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Ransomware : Your Worst IT Catastrophe
Ransomware has become an escalating cyberplague that poses an enterprise-level threat for organizations vulnerable to an attack. Versions of ransomware such as CryptoLocker, CryptoWall, Locky, Syskey and MongoLock cryptoworms have been running rampant for years and continue to inflict damage. Recent variants of ransomware like Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, DopplePaymer, Conti or Egregor, plus frequent unnamed newcomers, not only encrypt online data but also infiltrate any available system protection. Data synchronized to cloud environments can also be encrypted. In a poorly architected system, this can render any restoration impossible and effectively sets the datacenter back to square one.

Restoring services and data following a ransomware outage becomes a race against the clock as the targeted business fights to stop the spread, eradicate the ransomware, and restore business-critical operations. Because ransomware requires time to replicate, assaults are frequently launched on weekends, when penetrations are likely to take longer to identify. This multiplies the difficulty of quickly marshalling and organizing an experienced mitigation team.

Progent provides a range of support services for securing organizations from ransomware penetrations. Among these are user training to help identify and avoid phishing scams, ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) for remote monitoring and management, along with installation of modern security appliances with machine learning technology from SentinelOne to discover and quarantine zero-day cyber attacks quickly. Progent in addition provides the assistance of experienced ransomware recovery professionals with the track record and perseverance to reconstruct a breached system as rapidly as possible.

Progent's Ransomware Recovery Services
After a ransomware event, sending the ransom in cryptocurrency does not ensure that cyber criminals will return the needed codes to unencrypt any or all of your files. Kaspersky Labs ascertained that seventeen percent of ransomware victims never recovered their files even after having sent off the ransom, resulting in more losses. The risk is also expensive. Ryuk ransoms are often a few hundred thousand dollars. For larger organizations, the ransom can be in the millions of dollars. The fallback is to setup from scratch the essential parts of your Information Technology environment. Without the availability of full system backups, this calls for a wide range of IT skills, professional project management, and the capability to work non-stop until the task is completed.

For two decades, Progent has made available expert Information Technology services for companies across the U.S. and has earned Microsoft's Partnership certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's team of subject matter experts includes professionals who have attained high-level certifications in key technologies like Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and major distributions of Linux. Progent's security consultants have garnered internationally-renowned certifications including CISM, CISSP-ISSAP, ISACA CRISC, SANS GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (Visit Progent's certifications). Progent also has expertise with accounting and ERP applications. This breadth of expertise gives Progent the ability to quickly identify necessary systems and organize the surviving parts of your Information Technology system after a ransomware attack and configure them into an operational system.

Progent's ransomware team of experts deploys top notch project management applications to orchestrate the sophisticated restoration process. Progent appreciates the importance of working swiftly and in concert with a customer's management and IT staff to prioritize tasks and to get critical systems back on-line as fast as possible.

Customer Case Study: A Successful Ransomware Virus Recovery
A small business hired Progent after their network system was attacked by the Ryuk ransomware virus. Ryuk is generally considered to have been deployed by North Korean state sponsored hackers, possibly adopting strategies exposed from the U.S. National Security Agency. Ryuk seeks specific companies with limited ability to sustain disruption and is one of the most lucrative incarnations of ransomware viruses. Major victims include Data Resolution, a California-based info warehousing and cloud computing business, and the Chicago Tribune. Progent's client is a single-location manufacturing company located in the Chicago metro area with around 500 employees. The Ryuk intrusion had shut down all essential operations and manufacturing capabilities. The majority of the client's backups had been on-line at the beginning of the attack and were destroyed. The client was evaluating paying the ransom demand (more than $200,000) and wishfully thinking for good luck, but in the end reached out to Progent.

