Hayward 24-Hour Urgent Crypto-Ransomware
Malware Damage Assessment and Removal Consulting

Ransomware : Your Feared IT Catastrophe
Ransomware has become an escalating cyberplague that poses an existential danger for organizations unprepared for an assault. Different iterations of crypto-ransomware such as CryptoLocker, WannaCry, Locky, SamSam and MongoLock cryptoworms have been replicating for years and continue to cause damage. Newer strains of crypto-ransomware like Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, Netwalker, Snatch or Nephilim, as well as additional as yet unnamed newcomers, not only encrypt on-line data files but also infiltrate most available system backups. Files synchronized to the cloud can also be encrypted. In a poorly designed system, it can render any restore operations impossible and effectively knocks the network back to square one.

Restoring services and data following a crypto-ransomware outage becomes a race against the clock as the targeted business struggles to contain, cleanup the ransomware, and resume enterprise-critical activity. Since ransomware needs time to move laterally, attacks are usually sprung during weekends and nights, when attacks are likely to take more time to uncover. This multiplies the difficulty of quickly assembling and organizing a knowledgeable mitigation team.

Progent provides an assortment of solutions for protecting enterprises from crypto-ransomware attacks. Among these are user education to become familiar with and not fall victim to phishing exploits, ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) for remote monitoring and management, plus installation of next-generation security gateways with AI capabilities from SentinelOne to discover and disable new threats rapidly. Progent in addition can provide the assistance of seasoned ransomware recovery engineers with the skills and commitment to re-deploy a breached environment as soon as possible.

Progent's Crypto-Ransomware Recovery Help
Soon after a ransomware penetration, paying the ransom in cryptocurrency does not ensure that cyber hackers will return the keys to unencrypt any of your data. Kaspersky Labs determined that 17% of crypto-ransomware victims never recovered their data even after having sent off the ransom, resulting in increased losses. The risk is also very costly. Ryuk ransoms are typically a few hundred thousand dollars. For larger organizations, the ransom demand can be in the millions of dollars. The alternative is to piece back together the key elements of your IT environment. Absent the availability of essential information backups, this requires a broad complement of skill sets, top notch team management, and the capability to work continuously until the recovery project is over.

For two decades, Progent has made available certified expert Information Technology services for businesses throughout the United States and has earned 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 certifications in key technologies including Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and major distributions of Linux. Progent's cyber security specialists have garnered internationally-recognized certifications including CISA, CISSP-ISSAP, ISACA CRISC, GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (See Progent's certifications). Progent in addition has expertise with financial systems and ERP applications. This breadth of experience provides Progent the skills to quickly understand necessary systems and re-organize the surviving components of your network system following a ransomware event and configure them into a functioning system.

Progent's ransomware group deploys best of breed project management tools to coordinate the complicated restoration process. Progent appreciates the importance of working rapidly and together with a client's management and IT team members to prioritize tasks and to get the most important systems back online as fast as humanly possible.

Customer Story: A Successful Crypto-Ransomware Penetration Response
A customer engaged Progent after their network was crashed by Ryuk ransomware virus. Ryuk is believed to have been launched by North Korean state hackers, possibly using strategies exposed from the United States NSA organization. Ryuk seeks specific companies with little room for operational disruption and is one of the most profitable iterations of ransomware. Well Known organizations include Data Resolution, a California-based information warehousing and cloud computing company, and the Chicago Tribune. Progent's client is a single-location manufacturing company headquartered in the Chicago metro area and has about 500 staff members. The Ryuk penetration had disabled all company operations and manufacturing capabilities. The majority of the client's information backups had been on-line at the beginning of the attack and were eventually encrypted. The client was taking steps for paying the ransom demand (more than $200K) and praying for good luck, but ultimately brought in Progent.

