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Ransomware : Your Feared IT Catastrophe
Crypto-Ransomware has become a too-frequent cyberplague that represents an existential danger for businesses vulnerable to an assault. Multiple generations of ransomware like the Reveton, WannaCry, Locky, NotPetya and MongoLock cryptoworms have been circulating for years and continue to cause destruction. Modern variants of ransomware such as Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, Netwalker, LockBit or Nephilim, as well as more as yet unnamed viruses, not only do encryption of on-line data but also infiltrate all configured system backup. Information replicated to the cloud can also be encrypted. In a poorly architected data protection solution, it can make automatic recovery impossible and effectively knocks the entire system back to zero.

Retrieving programs and information after a ransomware attack becomes a race against time as the victim struggles to contain, cleanup the virus, and restore business-critical activity. Because ransomware needs time to spread, penetrations are usually launched during weekends and nights, when attacks typically take more time to recognize. This multiplies the difficulty of rapidly assembling and orchestrating a knowledgeable response team.

Progent makes available an assortment of help services for securing organizations from ransomware events. Among these are user education to become familiar with and avoid phishing exploits, ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) for remote monitoring and management, plus deployment of next-generation security appliances with AI capabilities from SentinelOne to discover and suppress new threats rapidly. Progent also offers the assistance of experienced ransomware recovery engineers with the talent and perseverance to rebuild a breached system as urgently as possible.

Progent's Ransomware Recovery Help
Following a crypto-ransomware event, even paying the ransom in cryptocurrency does not ensure that distant criminals will respond with the keys to decipher all your data. Kaspersky Labs determined that 17% of crypto-ransomware victims never restored their information after having sent off the ransom, resulting in more losses. The risk is also expensive. Ryuk ransoms are typically a few hundred thousand dollars. For larger enterprises, the ransom demand can be in the millions. The alternative is to setup from scratch the key components of your Information Technology environment. Without access to complete system backups, this requires a wide complement of skill sets, well-coordinated project management, and the willingness to work non-stop until the recovery project is complete.

For two decades, Progent has offered certified expert Information Technology services for companies throughout the U.S. and has achieved Microsoft's Partnership certification in the Datacenter and Cloud Productivity competencies. Progent's group of subject matter experts (SMEs) includes engineers who have earned advanced industry certifications in key technologies including Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and major distributions of Linux. Progent's security consultants have earned internationally-recognized certifications including CISM, CISSP-ISSAP, ISACA CRISC, SANS GIAC, and CMMC 2.0. (Refer to Progent's certifications). Progent in addition has expertise with accounting and ERP software solutions. This breadth of experience gives Progent the capability to knowledgably identify important systems and consolidate the remaining components of your IT environment following a ransomware attack and rebuild them into a functioning system.

Progent's ransomware group uses top notch project management systems to orchestrate the complex recovery process. Progent appreciates the importance of working swiftly and in concert with a client's management and IT staff to assign priority to tasks and to put key systems back on line as fast as humanly possible.

Client Case Study: A Successful Ransomware Intrusion Restoration
A business contacted Progent after their organization was brought down by Ryuk ransomware virus. Ryuk is thought to have been developed by North Korean government sponsored criminal gangs, possibly adopting strategies exposed from the U.S. National Security Agency. Ryuk targets specific businesses with little room for operational disruption and is one of the most lucrative versions of ransomware. High publicized victims include Data Resolution, a California-based info warehousing and cloud computing business, and the Chicago Tribune. Progent's customer is a small manufacturer headquartered in Chicago with about 500 employees. The Ryuk intrusion had paralyzed all company operations and manufacturing capabilities. The majority of the client's data protection had been directly accessible at the time of the intrusion and were eventually encrypted. The client considered paying the ransom (exceeding two hundred thousand dollars) and wishfully thinking for the best, but in the end brought in Progent.

Progent worked hand in hand the client to rapidly assess and prioritize the most important applications that had to be addressed to make it possible to continue business operations:

• Active Directory (AD)
• E-Mail
• Financials/MRP

Within 48 hours, Progent was able to re-build Active Directory to its pre-attack state. Progent then helped perform rebuilding and hard drive recovery on the most important applications. All Exchange Server data and configuration information were intact, which greatly helped the restore of Exchange. Progent was able to find local OST data files (Outlook Offline Data Files) on staff workstations and laptops in order to recover mail information. A not too old offline backup of the businesses accounting/ERP systems made it possible to restore these essential applications back on-line. Although a large amount of work still had to be done to recover totally from the Ryuk damage, essential services were recovered quickly:

During the following few weeks key milestones in the restoration project were achieved through close collaboration between Progent consultants and the client:

• In-house web applications were restored without losing any data.
• The MailStore Exchange Server with over 4 million archived messages was restored to operations and accessible to users.
• CRM/Product Ordering/Invoicing/AP/Accounts Receivables/Inventory Control capabilities were completely restored.
• A new Palo Alto 850 firewall was deployed.
• Most of the desktop computers were back into operation.