Progent worked with the client to quickly understand and assign priority to the mission critical elements that needed to be addressed to make it possible to restart business operations:

• Active Directory
• Exchange Server
• Financials/MRP

Within 2 days, Progent was able to recover Windows Active Directory to its pre-intrusion state. Progent then initiated rebuilding and hard drive recovery of mission critical applications. All Exchange data and configuration information were intact, which accelerated the rebuild of Exchange. Progent was also able to find non-encrypted OST data files (Microsoft Outlook Offline Folder Files) on various workstations and laptops in order to recover mail messages. A not too old off-line backup of the customer's financials/MRP software made them able to recover these required programs back servicing users. Although significant work needed to be completed to recover completely from the Ryuk event, core systems were recovered rapidly:

Throughout the next few weeks key milestones in the recovery process were achieved in tight collaboration between Progent team members and the customer:

• Internal web sites were restored without losing any information.
• The MailStore Microsoft Exchange Server with over 4 million archived emails was restored to operations and accessible to users.
• CRM/Orders/Invoicing/Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivables/Inventory functions were completely recovered.
• A new Palo Alto 850 security appliance was installed and configured.
• Ninety percent of the user desktops and notebooks were being used by staff.

Conclusion
A potential business disaster was avoided with dedicated experts, a broad range of knowledge, and close collaboration. Although in retrospect the ransomware virus penetration detailed here could have been blocked with modern security systems and NIST Cybersecurity Framework or ISO/IEC 27001 best practices, user training, and properly executed security procedures for information protection and keeping systems up to date with security patches, the fact is that government-sponsored criminal cyber gangs from Russia, North Korea and elsewhere are relentless and will continue. If you do fall victim to a crypto-ransomware incident, remember that Progent's roster of experts has substantial experience in ransomware virus blocking, remediation, and file disaster recovery.

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

Additional Crypto-Ransomware Protection Services Available from Progent
Progent offers businesses in Hartford a portfolio of online monitoring and security assessment services to assist you to reduce the threat from crypto-ransomware. These services incorporate next-generation AI 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 Plans make it feasible for small and mid-size businesses to deploy Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) technology to achieve leading-edge IT resilience. Progent handles the necessary monitoring and management for you, so your system scales easily without becoming an obstacle. For a low and predictable monthly subscription, Progent's experienced IT group can be your dependable technology safety net. Basic packages include RMM, security, automatic monthly patching, and reporting. As your requirements grow, you can add low-cost subscriptions to best-in-class options such as SaaS M365/Google Workspace backup, Multi-Factor Authentication, pen testing, or WiFi management.

• ProSight LAN Watch: Server and Desktop Remote Monitoring
  ProSight LAN Watch is Progent's server and desktop monitoring service that uses advanced remote monitoring and management (RMM) techniques to keep your network operating efficiently by checking the health of critical computers that drive your business network. When ProSight LAN Watch detects an issue, an alert is transmitted immediately to your designated IT personnel and your Progent consultant so any potential issues can be addressed before they have a chance to impact productivity. Learn more details about ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop monitoring consulting.

• ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM: Unified RMM Solution for Networks, Servers, and Desktops
  ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM software offers a unified, cloud-based platform for managing your network, server, and desktop devices by providing tools for performing common tedious tasks. These can include health monitoring, update management, automated repairs, endpoint setup, backup and recovery, A/V response, secure remote access, standard and custom scripts, resource inventory, endpoint profile reporting, and debugging help. When ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM identifies a serious incident, it transmits an alert to your designated IT management staff and your Progent technical consultant so that potential issues can be fixed before they interfere with your network. Find out more details about ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM server and desktop remote monitoring services.

• ProSight WAN Watch: Infrastructure Management
  ProSight WAN Watch is an infrastructure management service that makes it easy and affordable for small and mid-sized businesses to map, track, enhance and debug their networking appliances like routers and switches, firewalls, and wireless controllers as well as servers, endpoints and other devices. Incorporating state-of-the-art RMM technology, WAN Watch ensures that infrastructure topology maps are kept updated, copies and displays the configuration of almost all devices on your network, monitors performance, and sends alerts when issues are discovered. By automating tedious management and troubleshooting processes, WAN Watch can knock hours off ordinary tasks such as making network diagrams, reconfiguring your network, locating devices that need important updates, or resolving performance bottlenecks. Learn more about ProSight WAN Watch network infrastructure monitoring and management services.

