.

Getting back applications and data following a ransomware event becomes a race against the clock as the targeted business struggles to stop lateral movement, cleanup the ransomware, and resume business-critical operations. Because ransomware takes time to move laterally, assaults are usually launched during weekends and nights, when successful penetrations may take longer to uncover. This compounds the difficulty of promptly marshalling and coordinating a qualified response team.

Progent has a range of services for securing organizations from ransomware penetrations. Among these are staff training to become familiar with and avoid phishing attempts, ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) for remote monitoring and management, along with deployment of modern security appliances with artificial intelligence technology from SentinelOne to detect and disable day-zero threats automatically. Progent also provides the services of seasoned crypto-ransomware recovery engineers with the track record and commitment to re-deploy a breached environment as soon as possible.

Progent's Crypto-Ransomware Recovery Help
Soon after a ransomware event, even paying the ransom demands in cryptocurrency does not ensure that distant criminals will return the codes to unencrypt any or all of your files. Kaspersky determined that 17% of ransomware victims never restored their data even after having paid the ransom, resulting in additional losses. The risk is also expensive. Ryuk ransoms are typically several hundred thousand dollars. For larger organizations, the ransom demand can reach millions of dollars. The alternative is to piece back together the critical parts of your Information Technology environment. Without access to complete data backups, this calls for a wide complement of skill sets, professional team management, and the capability to work 24x7 until the task is over.

For two decades, Progent has made available expert IT services for companies across the U.S. and has achieved Microsoft's Partnership certification status in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's group of subject matter experts includes professionals who have been awarded advanced certifications in important technologies like Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and popular distributions of Linux. Progent's security engineers have earned internationally-renowned industry certifications including CISM, CISSP-ISSAP, CRISC, SANS GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (See Progent's certifications). Progent in addition has expertise with accounting and ERP application software. This breadth of experience provides Progent the ability to knowledgably determine necessary systems and re-organize the remaining pieces of your Information Technology system after a ransomware event and assemble them into a functioning system.

Progent's security team has powerful project management tools to coordinate the complicated restoration process. Progent knows the urgency of working quickly and in unison with a customer's management and Information Technology resources to assign priority to tasks and to get essential services back on-line as fast as possible.

Business Case Study: A Successful Crypto-Ransomware Incident Response
A customer hired Progent after their company was penetrated by the Ryuk ransomware virus. Ryuk is believed to have been created by North Korean state sponsored hackers, possibly using algorithms leaked from the United States National Security Agency. Ryuk seeks specific companies with little or no room for operational disruption and is among the most lucrative incarnations of ransomware malware. Well Known organizations include Data Resolution, a California-based data warehousing and cloud computing business, and the Chicago Tribune. Progent's customer is a single-location manufacturing business based in Chicago with around 500 staff members. The Ryuk penetration had disabled all company operations and manufacturing processes. The majority of the client's data protection had been on-line at the beginning of the attack and were destroyed. The client was taking steps for paying the ransom demand (more than two hundred thousand dollars) and praying for the best, but ultimately utilized Progent.

Progent worked with the client to quickly understand and assign priority to the critical systems that had to be addressed to make it possible to restart departmental functions:

• Active Directory
• Email
• Accounting/MRP

Within 2 days, Progent was able to rebuild Windows Active Directory to its pre-attack state. Progent then assisted with setup and hard drive recovery of mission critical servers. All Exchange schema and attributes were usable, which greatly helped the rebuild of Exchange. Progent was also able to collect non-encrypted OST files (Outlook Email Off-Line Data Files) on various desktop computers and laptops to recover mail messages. A recent offline backup of the businesses accounting/ERP software made it possible to restore these vital applications back on-line. Although a lot of work needed to be completed to recover fully from the Ryuk damage, the most important systems were recovered quickly:

During the next month important milestones in the recovery process were completed through tight cooperation between Progent team members and the client:

• Internal web applications were restored without losing any information.
• The MailStore Server containing more than four million historical messages was brought online and available for users.
• CRM/Product Ordering/Invoices/Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivables/Inventory Control capabilities were fully functional.
• A new Palo Alto 850 firewall was set up.
• Most of the user desktops and notebooks were functioning as before the incident.

