24-Hour Glendale Urgent Crypto-Ransomware
Computer Malware Detection and Recovery Services

Ransomware : Your Worst Information Technology Nightmare
Ransomware has become an escalating cyberplague that presents an enterprise-level danger for businesses of all sizes poorly prepared for an assault. Versions of ransomware such as Reveton, WannaCry, Locky, SamSam and MongoLock cryptoworms have been out in the wild for a long time and still inflict harm. More recent strains of ransomware like Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, DopplePaymer, Conti or Nephilim, plus frequent as yet unnamed viruses, not only do encryption of on-line files but also infiltrate most accessible system protection mechanisms. Data synched to cloud environments can also be encrypted. In a poorly architected environment, it can make automatic restore operations useless and effectively knocks the network back to square one.

Getting back on-line programs and information following a ransomware attack becomes a sprint against time as the targeted organization fights to contain the damage, eradicate the crypto-ransomware, and resume business-critical operations. Since ransomware takes time to move laterally, attacks are frequently launched at night, when attacks in many cases take more time to discover. This compounds the difficulty of rapidly marshalling and coordinating a qualified mitigation team.

Progent has a range of solutions for protecting organizations from ransomware penetrations. These include team training to help identify and avoid phishing scams, ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) for remote monitoring and management, plus installation of modern security gateways with AI technology from SentinelOne to identify and extinguish new threats rapidly. Progent in addition can provide the assistance of expert ransomware recovery engineers with the skills and perseverance to reconstruct a breached environment as quickly as possible.

Progent's Crypto-Ransomware Recovery Support Services
After a crypto-ransomware invasion, paying the ransom in cryptocurrency does not ensure that distant criminals will return the codes to decrypt all your data. Kaspersky estimated that seventeen percent of crypto-ransomware victims never recovered their files even after having sent off the ransom, resulting in additional losses. The risk is also expensive. Ryuk ransoms are commonly several hundred thousand dollars. For larger enterprises, the ransom can reach millions. The fallback is to piece back together the critical parts of your Information Technology environment. Without the availability of full data backups, this calls for a wide range of IT skills, well-coordinated team management, and the capability to work non-stop until the job is over.

For decades, Progent has offered professional IT services for businesses across the US and has achieved Microsoft's Partnership certification status in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's team of subject matter experts (SMEs) includes consultants who have attained top industry certifications in leading technologies such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and popular distributions of Linux. Progent's security experts have earned internationally-renowned industry certifications including CISM, CISSP, ISACA CRISC, GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (Visit Progent's certifications). Progent also has experience with accounting and ERP application software. This breadth of experience affords Progent the capability to efficiently determine necessary systems and re-organize the remaining components of your IT environment following a crypto-ransomware attack and rebuild them into an operational system.

Progent's security team of experts uses state-of-the-art project management tools to coordinate the complicated recovery process. Progent understands the importance of acting swiftly and in concert with a client's management and Information Technology team members to prioritize tasks and to get critical applications back on line as fast as possible.

Customer Case Study: A Successful Crypto-Ransomware Incident Response
A customer contacted Progent after their company was penetrated by Ryuk ransomware. Ryuk is generally considered to have been created by Northern Korean government sponsored cybercriminals, possibly using algorithms exposed from America's National Security Agency. Ryuk seeks specific companies with little ability to sustain operational disruption and is among the most lucrative incarnations of crypto-ransomware. High publicized organizations include Data Resolution, a California-based information warehousing and cloud computing firm, and the Chicago Tribune. Progent's client is a small manufacturer located in the Chicago metro area with about 500 employees. The Ryuk event had brought down all company operations and manufacturing processes. Most of the client's backups had been directly accessible at the start of the intrusion and were destroyed. The client was actively seeking loans for paying the ransom (in excess of $200K) and hoping for the best, but in the end reached out to Progent.

