24/7 Garland Critical Crypto-Ransomware
Malware Assessment and Recovery Support

Crypto-Ransomware : Your Feared IT Catastrophe
Ransomware has become an escalating cyber pandemic that poses an extinction-level danger for organizations poorly prepared for an assault. Different iterations of crypto-ransomware like the Reveton, WannaCry, Bad Rabbit, Syskey and MongoLock cryptoworms have been circulating for years and continue to inflict havoc. More recent versions of crypto-ransomware such as Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, Netwalker, LockBit or Nephilim, as well as additional unnamed malware, not only do encryption of on-line data but also infiltrate most accessible system protection. Data replicated to the cloud can also be corrupted. In a vulnerable environment, this can render any restore operations hopeless and effectively sets the network back to zero.

Recovering applications and data after a ransomware outage becomes a sprint against time as the targeted organization fights to contain, cleanup the crypto-ransomware, and restore mission-critical operations. Since ransomware needs time to spread, penetrations are frequently sprung on weekends, when successful penetrations typically take more time to recognize. This compounds the difficulty of promptly mobilizing and organizing a knowledgeable mitigation team.

Progent offers an assortment of support services for protecting businesses from crypto-ransomware penetrations. These include staff training to help recognize and not fall victim to phishing exploits, ProSight Active Security Monitoring for remote monitoring and management, in addition to deployment of modern security appliances with machine learning capabilities from SentinelOne to discover and suppress zero-day cyber threats intelligently. Progent in addition offers the assistance of veteran crypto-ransomware recovery consultants with the skills and commitment to rebuild a compromised environment as urgently as possible.

Progent's Ransomware Restoration Help
After a crypto-ransomware penetration, paying the ransom demands in cryptocurrency does not provide any assurance that merciless criminals will respond with the needed codes to unencrypt all your files. Kaspersky ascertained that 17% of ransomware victims never restored their files after having sent off the ransom, resulting in additional losses. The risk is also expensive. Ryuk ransoms are commonly a few hundred thousand dollars. For larger organizations, the ransom demand can reach millions of dollars. The alternative is to setup from scratch the mission-critical parts of your Information Technology environment. Without the availability of complete data backups, this requires a wide range of skills, top notch project management, and the willingness to work non-stop until the recovery project is done.

For twenty years, Progent has made available certified 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 pool of subject matter experts (SMEs) includes professionals who have earned high-level certifications in important technologies such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and major distributions of Linux. Progent's security experts have earned internationally-renowned certifications including CISA, CISSP, ISACA CRISC, GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (Visit Progent's certifications). Progent in addition has expertise in financial management and ERP software solutions. This breadth of experience provides Progent the ability to quickly determine critical systems and consolidate the surviving pieces of your Information Technology system after a ransomware attack and configure them into an operational network.

Progent's security group utilizes top notch project management tools to coordinate the complicated restoration process. Progent understands the urgency of acting swiftly and together with a customer's management and IT team members to assign priority to tasks and to get key services back online as fast as humanly possible.

Client Story: A Successful Crypto-Ransomware Attack Recovery
A customer sought out Progent after their company was taken over by Ryuk ransomware. Ryuk is thought to have been deployed by Northern Korean state sponsored hackers, possibly adopting techniques leaked from America's NSA organization. Ryuk goes after specific companies with limited tolerance for disruption and is among the most profitable examples of crypto-ransomware. Headline organizations include Data Resolution, a California-based information warehousing and cloud computing firm, and the Chicago Tribune. Progent's client is a single-location manufacturing company located in the Chicago metro area and has about 500 staff members. The Ryuk intrusion had paralyzed all essential operations and manufacturing capabilities. The majority of the client's system backups had been on-line at the time of the intrusion and were damaged. The client was pursuing financing for paying the ransom (more than $200K) and praying for the best, but in the end reached out to Progent.