Progent worked hand in hand the client to quickly get our arms around and prioritize the critical elements that needed to be recovered to make it possible to continue company operations:

• Windows Active Directory
• Electronic Messaging
• MRP System

In less than two days, Progent was able to restore Active Directory services to its pre-penetration state. Progent then accomplished reinstallations and hard drive recovery of critical servers. All Exchange ties and configuration information were usable, which facilitated the rebuild of Exchange. Progent was also able to assemble local OST data files (Microsoft Outlook Offline Folder Files) on various workstations and laptops in order to recover email data. A recent offline backup of the businesses financials/ERP software made them able to recover these required services back servicing users. Although a large amount of work still had to be done to recover completely from the Ryuk event, the most important systems were restored rapidly:

During the next couple of weeks critical milestones in the restoration project were made through close collaboration between Progent consultants and the client:

• Internal web sites were returned to operation with no loss of information.
• The MailStore Microsoft Exchange Server with over four million archived emails was brought online and accessible to users.
• CRM/Orders/Invoices/Accounts Payable (AP)/Accounts Receivables/Inventory Control modules were 100% operational.
• A new Palo Alto Networks 850 firewall was deployed.
• Nearly all of the desktops and laptops were functioning as before the incident.

Conclusion
A potential business-ending catastrophe was dodged with results-oriented professionals, a wide range of subject matter expertise, and tight teamwork. Although in analyzing the event afterwards the ransomware attack described here could have been stopped with current cyber security technology solutions and recognized best practices, user and IT administrator training, and well thought out incident response procedures for information protection and proper patching controls, the fact remains that government-sponsored cyber criminals from Russia, China and elsewhere are relentless and represent an ongoing threat. If you do fall victim to a ransomware attack, feel confident that Progent's roster of professionals has proven experience in ransomware virus defense, removal, and data restoration.

To review 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 Available from Progent
Progent offers companies in Hayward a portfolio of online monitoring and security assessment services designed to assist you to minimize the threat from crypto-ransomware. These services incorporate modern artificial intelligence capability to uncover new strains of ransomware that are able to escape detection by legacy signature-based anti-virus products.

• ProSight Managed Service Plans: for Small to Mid-size Businesses
  Progent's ProSight Managed IT Service Plans make it possible for small and mid-size businesses to utilize Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) technology to create advanced IT resilience. Progent takes care of the necessary monitoring and maintenance for you, so your network scales easily 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 plans include remote monitoring and management, cybersecurity, monthly patching, and documentation. As your requirements expand, you can add low-cost subscriptions to advanced 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 Remote Monitoring
  ProSight LAN Watch is Progent's server and desktop monitoring service that incorporates advanced remote monitoring and management technology to keep your IT system operating at peak levels by tracking the health of vital computers that drive your information system. When ProSight LAN Watch detects an issue, an alert is sent immediately to your specified IT management personnel and your assigned Progent consultant so that all looming issues can be addressed before they can disrupt productivity. Learn more about ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop remote 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 centralized, cloud-based solution for monitoring and managing your network, server, and desktop devices by providing tools for performing common time-consuming jobs. These include health monitoring, update management, automated remediation, endpoint configuration, backup and recovery, A/V defense, secure remote access, built-in and custom scripts, resource inventory, endpoint profile reporting, and debugging assistance. If ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM uncovers a serious problem, it transmits an alarm to your designated IT management personnel and your assigned Progent technical consultant so potential issues can be fixed before they impact productivity. Learn more details about ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM server and desktop monitoring consulting.

• ProSight WAN Watch: Network Infrastructure Remote Monitoring and Management
  Progent's ProSight WAN Watch is an infrastructure monitoring and management service that makes it easy and affordable for smaller organizations to diagram, monitor, reconfigure and troubleshoot their networking hardware like routers and switches, firewalls, and access points as well as servers, printers, endpoints and other networked devices. Incorporating cutting-edge Remote Monitoring and Management technology, WAN Watch makes sure that network diagrams are always updated, captures and manages the configuration of almost all devices connected to your network, monitors performance, and sends notices when issues are discovered. By automating time-consuming management activities, WAN Watch can knock hours off ordinary tasks such as making network diagrams, reconfiguring your network, finding devices that require important software patches, or identifying the cause of performance problems. Learn more details about ProSight WAN Watch network infrastructure management consulting.