• ProSight Reporting: In-depth Reporting for Ticketing and Network Monitoring Applications
  ProSight Reporting is a growing line of real-time and in-depth reporting utilities created to integrate with the leading ticketing and network monitoring applications such as ConnectWise Manage, ConnectWise Automate, Customer Thermometer, Auvik, and SentinelOne. ProSight Reporting uses Microsoft Graph and features color coding to highlight and contextualize critical issues such as inconsistent support follow-through or machines with missing patches. By identifying ticketing or network health problems concisely and in near-real time, ProSight Reporting improves productivity, lowers management hassle, and saves money. For details, see ProSight Reporting for ticketing and network monitoring applications.

• ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS): Backup and Recovery Services
  Progent has worked with leading backup/restore software companies to produce ProSight Data Protection Services, a portfolio of subscription-based management offerings that deliver backup-as-a-service. ProSight DPS services manage and monitor your data backup processes and allow non-disruptive backup and fast recovery of critical files/folders, apps, images, and VMs. ProSight DPS lets your business avoid data loss caused by equipment failures, natural calamities, fire, cyber attacks such as ransomware, human error, ill-intentioned employees, or application bugs. Managed services in the ProSight DPS product family include ProSight Altaro VM Backup, ProSight 365 Total Backup (formerly Altaro 365 Backup), ProSight ECHO Backup using Barracuda purpose-built storage, and ProSight MSP360 Hybrid Backup. Your Progent consultant can help you to identify which of these managed services are most appropriate 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 top data security vendors to provide centralized control and comprehensive protection for all your email traffic. The hybrid architecture of Progent's Email Guard managed service integrates a Cloud Protection Layer with a local gateway appliance to offer complete protection against spam, viruses, Denial of Service Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks (DHAs), and other email-based malware. Email Guard's Cloud Protection Layer acts as a preliminary barricade and blocks the vast majority of unwanted email from reaching your security perimeter. This reduces your exposure to inbound threats and saves system bandwidth and storage space. Email Guard's onsite security gateway appliance adds a further level of inspection for incoming email. For outbound email, the local security gateway provides anti-virus and anti-spam filtering, DLP, and email encryption. The on-premises gateway can also help Microsoft Exchange Server to monitor and safeguard internal email traffic that originates and ends within your corporate firewall. For more information, see Email Guard spam and content filtering.

• ProSight Duo Multi-Factor Authentication: Identity Validation, Endpoint Policy Enforcement, and Protected Single Sign-on (SSO)
  Progent's Duo authentication service plans utilize Cisco's Duo technology to defend against compromised passwords by using two-factor authentication. Duo supports one-tap identity confirmation with iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. With Duo 2FA, when you log into a protected online account and enter your password you are requested to confirm who you are on 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 as this second form of ID validation including an iPhone or Android or wearable, a hardware token, a landline telephone, etc. You can designate several verification devices. For more information about Duo two-factor identity authentication services, refer to Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services for access security.

• Outsourced/Co-managed Call Center: Support Desk Managed Services
  Progent's Support Center services permit your information technology team to outsource Support Desk services to Progent or divide responsibilities for Help Desk services transparently between your in-house support resources and Progent's extensive roster of IT support technicians, engineers and subject matter experts. Progent's Co-managed Help Desk Service offers a seamless extension of your internal IT support organization. End user interaction with the Service Desk, delivery of technical assistance, escalation, trouble ticket creation and tracking, performance measurement, and maintenance of the support database are cohesive regardless of whether issues are taken care of by your core network support resources, by Progent, or both. Learn more about Progent's outsourced/shared Service Center services.