Progent worked with the customer to rapidly understand and prioritize the essential elements that had to be recovered to make it possible to continue departmental functions:

• Active Directory (AD)
• Microsoft Exchange Server
• Accounting and Manufacturing Software

Within 48 hours, Progent was able to restore Active Directory services to its pre-penetration state. Progent then helped perform setup and hard drive recovery on critical servers. All Exchange ties and attributes were intact, which greatly helped the restore of Exchange. Progent was also able to assemble local OST files (Microsoft Outlook Offline Data Files) on team PCs and laptops in order to recover mail data. A recent off-line backup of the customer's financials/MRP systems made them able to return these vital programs back online. Although major work was left to recover fully from the Ryuk virus, critical services were recovered quickly:

Throughout the next couple of weeks critical milestones in the recovery process were achieved through close collaboration between Progent consultants and the client:

• In-house web sites were returned to operation with no loss of data.
• The MailStore Microsoft Exchange Server with over four million archived emails was spun up and accessible to users.
• CRM/Product Ordering/Invoicing/Accounts Payable (AP)/AR/Inventory Control functions were 100 percent operational.
• A new Palo Alto 850 security appliance was brought on-line.
• 90% of the user desktops and notebooks were functioning as before the incident.

Conclusion
A likely business-ending catastrophe was evaded by hard-working experts, a wide array of subject matter expertise, and tight teamwork. Although in retrospect the crypto-ransomware virus incident described here could have been identified and disabled with up-to-date security solutions and best practices, team training, and properly executed security procedures for data protection and proper patching controls, the fact is that state-sponsored cyber criminals from Russia, China and elsewhere are relentless and are not going away. If you do get hit by a ransomware attack, feel confident that Progent's team of experts has a proven track record in ransomware virus blocking, removal, and information systems disaster recovery.

To read or download a PDF version of this customer story, please click:
Progent's Ransomware Virus Recovery Case Study Datasheet. (PDF - 282 KB)

Additional Ransomware Protection Services Offered by Progent
Progent can provide companies in Garland a range of remote monitoring and security evaluation services designed to assist you to reduce your vulnerability to ransomware. These services incorporate modern machine learning capability to uncover new variants of crypto-ransomware that are able to escape detection by traditional signature-based anti-virus products.

• ProSight Managed Service Packages: for Small to Mid-size Businesses
  Progent's ProSight Managed IT Service Packages make it possible for small and mid-size businesses to deploy Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) solutions to achieve advanced IT resilience. Progent takes care of the necessary monitoring and management for you, so your network expands readily without becoming an obstacle. For an affordable and predictable monthly price, Progent's experienced IT group can be your dependable technology safety net. Basic plans include remote monitoring and management, security, automatic monthly patching, and documentation. As your requirements expand, you can add low-cost subscriptions to best-in-class options such 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 service that incorporates state-of-the-art remote monitoring and management technology to help keep your IT system operating at peak levels by checking the state of critical assets that power your business network. When ProSight LAN Watch uncovers an issue, an alarm is transmitted immediately to your designated IT management staff and your Progent engineering consultant so that any looming issues can be resolved before they can impact productivity. Learn more about ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop monitoring services.

• ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM: Centralized RMM Solution for Networks, Servers, and Desktops
  ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM software delivers a centralized, cloud-driven solution for managing your network, server, and desktop devices by providing tools for streamlining common time-consuming tasks. These include health checking, update management, automated remediation, endpoint deployment, backup and restore, A/V response, remote access, built-in and custom scripts, asset inventory, endpoint status reports, and debugging support. If ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM uncovers a serious incident, it sends an alarm to your specified IT management personnel and your assigned Progent technical consultant so emerging problems can be fixed before they impact productivity. Find out more details about ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM server and desktop remote monitoring consulting.

• ProSight WAN Watch: Network Infrastructure Management
  ProSight WAN Watch is an infrastructure monitoring and management service that makes it easy and inexpensive for small and mid-sized organizations to map out, monitor, enhance and troubleshoot their connectivity hardware such as switches, firewalls, and wireless controllers as well as servers, client computers and other devices. Incorporating state-of-the-art Remote Monitoring and Management technology, ProSight WAN Watch makes sure that network diagrams are kept current, copies and manages the configuration information of virtually all devices connected to your network, monitors performance, and sends alerts when issues are discovered. By automating complex management and troubleshooting activities, ProSight WAN Watch can cut hours off common chores like making network diagrams, expanding your network, locating devices that require critical software patches, or identifying the cause of performance problems. Learn more details about ProSight WAN Watch infrastructure monitoring and management consulting.

