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Crypto-Ransomware : Your Crippling Information Technology Catastrophe
Crypto-Ransomware has become a too-frequent cyberplague that presents an enterprise-level threat for businesses poorly prepared for an assault. Different iterations of ransomware like the CryptoLocker, WannaCry, Bad Rabbit, SamSam and MongoLock cryptoworms have been running rampant for years and continue to inflict havoc. Modern variants of ransomware such as Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, DopplePaymer, Conti or Egregor, along with daily as yet unnamed newcomers, not only encrypt on-line information but also infiltrate most available system backups. Information synched to the cloud can also be held hostage. In a poorly architected data protection solution, this can render automatic recovery hopeless and effectively knocks the datacenter back to square one.

Restoring programs and information after a ransomware outage becomes a race against the clock as the targeted business struggles to stop lateral movement, clear the ransomware, and resume mission-critical operations. Due to the fact that ransomware needs time to replicate, assaults are often sprung on weekends, when attacks in many cases take longer to detect. This compounds the difficulty of rapidly assembling and coordinating a capable response team.

Progent makes available a variety of support services for protecting businesses from crypto-ransomware attacks. These include staff training to help recognize and not fall victim to phishing attempts, ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) for remote monitoring and management, plus setup and configuration of next-generation security solutions with artificial intelligence technology from SentinelOne to detect and disable day-zero cyber threats intelligently. Progent in addition offers the services of experienced crypto-ransomware recovery consultants with the talent and commitment to restore a compromised environment as rapidly as possible.

Progent's Ransomware Recovery Services
Subsequent to a crypto-ransomware event, even paying the ransom in cryptocurrency does not ensure that cyber criminals will respond with the needed codes to decipher any or all of your information. Kaspersky Labs ascertained that seventeen percent of ransomware victims never restored their files even after having sent off the ransom, resulting in more losses. The gamble is also very costly. Ryuk ransoms are often several hundred thousand dollars. For larger organizations, the ransom can be in the millions of dollars. The fallback is to setup from scratch the essential components of your Information Technology environment. Without access to complete system backups, this requires a broad range of skills, well-coordinated project management, and the willingness to work non-stop until the task is completed.

For two decades, Progent has provided professional 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 been awarded top certifications in foundation technologies such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and popular distributions of Linux. Progent's cyber security specialists have earned internationally-recognized certifications including CISA, CISSP, ISACA CRISC, SANS GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (Refer to Progent's certifications). Progent in addition has experience with accounting and ERP application software. This breadth of expertise affords Progent the capability to rapidly understand important systems and organize the remaining components of your IT system after a ransomware attack and assemble them into a functioning network.

Progent's ransomware team deploys best of breed project management systems to orchestrate the complex restoration process. Progent appreciates the importance of acting rapidly and in unison with a client's management and IT team members to prioritize tasks and to put the most important services back on line as fast as possible.

Customer Story: A Successful Ransomware Penetration Restoration
A business escalated to Progent after their network system was penetrated by Ryuk crypto-ransomware. Ryuk is thought to have been deployed by Northern Korean government sponsored cybercriminals, possibly adopting strategies exposed from America's National Security Agency. Ryuk attacks specific businesses with little ability to sustain disruption and is among the most lucrative versions of ransomware. Major targets include Data Resolution, a California-based data warehousing and cloud computing firm, and the Chicago Tribune. Progent's client is a regional manufacturing business based in the Chicago metro area and has around 500 staff members. The Ryuk intrusion had disabled all essential operations and manufacturing processes. The majority of the client's data protection had been on-line at the time of the attack and were destroyed. The client was actively seeking loans for paying the ransom demand (more than two hundred thousand dollars) and praying for good luck, but ultimately brought in Progent.

Progent worked with the customer to quickly get our arms around and assign priority to the critical applications that needed to be restored in order to resume company functions:

• Active Directory (AD)
• Microsoft Exchange Server
• MRP System

In less than 48 hours, Progent was able to recover Active Directory to its pre-penetration state. Progent then helped perform setup and hard drive recovery of mission critical systems. All Microsoft Exchange Server schema and configuration information were usable, which facilitated the restore of Exchange. Progent was able to assemble intact OST data files (Outlook Offline Data Files) on team workstations and laptops in order to recover email messages. A recent offline backup of the client's manufacturing systems made it possible to restore these vital applications back online. Although a lot of work remained to recover fully from the Ryuk virus, core systems were recovered quickly:

During the next couple of weeks key milestones in the recovery process were made in tight cooperation between Progent team members and the customer:

• Self-hosted web sites were returned to operation without losing any information.
• The MailStore Exchange Server exceeding four million historical messages was brought online and accessible to users.
• CRM/Customer Orders/Invoicing/Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivables (AR)/Inventory Control functions were 100 percent recovered.
• A new Palo Alto Networks 850 security appliance was brought online.
• Ninety percent of the user desktops were fully operational.