• Active Protection Against Ransomware: AI-based Ransomware Identification and Cleanup
  Progent's Active Protection Against Ransomware is an endpoint protection (EPP) service that incorporates cutting edge behavior-based analysis technology to guard endpoints and servers and VMs against modern malware assaults such as ransomware and email phishing, which easily escape traditional signature-matching AV tools. Progent ASM services safeguard on-premises and cloud resources and provides a single platform to manage the entire threat progression including protection, detection, containment, cleanup, and forensics. Top features include one-click rollback using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service and real-time network-wide immunization against newly discovered threats. Find out more about Progent's ransomware defense and cleanup services.

• ProSight IT Asset Management: Network Documentation Management
  Progent's ProSight IT Asset Management service is a cloud-based IT documentation management service that makes it easy to create, maintain, retrieve and protect information about your IT infrastructure, procedures, business apps, and services. You can quickly locate passwords or serial numbers and be alerted about upcoming expirations of SSL certificates or warranties. By cleaning up and managing your IT documentation, you can eliminate as much as 50% of time spent searching for critical information about your IT network. ProSight IT Asset Management includes a common location for holding and sharing all documents related to managing your network infrastructure like standard operating procedures and self-service instructions. ProSight IT Asset Management also supports a high level of automation for gathering and associating IT data. Whether you're making improvements, doing maintenance, or responding to an emergency, ProSight IT Asset Management gets you the information you need the instant you need it. Read more about ProSight IT Asset Management service.

• Progent's Patch Management: Patch Management Services
  Progent's support services for software and firmware patch management offer organizations of all sizes a versatile and affordable solution for evaluating, testing, scheduling, applying, and documenting updates to your ever-evolving IT system. In addition to optimizing the protection and functionality of your computer network, Progent's patch management services free up time for your in-house IT staff to concentrate on more strategic initiatives and tasks that derive the highest business value from your network. Learn more about Progent's software/firmware update management services.

• ProSight Virtual Hosting: Hosted Virtual Machines at Progent's World-class Data Center
  With Progent's ProSight Virtual Hosting service, a small business can have its critical servers and applications hosted in a secure fault tolerant data center on a fast virtual host set up and managed by Progent's network support experts. With 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 easily to a different hardware environment without a time-consuming and difficult reinstallation process. With ProSight Virtual Hosting, you are not locked into a single hosting service. Learn more about ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

• ProSight Active Security Monitoring: Endpoint Protection and Ransomware Defense
  ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) is an endpoint protection (EPP) service that utilizes SentinelOne's next generation behavior machine learning technology to guard physical and virtual endpoint devices against modern malware assaults such as ransomware and file-less exploits, which easily escape legacy signature-based AV tools. ProSight ASM safeguards local and cloud-based resources and offers a unified platform to address the entire malware attack progression including protection, detection, mitigation, cleanup, and post-attack forensics. Top features include single-click rollback with Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service and automatic system-wide immunization against new threats. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. Read more about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware defense.

• ProSight Enhanced Security Protection: Endpoint Security and Microsoft Exchange Filtering
  Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection managed services offer ultra-affordable in-depth security for physical servers and virtual machines, workstations, smartphones, and Exchange Server. ProSight ESP uses adaptive security and advanced machine learning for continuously monitoring and reacting to security assaults from all attack vectors. ProSight ESP provides two-way firewall protection, penetration alerts, device control, and web filtering via cutting-edge tools incorporated within a single agent managed from a single control. Progent's security and virtualization experts can assist your business to plan and configure a ProSight ESP deployment that meets your company's unique needs and that helps you demonstrate compliance with government and industry information protection standards. Progent will help you define and configure security policies that ProSight ESP will enforce, and Progent will monitor your IT environment and react to alerts that require urgent attention. Progent can also assist your company to install 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 cyber attack like ransomware. Learn more about Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection unified endpoint security and Microsoft Exchange filtering.