El Paso Ransomware Prevention and Cleanup Solutions

Ransomware has been widely adopted by cyber extortionists and bad-actor governments, representing a possibly existential threat to companies that fall victim. The latest strains of crypto-ransomware target all vulnerable resources, including backup, making even partial restoration a challenging and costly exercise. New versions of crypto-ransomware like Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, Netwalker, DopplePaymer, LockBit and Nephilim have emerged, replacing WannaCry, Cerber, and CryptoWall in prominence, sophistication, and destructive impact.

Most crypto-ransomware penetrations are the result of innocuous-looking emails that have dangerous hyperlinks or attachments, and a high percentage are so-called "zero-day" variants that can escape detection by legacy signature-matching antivirus (AV) tools. Although user training and frontline detection are important to defend against ransomware attacks, leading practices demand that you take for granted some attacks will inevitably succeed and that you prepare a strong backup solution that enables you to restore files and services rapidly with little if any damage.

Progent's ProSight Ransomware Vulnerability Checkup is an ultra-affordable service built around a remote discussion with a Progent security consultant skilled in ransomware defense and recovery. During this assessment Progent will cooperate with your El Paso IT managers to gather pertinent data about your security configuration and backup environment. Progent will utilize this data to produce a Basic Security and Best Practices Assessment documenting how to adhere to best practices for configuring and managing your cybersecurity and backup systems to block or clean up after a crypto-ransomware attack.

Progent's Basic Security and Best Practices Report highlights vital areas related to crypto-ransomware prevention and restoration recovery. The review addresses:

Security

• Correct use of administration accounts
• Correct NTFS (New Technology File System) and SMB (Server Message Block) permissions
• Optimal firewall setup
• Secure Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) configuration
• Recommend AntiVirus (AV) filtering identification and deployment

• Split permission model for backup integrity
• Protecting critical servers including Active Directory
• Offsite backups with cloud backup to Microsoft Azure

About Ransomware
Ransomware is a variety of malware that encrypts or steals a victim's files so they cannot be used or are publicized. Ransomware sometimes locks the target's computer. To avoid the carnage, the target is asked to pay a specified amount of money (the ransom), typically via a crypto currency such as Bitcoin, within a short period of time. It is never certain that paying the ransom will restore the lost data or prevent its publication. Files can be encrypted or deleted throughout a network based on the target's write permissions, and you cannot solve the strong encryption technologies used on the hostage files. A common ransomware attack vector is booby-trapped email, in which the target is lured into interacting with by a social engineering exploit called spear phishing. This makes the email message to look as though it came from a familiar sender. Another popular vulnerability is an improperly protected RDP port.

The ransomware variant CryptoLocker ushered in the new age of ransomware in 2013, and the monetary losses attributed to by the many versions of ransomware is said to be billions of dollars annually, more than doubling every two years. Notorious examples include WannaCry, and Petya. Current headline variants like Ryuk, Maze and CryptoWall are more sophisticated and have caused more damage than older strains. Even if your backup procedures allow your business to restore your encrypted data, you can still be threatened by exfiltration, where ransomed data are made public (known as "doxxing"). Because new variants of ransomware crop up daily, there is no certainty that traditional signature-based anti-virus filters will block a new malware. If threat does show up in an email, it is important that your end users have been taught to be aware of phishing techniques. Your last line of protection is a solid process for performing and retaining remote backups plus the deployment of dependable recovery platforms.

Ask Progent About the ProSight Ransomware Susceptibility Consultation in El Paso
For pricing information and to find out more about how Progent's ProSight Ransomware Preparedness Review can bolster your defense against ransomware in El Paso, call Progent at 800-462-8800 or visit Contact Progent.