Conclusion
A likely business-ending disaster was averted by results-oriented experts, a wide array of subject matter expertise, and close collaboration. Although in analyzing the event afterwards the ransomware virus incident detailed here should have been stopped with up-to-date cyber security technology and NIST Cybersecurity Framework or ISO/IEC 27001 best practices, staff education, and appropriate security procedures for information backup and keeping systems up to date with security patches, the reality is that government-sponsored criminal cyber gangs from Russia, North Korea and elsewhere are relentless and represent an ongoing threat. If you do fall victim to a ransomware incident, remember that Progent's team of professionals has substantial experience in ransomware virus blocking, cleanup, and data disaster recovery.

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

Additional Crypto-Ransomware Protection Services Available from Progent
Progent offers companies in Ribeirão Preto a portfolio of online monitoring and security assessment services to assist you to reduce the threat from crypto-ransomware. These services include next-generation machine learning technology to detect new variants of ransomware that are able to evade traditional signature-based security products.

• ProSight Managed Service Packages: for Small to Mid-size Businesses
  Progent's ProSight Managed IT Service Packages make it realistic for small and mid-size companies to deploy Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) technology to achieve advanced IT resilience. Progent handles the necessary monitoring and maintenance for you, so your system expands easily without holding you back. For a low and predictable monthly price, Progent's experienced IT group can be your complete technology safety net. Entry-level plans include remote monitoring and management (RMM), security, automatic monthly patching, and reporting. As your needs expand, you can add low-cost subscriptions to advanced solutions like as SaaS M365/Google Workspace backup, 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 managed service that uses advanced remote monitoring and management technology to help keep your network operating at peak levels by tracking the health of critical assets that power your information system. When ProSight LAN Watch uncovers a problem, an alarm is sent automatically to your designated IT management personnel and your Progent consultant so that any potential issues can be resolved before they can impact your network. Learn more details about ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop remote monitoring services.

• ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM: Unified RMM for Networks, Servers, and Workstations
  ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM software offers a centralized, cloud-based platform for monitoring and managing your network, server, and desktop devices by providing an environment for performing common time-consuming jobs. These include health monitoring, update management, automated remediation, endpoint setup, backup and restore, A/V protection, secure remote access, standard and custom scripts, asset inventory, endpoint profile reports, and troubleshooting support. When ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM identifies a serious problem, it sends an alert to your specified IT management personnel and your assigned Progent consultant so that potential problems can be taken care of before they impact your network. Find out more about ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM server and desktop monitoring services.

• ProSight WAN Watch: Network Infrastructure Management
  ProSight WAN Watch is a network infrastructure management service that makes it simple and inexpensive for smaller businesses to diagram, track, reconfigure and debug their connectivity hardware like routers and switches, firewalls, and access points as well as servers, printers, client computers and other networked devices. Using state-of-the-art RMM technology, WAN Watch ensures that network maps are kept updated, copies and manages the configuration information of virtually all devices on your network, tracks performance, and generates notices when problems are detected. By automating complex management and troubleshooting activities, ProSight WAN Watch can knock hours off ordinary chores such as making network diagrams, expanding your network, locating appliances that require important software patches, or resolving performance bottlenecks. Find out more about ProSight WAN Watch infrastructure management services.

• ProSight Reporting: In-depth Reporting for Ticketing and Network Monitoring Platforms
  ProSight Reporting is an expanding family of real-time reporting tools created to integrate with the top ticketing and remote network monitoring platforms such as 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 spotty support follow-through or machines with missing patches. By identifying ticketing or network health problems concisely and in near-real time, ProSight Reporting enhances network value, reduces management overhead, and saves money. For more information, see ProSight Reporting for ticketing and network monitoring applications.

• ProSight Data Protection Services: Backup and Recovery Services
  Progent has partnered with advanced backup/restore technology providers to produce ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS), a family of subscription-based management offerings that deliver backup-as-a-service. ProSight DPS products automate and monitor your data backup operations and enable transparent backup and rapid restoration of vital files, apps, images, and VMs. ProSight DPS helps you recover from data loss resulting from equipment failures, natural calamities, fire, malware such as ransomware, human error, malicious employees, or application bugs. Managed services in the ProSight Data Protection Services portfolio include ProSight DPS Altaro VM Backup, ProSight 365 Total Backup (formerly Altaro 365 Backup), ProSight ECHO Backup using Barracuda purpose-built storage, and ProSight DPS MSP360 Cloud and On-prem Backup. Your Progent expert can assist 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 filtering and email encryption service that uses the technology of leading data security companies to provide web-based control and world-class protection for all your email traffic. The hybrid architecture of Email Guard combines a Cloud Protection Layer with an on-premises gateway appliance to provide advanced defense against spam, viruses, Dos Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks (DHAs), and other email-borne malware. Email Guard's cloud filter acts as a first line of defense and keeps the vast majority of unwanted email from making it to your network firewall. This decreases your vulnerability to external attacks and conserves system bandwidth and storage. Email Guard's onsite security gateway device provides a further level of analysis for incoming email. For outgoing email, the on-premises security gateway offers anti-virus and anti-spam protection, DLP, and email encryption. The on-premises security gateway can also assist Exchange Server to track and protect internal email that stays within your corporate firewall. For more information, visit Email Guard spam and content filtering.