Progent worked with the client to rapidly identify and prioritize the essential elements that needed to be restored in order to resume departmental functions:

• Windows Active Directory
• Exchange Server
• Accounting/MRP

In less than two days, Progent was able to re-build Windows Active Directory to its pre-intrusion state. Progent then charged ahead with rebuilding and hard drive recovery on critical systems. All Exchange Server data and configuration information were usable, which facilitated the rebuild of Exchange. Progent was able to collect local OST files (Microsoft Outlook Off-Line Folder Files) on staff PCs and laptops in order to recover mail data. A recent off-line backup of the client's financials/ERP software made it possible to return these essential applications back available to users. Although major work remained to recover totally from the Ryuk event, essential systems were recovered rapidly:

Throughout the following few weeks important milestones in the restoration project were achieved in close cooperation between Progent engineers and the client:

• Internal web sites were restored without losing any data.
• The MailStore Server with over 4 million archived messages was brought online and available for users.
• CRM/Customer Orders/Invoices/Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivables (AR)/Inventory functions were 100% recovered.
• A new Palo Alto Networks 850 firewall was brought online.
• 90% of the desktop computers were operational.

Conclusion
A potential business disaster was dodged with hard-working experts, a broad array of IT skills, and close collaboration. Although upon completion of forensics the ransomware virus penetration detailed here would have been identified and prevented with modern security technology and recognized best practices, staff education, and appropriate incident response procedures for information backup and applying software patches, the fact remains that state-sponsored cyber criminals from China, North Korea and elsewhere are tireless and will continue. If you do get hit by a crypto-ransomware incursion, remember that Progent's roster of professionals has extensive experience in crypto-ransomware virus defense, removal, and information systems recovery.

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

Additional Ransomware Protection Services Offered by Progent
Progent can provide companies in Glendale a range of online monitoring and security evaluation services to help you to reduce your vulnerability to crypto-ransomware. These services utilize modern AI capability to detect new strains of ransomware that can get past traditional signature-based security solutions.

• ProSight Managed Service Plans: for Small to Mid-size Businesses
  Progent's ProSight Managed IT Service Packages make it realistic for small and mid-size businesses to deploy Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) technology to create leading-edge IT resilience. Progent handles the necessary monitoring and management for you, so your system expands smoothly without holding you back. For a low and predictable monthly subscription, Progent's experienced IT group can be your complete technology safety net. Basic plans include remote monitoring and management (RMM), cybersecurity, automatic monthly patching, and reporting. As your needs expand, you can add low-cost subscriptions to best-in-class solutions such as SaaS M365/Google Workspace backup and restore, Multi-Factor Authentication, penetration testing, or WiFi management.

• ProSight LAN Watch: Server and Desktop Remote Monitoring
  ProSight LAN Watch is Progent's server and desktop remote monitoring managed service that uses state-of-the-art remote monitoring and management technology to keep your IT system running at peak levels by tracking the health of critical computers that power your information system. When ProSight LAN Watch uncovers an issue, an alert is sent immediately to your designated IT management personnel and your assigned Progent consultant so that any looming issues can be resolved before they can disrupt your network. Learn more details about ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop remote monitoring services.

• ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM: Centralized RMM for Networks, Servers, and Desktops
  ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM software delivers a centralized, cloud-driven platform for managing your network, server, and desktop devices by offering tools for performing common tedious jobs. These can include health checking, patch management, automated repairs, endpoint setup, backup and restore, anti-virus defense, remote access, standard and custom scripts, resource inventory, endpoint status reporting, and debugging help. When ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM uncovers a serious incident, it transmits an alert to your designated IT management personnel and your assigned Progent consultant so potential issues can be fixed before they interfere with productivity. Find out more about ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM server and desktop monitoring services.