• ProSight Reporting: In-depth Reporting for Ticketing and Network Monitoring Applications
  ProSight Reporting is a growing suite of real-time reporting tools designed to work with the industry's top ticketing and remote network monitoring platforms including ConnectWise Manage, ConnectWise Automate, Customer Thermometer, Auvik, and SentinelOne. ProSight Reporting incorporates Microsoft Graph and features color coding to highlight and contextualize key issues such as inconsistent support follow-through or endpoints with out-of-date AVs. By identifying ticketing or network health concerns clearly and in near-real time, ProSight Reporting improves network value, reduces management hassle, and saves money. For more information, see ProSight Reporting for ticketing and network monitoring applications.

• ProSight Data Protection Services: Backup and Disaster Recovery Services
  Progent has worked with leading backup software providers to create ProSight Data Protection Services, a selection of subscription-based offerings that deliver backup-as-a-service (BaaS). ProSight DPS products automate and track your data backup operations and allow transparent backup and fast recovery of vital files, applications, system images, plus Hyper-V and VMware virtual machines. ProSight DPS helps your business protect against data loss resulting from hardware failures, natural calamities, fire, cyber attacks such as ransomware, human mistakes, ill-intentioned employees, or software glitches. Managed backup services in the ProSight Data Protection Services portfolio include ProSight Altaro VM Backup, ProSight 365 Total Backup (formerly Altaro 365 Backup), ProSight ECHO Backup using Barracuda purpose-built storage, and ProSight DPS MSP360 Hybrid Backup. Your Progent consultant can assist you to determine which of these fully managed backup 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 and virus filtering and email encryption service that uses the infrastructure of top information security companies to provide web-based management and comprehensive protection for all your email traffic. The hybrid architecture of Email Guard managed service combines a Cloud Protection Layer with a local gateway appliance to provide advanced defense against spam, viruses, Dos Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks, and other email-based threats. The Cloud Protection Layer acts as a first line of defense and keeps most threats from making it to your network firewall. This decreases your vulnerability to inbound attacks and saves system bandwidth and storage. Email Guard's on-premises security gateway device provides a further layer of inspection for incoming email. For outbound email, the onsite gateway provides AV and anti-spam protection, policy-based Data Loss Prevention, and email encryption. The on-premises gateway can also assist Exchange Server to track and safeguard internal email traffic that originates and ends within your security perimeter. For more information, see Email Guard spam filtering and data leakage protection.

• ProSight Duo Multi-Factor Authentication: Access Security, Endpoint Policy Enforcement, and Protected Single Sign-on (SSO)
  Progent's Duo MFA managed services incorporate Cisco's Duo technology to defend against password theft through the use of two-factor authentication (2FA). Duo supports single-tap identity verification on Apple iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. Using 2FA, when you log into a secured application and enter your password you are requested to verify who you are on a device that only you have and that is accessed using a different ("out-of-band") network channel. A wide selection of devices can be utilized as this second form of ID validation including an iPhone or Android or wearable, a hardware token, a landline phone, etc. You may register multiple verification devices. For details about ProSight Duo two-factor identity validation services, go to Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services.

• Outsourced/Co-managed Help Center: Call Center Managed Services
  Progent's Call Desk managed services allow your information technology team to outsource Help Desk services to Progent or divide activity for support services transparently between your in-house support resources and Progent's nationwide roster of IT support engineers and subject matter experts (SMEs). Progent's Shared Help Desk Service provides a transparent extension of your corporate network support staff. User access to the Help Desk, provision of technical assistance, escalation, ticket creation and updates, efficiency measurement, and management of the service database are consistent whether incidents are resolved by your internal IT support organization, by Progent's team, or by a combination. Find out more about Progent's outsourced/co-managed Call Center services.