• ProSight Reporting: In-depth Reporting for Ticketing and Network Monitoring Platforms
  ProSight Reporting is an expanding line of real-time management reporting plug-ins designed to integrate with the top ticketing and remote network monitoring programs such as ConnectWise Manage, ConnectWise Automate, Customer Thermometer, Auvik, and SentinelOne. ProSight Reporting incorporates Microsoft Graph and features color coding to surface and contextualize critical issues such as spotty support follow-up or machines with out-of-date AVs. By identifying ticketing or network health concerns concisely and in near-real time, ProSight Reporting improves productivity, reduces management hassle, and saves money. For more information, visit ProSight Reporting for ticketing and network monitoring platforms.

• ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS): Backup and Disaster Recovery Services
  Progent has worked with advanced backup software companies to create ProSight Data Protection Services, a selection of management offerings that provide backup-as-a-service. ProSight DPS services automate and monitor your data backup operations and allow non-disruptive backup and rapid recovery of important files/folders, apps, images, and VMs. ProSight DPS lets you protect against data loss caused by hardware breakdown, natural disasters, fire, malware like ransomware, user mistakes, malicious insiders, or application glitches. Managed services available in the ProSight Data Protection Services product family include ProSight Altaro VM Backup, ProSight 365 Total Backup (formerly Altaro 365 Backup), ProSight ECHO Backup based on Barracuda dedicated hardware, and ProSight MSP360 Hybrid Backup. Your Progent consultant can help you to identify which of these fully managed services are best suited for your IT environment.

• ProSight Email Guard: Inbound and Outbound Spam Filtering and Data Leakage Protection
  ProSight Email Guard is Progent's spam filtering and email encryption service that incorporates the infrastructure of leading data security vendors to deliver centralized management and comprehensive protection for all your inbound and outbound email. The hybrid structure of Email Guard combines cloud-based filtering with an on-premises gateway appliance to offer advanced protection against spam, viruses, Denial of Service Attacks, DHAs, and other email-based malware. Email Guard's cloud filter serves as a first line of defense and keeps most unwanted email from making it to your network firewall. This decreases your exposure to external threats and conserves system bandwidth and storage space. Email Guard's on-premises security gateway appliance adds a further layer of analysis for incoming email. For outgoing email, the onsite gateway offers AV and anti-spam filtering, protection against data leaks, and email encryption. The on-premises security gateway can also help Microsoft Exchange Server to track and safeguard internal email that originates and ends inside your corporate firewall. For more details, visit Email Guard spam and content filtering.

• ProSight Duo Two-Factor Authentication: ID Confirmation, Endpoint Policy Enforcement, and Protected Single Sign-on (SSO)
  Progent's Duo authentication service plans utilize Cisco's Duo cloud technology to defend against stolen passwords through the use of two-factor authentication (2FA). Duo supports one-tap identity confirmation on iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. Using 2FA, when you log into a protected application and enter your password you are asked to verify who you are via a device that only you possess and that uses a different ("out-of-band") network channel. A wide selection of devices can be utilized for this added means of authentication such as an iPhone or Android or watch, a hardware/software token, a landline telephone, etc. You can designate multiple validation devices. To find out more about ProSight Duo two-factor identity validation services, see Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services.

• Progent's Outsourced/Shared Service Center: Help Desk Managed Services
  Progent's Call Center managed services permit your IT staff to offload Support Desk services to Progent or split responsibilities for Help Desk services seamlessly between your in-house network support team and Progent's nationwide pool of IT support engineers and subject matter experts (SMEs). Progent's Co-managed Help Desk Service provides a seamless extension of your corporate IT support resources. End user interaction with the Help Desk, delivery of support services, escalation, trouble ticket creation and updates, efficiency measurement, and maintenance of the support database are cohesive whether incidents are resolved by your corporate network support organization, by Progent's team, or both. Read more about Progent's outsourced/co-managed Call Desk services.