Conclusion
A probable enterprise-killing disaster was evaded through the efforts of dedicated experts, a wide spectrum of IT skills, and tight collaboration. Although upon completion of forensics the ransomware penetration described here should have been stopped with up-to-date cyber security technology solutions and best practices, staff education, and appropriate incident response procedures for information backup and proper patching controls, the reality remains that state-sponsored criminal cyber gangs from China, North Korea and elsewhere are relentless and represent an ongoing threat. If you do fall victim to a ransomware penetration, remember that Progent's team of experts has a proven track record in ransomware virus defense, remediation, and file recovery.

To read or download a PDF version of this case study, please click:
Progent's Crypto-Ransomware Incident Recovery Case Study Datasheet. (PDF - 282 KB)

Additional Ransomware Protection Services Offered by Progent
Progent offers companies in San Antonio a range of online monitoring and security assessment services designed to assist you to minimize the threat from ransomware. These services utilize next-generation artificial intelligence technology to detect zero-day variants of ransomware that are able to get past legacy signature-based security solutions.

• ProSight Managed Service Plans: for Small to Mid-size Businesses
  Progent's ProSight Managed IT Service Packages make it possible for small and mid-size companies to deploy Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) solutions to create leading-edge IT resilience. Progent takes care of the necessary monitoring and management for you, so your system scales smoothly without becoming an obstacle. For a low and predictable monthly price, Progent's full-service IT group can be your dependable technology safety net. Entry-level packages include remote monitoring and management (RMM), cybersecurity, monthly patching, and reporting. As your needs grow, you can add low-cost subscriptions to best-of-breed solutions like as SaaS M365/Google Workspace backup and restore, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), pen testing, or WiFi management.

• ProSight LAN Watch: Server and Desktop Monitoring
  ProSight LAN Watch is Progent's server and desktop remote monitoring managed service that incorporates advanced remote monitoring and management techniques to help keep your IT system running at peak levels by checking the health of critical assets that power your business network. When ProSight LAN Watch detects a problem, an alert is sent automatically to your designated IT management personnel and your assigned Progent engineering consultant so that all potential problems can be addressed before they have a chance to disrupt your network. Find out more details about ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop monitoring services.

• ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM: Unified RMM for Networks, Servers, and Workstations
  ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM software delivers a centralized, cloud-based solution for managing your network, server, and desktop devices by offering an environment for streamlining common time-consuming tasks. These include health checking, update management, automated repairs, endpoint setup, backup and recovery, anti-virus protection, secure remote access, built-in and custom scripts, asset inventory, endpoint status reports, and troubleshooting help. If ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM spots a serious issue, it sends an alarm to your specified IT management staff and your assigned Progent consultant so emerging issues can be taken care of before they impact productivity. Learn more about ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM server and desktop remote monitoring consulting.

• ProSight WAN Watch: Network Infrastructure Management
  Progent's ProSight WAN Watch is an infrastructure management service that makes it simple and inexpensive for small and mid-sized businesses to map out, track, enhance and troubleshoot their connectivity hardware like switches, firewalls, and access points as well as servers, printers, endpoints and other devices. Using cutting-edge RMM technology, WAN Watch ensures that network maps are always updated, copies and displays the configuration of almost all devices connected to your network, monitors performance, and sends alerts when potential issues are discovered. By automating tedious management and troubleshooting processes, WAN Watch can cut hours off common tasks like making network diagrams, expanding your network, locating appliances that require critical software patches, or identifying the cause of performance issues. Find out more details about ProSight WAN Watch infrastructure monitoring and management services.

