24-7 Santa Rosa Critical Ransomware
Computer Malware Detection and Restoration Services

Ransomware : Your Worst IT Catastrophe
Crypto-Ransomware has become a modern cyber pandemic that represents an enterprise-level threat for businesses poorly prepared for an assault. Versions of crypto-ransomware such as CryptoLocker, WannaCry, Locky, SamSam and MongoLock cryptoworms have been running rampant for a long time and still inflict havoc. Newer strains of crypto-ransomware such as Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, Netwalker, Snatch or Egregor, along with frequent as yet unnamed newcomers, not only encrypt on-line data files but also infiltrate all configured system backups. Information synched to off-site disaster recovery sites can also be encrypted. In a poorly architected data protection solution, this can render automated restoration impossible and effectively sets the network back to zero.

Recovering applications and information following a crypto-ransomware intrusion becomes a race against time as the targeted business fights to stop lateral movement, eradicate the crypto-ransomware, and restore mission-critical activity. Since crypto-ransomware requires time to spread, attacks are usually sprung during weekends and nights, when successful attacks are likely to take longer to identify. This multiplies the difficulty of quickly assembling and coordinating a knowledgeable response team.

Progent provides a range of support services for securing enterprises from ransomware attacks. Among these are staff education to help recognize and not fall victim to phishing exploits, ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) for remote monitoring and management, plus installation of the latest generation security appliances with machine learning capabilities from SentinelOne to discover and quarantine day-zero cyber threats quickly. Progent in addition provides the assistance of seasoned ransomware recovery professionals with the talent and perseverance to re-deploy a compromised environment as quickly as possible.

Progent's Ransomware Recovery Help
After a crypto-ransomware penetration, even paying the ransom demands in cryptocurrency does not guarantee that criminal gangs will provide the keys to decrypt all your files. Kaspersky Labs estimated that 17% of crypto-ransomware victims never recovered their files even after having paid the ransom, resulting in additional losses. The risk is also very costly. Ryuk ransoms are often a few hundred thousand dollars. For larger organizations, the ransom demand can reach millions of dollars. The alternative is to re-install the essential elements of your IT environment. Without access to full information backups, this requires a wide complement of skill sets, professional team management, and the willingness to work continuously until the task is finished.

For twenty years, Progent has provided professional IT services for businesses across the US and has achieved Microsoft's Partnership certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's team of subject matter experts (SMEs) includes professionals who have attained top industry certifications in key technologies including Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and major distributions of Linux. Progent's cyber security specialists have earned internationally-recognized industry certifications including CISM, CISSP-ISSAP, ISACA CRISC, GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (See Progent's certifications). Progent in addition has experience with financial management and ERP applications. This breadth of experience affords Progent the capability to knowledgably understand important systems and organize the surviving components of your IT system after a crypto-ransomware event and rebuild them into a functioning network.

Progent's security group utilizes powerful project management systems to coordinate the sophisticated restoration process. Progent appreciates the importance of working quickly and together with a customer's management and Information Technology resources to assign priority to tasks and to get critical services back on line as fast as humanly possible.

Case Study: A Successful Crypto-Ransomware Intrusion Restoration
A customer sought out Progent after their company was crashed by Ryuk crypto-ransomware. Ryuk is generally considered to have been deployed by Northern Korean state sponsored criminal gangs, suspected of using approaches exposed from America's National Security Agency. Ryuk seeks specific organizations with little or no tolerance for disruption and is among the most profitable examples of ransomware viruses. Headline victims include Data Resolution, a California-based info warehousing and cloud computing company, and the Chicago Tribune. Progent's client is a regional manufacturing business headquartered in the Chicago metro area with around 500 workers. The Ryuk attack had brought down all company operations and manufacturing capabilities. Most of the client's system backups had been online at the time of the attack and were encrypted. The client was taking steps for paying the ransom (more than two hundred thousand dollars) and wishfully thinking for the best, but ultimately reached out to Progent.