• ProSight WAN Watch: Network Infrastructure Remote Monitoring and Management
  ProSight WAN Watch is a network infrastructure monitoring and management service that makes it simple and affordable for smaller businesses to map, track, optimize and troubleshoot their connectivity hardware like routers and switches, firewalls, and access points as well as servers, printers, endpoints and other devices. Incorporating state-of-the-art Remote Monitoring and Management technology, WAN Watch ensures that infrastructure topology diagrams are always updated, copies and manages the configuration information of virtually all devices on your network, monitors performance, and generates notices when issues are detected. By automating complex management activities, ProSight WAN Watch can knock hours off common tasks such as making network diagrams, reconfiguring your network, locating devices that require critical software patches, or identifying the cause of performance issues. Learn more details about ProSight WAN Watch infrastructure management consulting.

• ProSight Reporting: In-depth Reporting for Ticketing and Network Monitoring Applications
  ProSight Reporting is an expanding family of real-time reporting utilities created to work with the leading ticketing and network monitoring applications including ConnectWise Manage, ConnectWise Automate, Customer Thermometer, Auvik, and SentinelOne. ProSight Reporting uses Microsoft Graph and features color coding to surface and contextualize critical issues such as spotty support follow-through or endpoints with out-of-date AVs. By exposing ticketing or network health concerns clearly and in near-real time, ProSight Reporting enhances productivity, lowers management overhead, and saves money. For more information, see ProSight Reporting for ticketing and network monitoring platforms.

• ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS): Managed Backup and Disaster Recovery Services
  Progent has partnered with leading backup software providers to create ProSight Data Protection Services, a portfolio of management outsourcing plans that deliver backup-as-a-service. ProSight DPS services manage and monitor your data backup processes and allow transparent backup and rapid restoration of critical files, applications, system images, and Hyper-V and VMware virtual machines. ProSight DPS lets you avoid data loss resulting from hardware failures, natural calamities, fire, malware such as ransomware, user error, ill-intentioned employees, or software glitches. Managed backup services available in the ProSight Data Protection Services product line include ProSight Altaro VM Backup, ProSight 365 Total Backup (formerly Altaro 365 Backup), ProSight DPS ECHO Backup based on Barracuda purpose-built hardware, and ProSight DPS MSP360 Hybrid Backup. Your Progent expert can help you to determine which of these fully 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 and virus filtering service that uses the technology of leading information security vendors to deliver centralized control and comprehensive security for your email traffic. The hybrid architecture of Email Guard managed service integrates a Cloud Protection Layer with an on-premises security gateway appliance to provide complete protection against spam, viruses, Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks, and other email-based malware. Email Guard's cloud filter acts as a first line of defense and keeps most unwanted email from reaching your security perimeter. This decreases your exposure to inbound attacks and conserves system bandwidth and storage space. Email Guard's onsite security gateway appliance provides a further level of inspection for inbound email. For outgoing email, the on-premises gateway provides anti-virus and anti-spam filtering, policy-based Data Loss Prevention, and email encryption. The on-premises security gateway can also assist Microsoft Exchange Server to track and protect internal email that stays within your security perimeter. For more information, visit Email Guard spam and content filtering.

• ProSight Duo Two-Factor Authentication: Access Security, Endpoint Remediation, and Protected Single Sign-on (SSO)
  Progent's Duo authentication services incorporate Cisco's Duo technology to defend against compromised passwords through the use of two-factor authentication. Duo enables one-tap identity verification with Apple iOS, Android, and other personal devices. Using Duo 2FA, whenever you sign into a secured online account and give your password you are requested to verify who you are on a unit that only you possess and that is accessed using a different ("out-of-band") network channel. A broad range of out-of-band devices can be utilized as this added means of authentication such as a smartphone or watch, a hardware token, a landline telephone, etc. You may designate multiple verification devices. To learn more about Duo identity validation services, go to Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services for access security.

• Progent's Outsourced/Shared Service Desk: Help Desk Managed Services
  Progent's Help Desk services permit your information technology group to outsource Support Desk services to Progent or split activity for Service Desk support transparently between your in-house support group and Progent's nationwide roster of certified IT support technicians, engineers and subject matter experts (SMEs). Progent's Co-managed Service Desk offers a seamless extension of your core network support resources. Client access to the Help Desk, delivery of technical assistance, problem escalation, trouble ticket generation and tracking, efficiency measurement, and maintenance of the service database are consistent whether issues are resolved by your internal IT support organization, by Progent, or a mix of the two. Find out more about Progent's outsourced/shared Call Desk services.