• ProSight Duo Multi-Factor Authentication: Identity Validation, Endpoint Remediation, and Protected Single Sign-on (SSO)
  Progent's Duo MFA services incorporate Cisco's Duo technology to protect against compromised passwords by using two-factor authentication. Duo enables single-tap identity confirmation with Apple iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. With Duo 2FA, whenever you log into a secured online account and give your password you are asked to verify your identity via a unit that only you have and that is accessed using a different network channel. A broad range of devices can be utilized for this second form of ID validation including an iPhone or Android or wearable, a hardware token, a landline phone, etc. You can designate several validation devices. To learn more about Duo identity validation services, visit Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services.

• Progent's Outsourced/Shared Call Desk: Help Desk Managed Services
  Progent's Support Center services permit your IT staff to outsource Support Desk services to Progent or divide responsibilities for support services transparently between your in-house network support staff and Progent's extensive pool of IT support technicians, engineers and subject matter experts (SMEs). Progent's Shared Service Desk provides a smooth supplement to your in-house support team. User access to the Service Desk, delivery of support services, escalation, ticket creation and tracking, efficiency metrics, and management of the service database are consistent regardless of whether incidents are resolved by your internal IT support resources, by Progent, or a mix of the two. Find out more about Progent's outsourced/shared Service Desk services.

• Progent Active Protection Against Ransomware: Machine Learning-based Ransomware Identification and Cleanup
  Progent's Active Protection Against Ransomware is an endpoint protection (EPP) managed service that utilizes next generation behavior analysis technology to defend endpoints and physical and virtual servers against modern malware attacks like ransomware and email phishing, which easily escape traditional signature-based AV tools. Progent Active Security Monitoring services protect local and cloud-based resources and provides a single platform to manage the complete threat lifecycle including blocking, infiltration detection, mitigation, remediation, and forensics. Top features include one-click rollback with Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service and automatic system-wide immunization against newly discovered threats. Read 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 allows you to capture, maintain, retrieve and protect data related to your network infrastructure, processes, applications, and services. You can instantly find passwords or serial numbers and be alerted about impending expirations of SSL certificates or warranties. By updating and managing your IT infrastructure documentation, you can eliminate as much as half of time spent trying to find critical information about your IT network. ProSight IT Asset Management features a common repository for storing and collaborating on 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 collecting and associating IT information. Whether you're planning enhancements, performing maintenance, or responding to a crisis, ProSight IT Asset Management gets you the data you require when you need it. Find out more about ProSight IT Asset Management service.

• Patch Management: Patch Management Services
  Progent's managed services for software and firmware patch management provide businesses of all sizes a flexible and affordable solution for assessing, validating, scheduling, implementing, and documenting updates to your ever-evolving IT system. In addition to optimizing the protection and functionality of your computer network, Progent's software/firmware update management services free up time for your IT team to focus on more strategic initiatives and tasks that derive maximum business value from your information network. Learn more about Progent's patch management support services.

• ProSight Virtual Hosting: Hosted VMs at Progent's World-class Data Center
  With Progent's ProSight Virtual Hosting service, a small or mid-size business can have its key servers and apps hosted in a protected fault tolerant data center on a high-performance virtual machine host configured and maintained by Progent's IT support experts. Under the ProSight Virtual Hosting service model, the client retains ownership of the data, the OS platforms, and the applications. Because the environment is virtualized, it can be ported immediately to a different hosting solution without a time-consuming and technically risky configuration procedure. With ProSight Virtual Hosting, you are not locked into one hosting provider. Learn more about ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

• ProSight Active Security Monitoring: Endpoint Protection and Ransomware Defense
  ProSight Active Security Monitoring is an endpoint protection service that utilizes SentinelOne's next generation behavior analysis tools to guard physical and virtual endpoints against new malware assaults such as ransomware and email phishing, which easily evade traditional signature-matching AV products. ProSight ASM safeguards local and cloud-based resources and offers a unified platform to address the entire malware attack lifecycle including blocking, detection, mitigation, cleanup, and forensics. Top features include single-click rollback using Windows VSS and automatic network-wide immunization against new threats. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. Read more about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring endpoint protection and ransomware recovery.

• ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP): Endpoint Security and Exchange Email Filtering
  Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection managed services offer ultra-affordable in-depth security for physical servers and virtual machines, workstations, mobile devices, and Exchange Server. ProSight ESP utilizes contextual security and advanced machine learning for continuously monitoring and responding to cyber assaults from all attack vectors. ProSight ESP provides two-way firewall protection, intrusion alerts, device control, and web filtering via cutting-edge technologies incorporated within a single agent managed from a unified control. Progent's data protection and virtualization experts can assist your business to design and configure a ProSight ESP deployment that addresses your company's unique needs and that helps you prove compliance with government and industry data security regulations. Progent will help you specify and implement security policies that ProSight ESP will enforce, and Progent will monitor your IT environment and react to alerts that require immediate attention. Progent's consultants can also help you to set up and test a backup and restore solution such as ProSight Data Protection Services so you can recover rapidly from a destructive cyber attack like ransomware. Learn more about Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) unified physical and virtual endpoint protection and Microsoft Exchange email filtering.