Progent worked together with the customer to rapidly determine and assign priority to the essential elements that needed to be recovered to make it possible to restart departmental operations:

• Active Directory
• Email
• Accounting and Manufacturing Software

Within two days, Progent was able to rebuild Active Directory services to its pre-attack state. Progent then performed reinstallations and hard drive recovery on essential systems. All Microsoft Exchange Server ties and configuration information were usable, which facilitated the rebuild of Exchange. Progent was also able to assemble local OST files (Microsoft Outlook Off-Line Data Files) on user PCs in order to recover email data. A not too old offline backup of the customer's manufacturing software made them able to return these essential services back online. Although a lot of work was left to recover totally from the Ryuk damage, critical services were returned to operations quickly:

Throughout the next month key milestones in the restoration process were achieved in tight cooperation between Progent team members and the customer:

• Internal web sites were returned to operation with no loss of data.
• The MailStore Microsoft Exchange Server containing more than four million historical emails was spun up and accessible to users.
• CRM/Orders/Invoicing/AP/Accounts Receivables/Inventory Control functions were 100% operational.
• A new Palo Alto 850 firewall was brought on-line.
• 90% of the desktop computers were operational.

Conclusion
A likely business catastrophe was evaded through the efforts of dedicated experts, a broad spectrum of IT skills, and close teamwork. Although in hindsight the crypto-ransomware incident detailed here could have been identified and disabled with up-to-date security technology and best practices, user and IT administrator training, and properly executed security procedures for data protection and proper patching controls, the fact remains that state-sponsored cyber criminals from Russia, China and elsewhere are relentless and are an ongoing threat. If you do fall victim to a ransomware incursion, feel confident that Progent's roster of experts has extensive experience in ransomware virus defense, removal, and file recovery.

To review or download a PDF version of this customer story, click:
Progent's Ryuk Recovery Case Study Datasheet. (PDF - 282 KB)

Additional Crypto-Ransomware Protection Services Available from Progent
Progent can provide companies in Santa Rosa a range of remote monitoring and security assessment services to help you to minimize the threat from crypto-ransomware. These services utilize next-generation machine learning capability to uncover zero-day variants of crypto-ransomware that can escape detection by 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 achieve leading-edge IT resilience. Progent takes care of the daily monitoring and maintenance for you, so your network expands smoothly without holding you back. For an affordable and predictable monthly price, Progent's full-service IT team can be your complete technology safety net. Entry-level plans include RMM, cybersecurity, automatic monthly patching, and documentation. As your needs expand, you can add low-cost subscriptions to best-of-breed solutions like as SaaS M365/Google Workspace backup, Multi-Factor Authentication, penetration testing, or WiFi management.

• ProSight LAN Watch: Server and Desktop Monitoring
  ProSight LAN Watch is Progent's server and desktop monitoring managed service that uses state-of-the-art remote monitoring and management technology to keep your network running at peak levels by checking the health of vital assets that drive your business network. When ProSight LAN Watch detects an issue, an alert is sent immediately to your designated IT personnel and your Progent consultant so any looming problems can be addressed before they can impact productivity. Find out more about ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop monitoring services.

• ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM: Unified RMM Solution for Networks, Servers, and Workstations
  ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM software delivers a centralized, cloud-driven platform for managing your network, server, and desktop devices by offering an environment for streamlining common tedious tasks. These include health monitoring, patch management, automated remediation, endpoint configuration, backup and recovery, anti-virus protection, remote access, built-in and custom scripts, asset inventory, endpoint status reports, and troubleshooting help. If ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM uncovers a serious incident, it sends an alert to your designated IT management personnel and your assigned Progent consultant so that potential issues can be fixed before they impact your network. Learn more about ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM server and desktop monitoring consulting.