• Active Defense Against Ransomware: AI-based Ransomware Detection and Cleanup
  Progent's Active Defense Against Ransomware is an endpoint protection (EPP) solution that utilizes next generation behavior machine learning technology to guard endpoints as well as physical and virtual servers against new malware attacks like ransomware and file-less exploits, which easily evade legacy signature-matching AV products. Progent ASM services protect local and cloud resources and provides a unified platform to address the complete threat lifecycle including filtering, infiltration detection, mitigation, remediation, and forensics. Top capabilities include one-click rollback using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service 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 allows you to capture, update, retrieve and safeguard data related to your IT infrastructure, processes, business apps, and services. You can instantly find passwords or IP addresses and be alerted automatically about impending expirations of SSLs or warranties. By cleaning up and organizing your IT documentation, you can eliminate up to 50% of time spent looking for vital information about your network. ProSight IT Asset Management includes a common repository for holding and collaborating on all documents required for managing your business network such as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and self-service instructions. ProSight IT Asset Management also supports advanced automation for collecting and associating IT data. Whether you're making enhancements, doing regular maintenance, or responding to a crisis, ProSight IT Asset Management gets you the knowledge you require when you need it. Find out more about Progent's ProSight IT Asset Management service.

• Progent's Patch Management: Patch Management Services
  Progent's support services for patch management offer organizations of all sizes a flexible and cost-effective alternative for evaluating, validating, scheduling, implementing, and documenting updates to your ever-evolving IT network. Besides maximizing the protection and reliability of your IT environment, Progent's software/firmware update management services free up time for your in-house IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives and activities that derive the highest business value from your information network. Learn more about Progent's software/firmware update management services.

• ProSight Virtual Hosting: Hosted Virtual Machines at Progent's Tier III Data Center
  With ProSight Virtual Hosting service, a small organization can have its critical servers and apps hosted in a protected Tier III data center on a fast virtual machine host configured and managed by Progent's network support professionals. With the ProSight Virtual Hosting service model, the customer owns the data, the OS software, and the apps. Since the system is virtualized, it can be moved immediately to an alternate hosting solution without a lengthy and difficult configuration procedure. With ProSight Virtual Hosting, your business is not locked into one hosting provider. Learn 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 incorporates SentinelOne's next generation behavior-based analysis technology to defend physical and virtual endpoints against modern malware assaults like ransomware and file-less exploits, which routinely escape traditional signature-matching anti-virus tools. ProSight ASM protects on-premises and cloud resources and offers a unified platform to address the complete malware attack progression including protection, identification, mitigation, cleanup, and post-attack forensics. Top capabilities include single-click rollback using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service and automatic system-wide immunization against newly discovered threats. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, reseller, and integrator. Read more about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware recovery.

• ProSight Enhanced Security Protection: Physical and Virtual Endpoint Security and Exchange Email Filtering
  Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) services deliver affordable in-depth protection for physical and virtual servers, workstations, smartphones, and Exchange email. ProSight ESP utilizes adaptive security and advanced heuristics for round-the-clock monitoring and responding to cyber assaults from all vectors. ProSight ESP provides firewall protection, intrusion alarms, endpoint management, and web filtering via leading-edge technologies packaged within one agent managed from a single control. Progent's security and virtualization consultants can assist your business to plan and configure a ProSight ESP environment that addresses your company's unique requirements and that helps you prove compliance with government and industry information security regulations. Progent will help you define and configure security policies that ProSight ESP will manage, and Progent will monitor your network and respond to alerts that require urgent action. Progent can also assist your company to install and test a backup and restore solution such as ProSight Data Protection Services so you can get back in business quickly from a destructive security attack like ransomware. Learn more about Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection unified endpoint security and Exchange email filtering.