• ProSight Reporting: In-depth Reporting for Ticketing and Network Monitoring Applications
  ProSight Reporting is a growing suite of in-depth reporting utilities designed to integrate with the top ticketing and network monitoring programs including ConnectWise Manage, ConnectWise Automate, Customer Thermometer, Auvik, and SentinelOne. ProSight Reporting incorporates Microsoft Graph and features color coding to highlight and contextualize critical issues like inconsistent support follow-through or machines with out-of-date AVs. By identifying ticketing or network health concerns clearly and in near-real time, ProSight Reporting improves network value, lowers management hassle, and saves money. For more information, visit ProSight Reporting for ticketing and network monitoring platforms.

• ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS): Managed Backup and Disaster Recovery Services
  Progent has partnered with advanced backup software companies to produce ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS), a selection of subscription-based offerings that deliver backup-as-a-service (BaaS). ProSight DPS services automate and track your backup operations and allow non-disruptive backup and rapid restoration of critical files/folders, apps, images, and VMs. ProSight DPS lets your business avoid data loss resulting from hardware failures, natural disasters, fire, cyber attacks like ransomware, user error, malicious insiders, or software glitches. Managed backup services available in the ProSight Data Protection Services product family include ProSight DPS Altaro VM Backup, ProSight 365 Total Backup (formerly Altaro 365 Backup), ProSight DPS ECHO Backup using Barracuda dedicated hardware, and ProSight DPS MSP360 Cloud and On-prem Backup. Your Progent service representative can help you to determine which of these managed backup services are best suited for your network.

• ProSight Email Guard: Inbound and Outbound Spam Filtering and Data Leakage Protection
  ProSight Email Guard is Progent's spam filtering service that incorporates the infrastructure of leading information security companies to provide web-based management and comprehensive security for your email traffic. The powerful architecture of Email Guard integrates a Cloud Protection Layer with an on-premises security gateway device to offer complete defense against spam, viruses, Dos Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks, and other email-based threats. The cloud filter acts as a first line of defense and blocks most unwanted email from making it to your network firewall. This decreases your exposure to inbound threats and conserves system bandwidth and storage. Email Guard's onsite gateway device adds a further layer of analysis for inbound email. For outbound email, the onsite gateway provides AV and anti-spam protection, protection against data leaks, and email encryption. The on-premises security gateway can also assist Exchange Server to monitor and protect internal email that originates and ends within your corporate firewall. For more information, see ProSight Email Guard spam filtering and data leakage protection.

• ProSight Duo Multi-Factor Authentication: Identity Validation, Endpoint Policy Enforcement, and Protected Single Sign-on (SSO)
  Progent's Duo authentication managed services incorporate Cisco's Duo cloud technology to protect against compromised passwords through the use of two-factor authentication (2FA). Duo supports single-tap identity verification with Apple iOS, Google Android, and other out-of-band devices. With 2FA, whenever you log into a secured application and enter your password you are requested to confirm your identity via a unit that only you have and that uses a different ("out-of-band") network channel. A wide range of out-of-band devices can be used for this added form of authentication such as an iPhone or Android or watch, a hardware token, a landline telephone, etc. You may designate multiple validation devices. To learn more about Duo identity authentication services, refer to Duo MFA two-factor authentication services.

• Progent's Outsourced/Shared Call Center: Call Center Managed Services
  Progent's Support Desk services permit your information technology staff to outsource Support Desk services to Progent or divide responsibilities for support services seamlessly between your internal network support group and Progent's nationwide roster of certified IT support technicians, engineers and subject matter experts (SMEs). Progent's Shared Help Desk Service offers a transparent supplement to your corporate network support staff. User access to the Help Desk, provision of support, issue escalation, ticket generation and tracking, efficiency measurement, and maintenance of the service database are cohesive regardless of whether issues are resolved by your corporate IT support staff, by Progent's team, or both. Find out more about Progent's outsourced/shared Call Desk services.