• Progent Active Defense Against Ransomware: Machine Learning-based Ransomware Detection and Cleanup
  Progent's Active Protection Against Ransomware is an endpoint protection (EPP) service that utilizes cutting edge behavior analysis technology to guard endpoints as well as physical and virtual servers against new malware assaults like ransomware and file-less exploits, which easily evade legacy signature-matching AV products. Progent Active Security Monitoring services safeguard local and cloud resources and offers a single platform to address the entire threat lifecycle including protection, infiltration detection, mitigation, cleanup, and forensics. Top capabilities include one-click rollback using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and real-time system-wide immunization against new 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 a cloud-based IT documentation management service that allows you to capture, maintain, find and protect data related to your network infrastructure, procedures, applications, and services. You can instantly locate passwords or serial numbers and be warned automatically about impending expirations of SSLs ,domains or warranties. By updating and managing your IT infrastructure documentation, you can save up to 50% of time spent searching for vital information about your network. ProSight IT Asset Management features a centralized location for storing and collaborating on all documents required for managing your network infrastructure such as standard operating procedures and self-service instructions. ProSight IT Asset Management also offers advanced automation for gathering and relating IT information. Whether you're planning enhancements, doing maintenance, or responding to a crisis, ProSight IT Asset Management delivers the data you require the instant you need it. Learn more about ProSight IT Asset Management service.

• Patch Management: Patch Management Services
  Progent's support services for software and firmware patch management provide organizations of any size a flexible and affordable alternative for evaluating, testing, scheduling, implementing, and tracking software and firmware updates to your dynamic information system. Besides optimizing the protection and reliability of your IT environment, Progent's patch management services free up time for your in-house IT team to concentrate on more strategic projects and tasks that derive 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 Tier III Data Center
  With ProSight Virtual Hosting service, a small or mid-size business can have its critical servers and applications hosted in a protected fault tolerant data center on a fast virtual machine host configured and maintained by Progent's IT support professionals. Under the ProSight Virtual Hosting service model, the client retains ownership of the data, the operating system software, and the apps. Because the environment is virtualized, it can be moved easily to a different hosting environment without requiring a time-consuming and difficult reinstallation process. With ProSight Virtual Hosting, you are not locked into one hosting service. Learn more details 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-based analysis tools to guard physical and virtual endpoints against new malware attacks like ransomware and email phishing, which easily escape traditional signature-matching AV products. ProSight ASM safeguards on-premises and cloud-based resources and offers a unified platform to automate the entire malware attack progression including blocking, identification, containment, cleanup, and post-attack forensics. Top features include one-click rollback using Windows VSS and real-time system-wide immunization against newly discovered attacks. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, reseller, and integrator. Read more about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware defense.

• ProSight Enhanced Security Protection: Physical and Virtual Endpoint Security and Exchange Email Filtering
  ProSight Enhanced Security Protection services offer ultra-affordable multi-layer protection for physical servers and virtual machines, workstations, smartphones, and Exchange Server. ProSight ESP utilizes adaptive security and modern behavior analysis for round-the-clock monitoring and reacting to security assaults from all attack vectors. ProSight ESP provides two-way firewall protection, intrusion alarms, endpoint management, and web filtering through cutting-edge technologies packaged within one agent accessible from a unified control. Progent's data protection and virtualization consultants can assist you to design and configure a ProSight ESP deployment that addresses your organization's unique requirements and that allows you achieve and demonstrate compliance with legal and industry information protection standards. Progent will assist you define and implement policies that ProSight ESP will enforce, and Progent will monitor your IT environment and react to alarms that call for urgent attention. Progent can also help your company to install and test a backup and disaster recovery system like ProSight Data Protection Services so you can recover quickly from a destructive cyber attack like ransomware. Read more about Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) unified endpoint security and Exchange filtering.