• Active Defense Against Ransomware: Machine Learning-based Ransomware Identification and Remediation
  Progent's Active Defense Against Ransomware is an endpoint protection (EPP) solution that utilizes cutting edge behavior-based machine learning technology to defend endpoint devices and servers and VMs against new malware assaults like ransomware and email phishing, which routinely evade legacy signature-matching AV tools. Progent Active Security Monitoring services safeguard local and cloud-based resources and provides a single platform to automate the complete threat lifecycle including blocking, detection, containment, remediation, and forensics. Top features include one-click rollback using Windows VSS and automatic network-wide immunization against newly discovered threats. Read more about Progent's ransomware protection 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 safeguard information about your network infrastructure, procedures, applications, and services. You can instantly locate passwords or IP addresses and be warned about upcoming expirations of SSLs or domains. By cleaning up and managing your network documentation, you can eliminate up to half of time thrown away looking for vital information about your IT network. ProSight IT Asset Management features a common location for storing and sharing all documents required for managing your network infrastructure such as recommended procedures and self-service instructions. ProSight IT Asset Management also supports a high level of automation for gathering and relating IT information. Whether you're planning improvements, performing maintenance, or responding to an emergency, ProSight IT Asset Management gets you the knowledge you need the instant you need it. Find out more about Progent's ProSight IT Asset Management service.

• Progent's Patch Management: Software/Firmware Update Management Services
  Progent's managed services for software and firmware patch management offer businesses of any size a flexible and cost-effective solution for evaluating, validating, scheduling, implementing, and tracking updates to your dynamic IT network. Besides maximizing the protection and functionality of your IT environment, Progent's software/firmware update management services allow your in-house IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives and activities that deliver maximum business value from your information network. Find out more about Progent's software/firmware update management services.

• ProSight Virtual Hosting: Hosted Virtual Machines at Progent's World-class Data Center
  With ProSight Virtual Hosting service, a small or mid-size organization can have its key servers and applications hosted in a secure Tier III data center on a fast virtual host set up and managed by Progent's IT support professionals. Under Progent's ProSight Virtual Hosting model, the customer retains ownership of the data, the operating system platforms, and the apps. Because the system is virtualized, it can be moved immediately to an alternate hardware environment without requiring a lengthy and technically risky configuration procedure. With ProSight Virtual Hosting, your business is not locked into a single hosting provider. Learn more about ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

• ProSight Active Security Monitoring: Endpoint Protection and Ransomware Defense
  Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring is an endpoint protection solution that incorporates SentinelOne's next generation behavior machine learning tools to defend physical and virtual endpoint devices against new malware attacks like ransomware and email phishing, which easily evade traditional signature-based AV tools. ProSight Active Security Monitoring protects on-premises and cloud resources and offers a unified platform to address the complete malware attack lifecycle including protection, detection, containment, remediation, and post-attack forensics. Key capabilities include single-click rollback using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and real-time system-wide immunization against newly discovered attacks. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. Learn more about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware recovery.

• ProSight Enhanced Security Protection: Physical and Virtual Endpoint Security and Exchange Email Filtering
  ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) managed services offer economical multi-layer protection for physical servers and VMs, desktops, mobile devices, and Microsoft Exchange. ProSight ESP utilizes adaptive security and advanced heuristics for continuously monitoring and responding to cyber assaults from all vectors. ProSight ESP provides firewall protection, penetration alerts, endpoint management, and web filtering via leading-edge tools packaged within one agent managed from a single control. Progent's data protection and virtualization experts can assist your business to design and implement a ProSight ESP deployment that addresses your company's specific needs and that allows you achieve and demonstrate compliance with government and industry information protection standards. Progent will help you define and implement security policies that ProSight ESP will enforce, and Progent will monitor your IT environment and respond to alarms that call for immediate action. Progent can also assist your company to set up and verify a backup and disaster recovery solution such as ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS) so you can get back in business rapidly from a destructive security attack such as ransomware. Learn more about Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) unified physical and virtual endpoint protection and Exchange email filtering.