• Progent Active Protection Against Ransomware: AI-based Ransomware Identification and Remediation
  Progent's Active Defense Against Ransomware is an endpoint protection managed service that utilizes next generation behavior machine learning tools to guard endpoints and servers and VMs against new malware assaults such as ransomware and file-less exploits, which easily evade traditional signature-based AV tools. Progent ASM services protect on-premises and cloud resources and offers a single platform to manage the entire malware attack lifecycle including blocking, infiltration detection, containment, cleanup, and forensics. Top features include single-click rollback using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and automatic system-wide immunization against new attacks. Learn more about Progent's ransomware defense and recovery services.

• ProSight IT Asset Management: Network Documentation Management
  Progent's ProSight IT Asset Management service is an IT infrastructure documentation management service that makes it easy to capture, update, find and protect information about your network infrastructure, procedures, applications, and services. You can quickly locate passwords or IP addresses and be warned about upcoming expirations of SSLs or domains. By cleaning up and organizing your IT infrastructure documentation, you can eliminate as much as 50% of time wasted searching for critical information about your IT network. ProSight IT Asset Management includes a common repository for holding and collaborating on all documents related to managing your business network like recommended procedures and How-To's. ProSight IT Asset Management also supports advanced automation for gathering and associating IT data. Whether you're planning improvements, performing regular maintenance, or reacting to an emergency, ProSight IT Asset Management gets you the knowledge you require the instant you need it. Learn more about Progent's ProSight IT Asset Management service.

• Patch Management: Patch Management Services
  Progent's support services for patch management offer businesses of all sizes a flexible and affordable solution for evaluating, testing, scheduling, implementing, and tracking software and firmware updates to your ever-evolving IT system. Besides maximizing the security and functionality of your IT network, Progent's software/firmware update management services permit your in-house IT staff to concentrate on more strategic projects and activities that derive the highest business value from your information network. Read more about Progent's software/firmware update management support services.

• ProSight Virtual Hosting: Hosted Virtual Machines at Progent's Tier III Data Center
  With Progent's ProSight Virtual Hosting service, a small or mid-size organization can have its critical servers and apps hosted in a protected fault tolerant data center on a fast virtual machine host configured and maintained by Progent's network support experts. With Progent's ProSight Virtual Hosting service model, the client owns the data, the operating system software, and the applications. Since the environment is virtualized, it can be ported immediately to a different hardware environment without requiring a lengthy and difficult reinstallation process. With ProSight Virtual Hosting, your business is not locked into a single hosting service. Find out more details about ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

• ProSight Active Security Monitoring: Endpoint Protection and Ransomware Defense
  ProSight Active Security Monitoring is an endpoint protection (EPP) solution that utilizes SentinelOne's cutting edge behavior machine learning tools to defend physical and virtual endpoint devices against modern malware attacks such as ransomware and email phishing, which easily escape traditional signature-based AV tools. ProSight ASM safeguards on-premises and cloud-based resources and offers a single platform to automate the complete malware attack lifecycle including blocking, infiltration detection, containment, remediation, and forensics. Top features include single-click rollback with Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service and real-time system-wide immunization against newly discovered attacks. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, reseller, and integrator. Find out more about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring endpoint protection and ransomware defense.

• ProSight Enhanced Security Protection: Physical and Virtual Endpoint Protection and Microsoft Exchange Email Filtering
  ProSight Enhanced Security Protection managed services deliver ultra-affordable multi-layer protection for physical servers and VMs, workstations, mobile devices, and Microsoft Exchange. ProSight ESP utilizes adaptive security and advanced heuristics for continuously monitoring and responding to cyber threats from all vectors. ProSight ESP provides firewall protection, intrusion alarms, device management, and web filtering through leading-edge tools incorporated within one agent managed from a single console. Progent's data protection and virtualization consultants can help your business to plan and configure a ProSight ESP environment that meets your company's specific requirements and that helps you demonstrate compliance with government and industry data protection regulations. Progent will assist you specify and implement policies that ProSight ESP will enforce, and Progent will monitor your network and respond to alarms that require immediate attention. Progent can also help your company to install and verify a backup and restore solution such as ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS) so you can get back in business rapidly from a potentially disastrous cyber attack such as ransomware. Read more about Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) unified physical and virtual endpoint protection and Exchange filtering.