• ProSight WAN Watch: Infrastructure Remote Monitoring and Management
  ProSight WAN Watch is a network infrastructure management service that makes it simple and affordable for smaller businesses to diagram, monitor, optimize and debug their networking appliances like routers and switches, firewalls, and load balancers as well as servers, printers, endpoints and other devices. Incorporating cutting-edge Remote Monitoring and Management technology, ProSight WAN Watch ensures that infrastructure topology diagrams are always updated, copies and manages the configuration information of almost all devices on your network, tracks performance, and generates notices when issues are discovered. By automating time-consuming management and troubleshooting processes, ProSight WAN Watch can cut hours off ordinary tasks like making network diagrams, reconfiguring your network, finding devices that need important software patches, or isolating performance issues. Find out more details 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 in-depth reporting tools created to work with the leading ticketing and network monitoring applications including ConnectWise Manage, ConnectWise Automate, Customer Thermometer, Auvik, and SentinelOne. ProSight Reporting incorporates Microsoft Graph and utilizes color coding to highlight and contextualize critical issues such as spotty support follow-up or endpoints with out-of-date AVs. By exposing ticketing or network health concerns concisely and in near-real time, ProSight Reporting improves network value, lowers management hassle, and saves money. For details, visit ProSight Reporting for ticketing and network monitoring platforms.

• ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS): Backup and Disaster Recovery Services
  Progent has worked with advanced backup/restore technology providers to create ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS), a family of management offerings that deliver backup-as-a-service (BaaS). ProSight DPS services manage and track your data backup operations and enable transparent backup and fast recovery of vital files, apps, system images, and virtual machines. ProSight DPS helps you avoid data loss caused by equipment failures, natural disasters, fire, cyber attacks like ransomware, user mistakes, malicious employees, or application glitches. Managed services in the ProSight DPS portfolio include ProSight DPS Altaro VM Backup, ProSight 365 Total Backup (formerly Altaro 365 Backup), ProSight ECHO Backup using Barracuda purpose-built hardware, and ProSight MSP360 Cloud and On-prem Backup. Your Progent consultant can help you to identify which of these 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 incorporates the technology of top information security vendors to provide centralized control and comprehensive security for all your email traffic. The hybrid structure of Email Guard combines a Cloud Protection Layer with an on-premises gateway appliance to provide complete defense against spam, viruses, Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks, and other email-based malware. Email Guard's Cloud Protection Layer serves as a first line of defense and blocks most threats from making it to your network firewall. This decreases your exposure to external attacks and conserves network bandwidth and storage. Email Guard's onsite gateway appliance adds a deeper layer of inspection for incoming email. For outgoing email, the on-premises security gateway provides anti-virus and anti-spam protection, protection against data leaks, and email encryption. The onsite security gateway can also assist Microsoft Exchange Server to track and protect internal email that originates and ends inside your security perimeter. For more information, visit ProSight Email Guard spam and content filtering.

• ProSight Duo Two-Factor Authentication: ID Confirmation, Endpoint Remediation, and Secure Single Sign-on
  Progent's Duo authentication service plans incorporate Cisco's Duo cloud technology to protect against compromised passwords by using two-factor authentication (2FA). Duo supports single-tap identity verification with iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. Using 2FA, when you sign into a secured application and give your password you are asked to confirm who you are via a unit that only you have and that uses a different network channel. A broad selection of out-of-band devices can be utilized for this second form of authentication such as an iPhone or Android or watch, a hardware token, a landline phone, etc. You may register multiple validation devices. For more information about Duo identity authentication services, go to Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication services for access security.

• Progent's Outsourced/Shared Call Desk: Call Center Managed Services
  Progent's Call Desk services permit your IT group to outsource Help Desk services to Progent or split responsibilities for Help Desk services seamlessly between your in-house support staff and Progent's nationwide roster of IT service engineers and subject matter experts. Progent's Co-managed Help Desk Service offers a transparent supplement to your in-house support group. User access to the Help Desk, delivery of support, problem escalation, trouble ticket generation and tracking, efficiency metrics, and maintenance of the service database are cohesive whether incidents are resolved by your corporate support group, by Progent's team, or a mix of the two. Learn more about Progent's outsourced/shared Service Desk services.

• Progent Active Defense Against Ransomware: AI-based Ransomware Detection and Cleanup
  Progent's Active Defense Against Ransomware is an endpoint protection (EPP) managed service that incorporates next generation behavior machine learning technology to guard endpoints as well as physical and virtual servers against modern malware assaults such as ransomware and file-less exploits, which routinely escape legacy signature-matching AV products. Progent ASM services safeguard local and cloud-based resources and offers a single platform to address the complete malware attack progression including filtering, identification, mitigation, cleanup, and post-attack forensics. Key features include one-click rollback with Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and automatic network-wide immunization against new threats. Read more about Progent's ransomware defense and recovery services.

• ProSight IT Asset Management: Network Documentation Management
  ProSight IT Asset Management service is a cloud-based IT documentation management service that makes it easy to capture, update, retrieve and safeguard information related to your IT infrastructure, processes, applications, and services. You can quickly locate passwords or serial numbers and be warned about impending expirations of SSLs ,domains or warranties. By cleaning up and managing your IT infrastructure documentation, you can save as much as half of time thrown away trying to find critical information about your IT network. ProSight IT Asset Management includes a centralized repository for holding and sharing all documents required for managing your business network like standard operating procedures (SOPs) and How-To's. ProSight IT Asset Management also offers advanced automation for gathering and relating IT information. Whether you're planning improvements, doing regular maintenance, or reacting to a crisis, ProSight IT Asset Management gets you the information you require when you need it. Learn more about Progent's ProSight IT Asset Management service.

• Patch Management: Patch Management Services
  Progent's support services for patch management offer businesses of all sizes a flexible and cost-effective alternative for evaluating, testing, scheduling, applying, and documenting software and firmware updates to your ever-evolving information system. In addition to optimizing the protection and reliability of your IT network, Progent's software/firmware update management services free up time for your IT team to focus on more strategic initiatives and activities that derive the highest business value from your information network. Find out more about Progent's patch management services.

• ProSight Virtual Hosting: Hosted Virtual Machines at Progent's World-class Data Center
  With Progent's ProSight Virtual Hosting service, a small or mid-size business can have its critical servers and apps hosted in a protected Tier III data center on a high-performance virtual host configured and managed by Progent's IT support professionals. With Progent's ProSight Virtual Hosting service model, the client owns the data, the operating system platforms, and the applications. Since the environment is virtualized, it can be moved immediately to a different hosting environment without requiring a lengthy and difficult reinstallation process. With ProSight Virtual Hosting, your business is not locked into a single hosting provider. Learn more about ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

• ProSight Active Security Monitoring: Endpoint Protection and Ransomware Defense
  Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) is an endpoint protection (EPP) service that incorporates SentinelOne's next generation behavior machine learning technology to defend physical and virtual endpoint devices against modern malware assaults such as ransomware and file-less exploits, which routinely evade legacy signature-based AV products. ProSight Active Security Monitoring protects local and cloud-based resources and offers a unified platform to manage the complete malware attack lifecycle including blocking, identification, mitigation, remediation, and post-attack forensics. Top capabilities include one-click rollback with Windows VSS and real-time system-wide immunization against newly discovered attacks. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. Read more about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring next-generation endpoint protection and ransomware recovery.

• ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP): Physical and Virtual Endpoint Protection and Exchange Email Filtering
  Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) services deliver affordable in-depth security for physical servers and VMs, desktops, mobile devices, and Exchange email. ProSight ESP utilizes adaptive security and advanced machine learning for round-the-clock monitoring and reacting to cyber assaults from all attack vectors. ProSight ESP delivers two-way firewall protection, intrusion alerts, endpoint management, and web filtering through leading-edge technologies incorporated within a single agent accessible from a unified console. Progent's data protection and virtualization consultants can help you to design and configure a ProSight ESP deployment that addresses your company's specific requirements and that allows you prove compliance with legal and industry information security regulations. Progent will assist you specify and implement policies that ProSight ESP will manage, and Progent will monitor your IT environment and react to alarms that require immediate attention. Progent's consultants can also assist your company to set up and verify a backup and disaster recovery solution like ProSight Data Protection Services so you can recover quickly from a potentially disastrous security attack such as ransomware. Find out more about Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) unified endpoint protection and Exchange filtering.