Conclusion
A possible business extinction catastrophe was averted with top-tier experts, a broad spectrum of technical expertise, and tight teamwork. Although in post mortem the ransomware incident described here should have been stopped with up-to-date security systems and NIST Cybersecurity Framework best practices, team training, and well thought out incident response procedures for information backup and proper patching controls, the reality is that state-sponsored hackers from China, North Korea and elsewhere are relentless and will continue. If you do get hit by a ransomware incursion, feel confident that Progent's team of professionals has proven experience in crypto-ransomware virus defense, cleanup, and data recovery.

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

Additional Crypto-Ransomware Protection Services Offered by Progent
Progent offers companies in Sydney a variety of online monitoring and security assessment services to help you to reduce the threat from ransomware. These services incorporate next-generation AI capability to uncover zero-day strains of crypto-ransomware that can get past traditional signature-based security solutions.

• ProSight Managed Service Packages: 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 network resilience. Progent takes care of the necessary monitoring and management for you, so your system expands smoothly without holding you back. For a low and predictable monthly subscription, Progent's full-service IT group can be your dependable technology safety net. Basic packages include remote monitoring and management, security, monthly patching, and reporting. As your requirements expand, you can add low-cost subscriptions to best-in-class options like as SaaS M365/Google Workspace backup, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), penetration testing, or WiFi management.

• ProSight LAN Watch: Server and Desktop Monitoring and Management
  ProSight LAN Watch is Progent's server and desktop remote monitoring service that uses state-of-the-art remote monitoring and management technology to help keep your network running efficiently by tracking the state of critical computers that power your business network. When ProSight LAN Watch uncovers a problem, an alarm is transmitted immediately to your specified IT staff and your assigned Progent consultant so that any potential problems can be addressed before they have a chance to impact your network. Find out more details about ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop remote monitoring consulting.

• ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM: Centralized RMM Solution for Networks, Servers, and Desktops
  ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM software delivers a unified, cloud-based platform for managing your client-server infrastructure by providing tools for performing common time-consuming jobs. These include health monitoring, update management, automated repairs, endpoint configuration, backup and restore, anti-virus defense, secure remote access, standard and custom scripts, asset inventory, endpoint profile reports, and troubleshooting support. If ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM uncovers a serious problem, it sends an alert to your specified IT management personnel and your assigned Progent technical consultant so emerging problems can be fixed before they impact productivity. Find out more details about ProSight LAN Watch with NinjaOne RMM server and desktop monitoring consulting.

• ProSight WAN Watch: Infrastructure Management
  ProSight WAN Watch is an infrastructure monitoring and management service that makes it simple and affordable for smaller organizations to diagram, track, enhance and troubleshoot their connectivity hardware such as routers and switches, firewalls, and access points as well as servers, endpoints and other networked devices. Using state-of-the-art Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) technology, WAN Watch ensures that infrastructure topology diagrams are always current, copies and displays the configuration information of virtually all devices on your network, monitors performance, and generates alerts when potential issues are detected. By automating time-consuming management and troubleshooting processes, WAN Watch can knock hours off ordinary chores like making network diagrams, reconfiguring your network, locating devices that require important software patches, or resolving performance issues. Learn more about ProSight WAN Watch network infrastructure monitoring and management consulting.

• ProSight Reporting: In-depth Reporting for Ticketing and Network Monitoring Applications
  ProSight Reporting is a growing line of real-time and in-depth reporting plug-ins designed to integrate with the industry's leading ticketing and remote network monitoring programs including ConnectWise Manage, ConnectWise Automate, Customer Thermometer, Auvik, and SentinelOne. ProSight Reporting incorporates Microsoft Graph and features color coding to highlight and contextualize critical issues such as inconsistent support follow-up or endpoints with missing patches. By exposing ticketing or network health concerns clearly and in near-real time, ProSight Reporting enhances productivity, reduces management hassle, and saves money. For details, see ProSight Reporting for ticketing and network monitoring applications.

• ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS): Managed Backup and Recovery Services
  Progent has worked with leading backup software companies to create ProSight Data Protection Services, a family of management offerings that deliver backup-as-a-service. ProSight DPS products automate and monitor your data backup operations and allow non-disruptive backup and rapid restoration of critical files, apps, system images, plus VMs. ProSight DPS helps your business protect against data loss resulting from hardware breakdown, natural disasters, fire, malware like ransomware, user error, malicious insiders, or application glitches. Managed services in the ProSight Data Protection Services product line include ProSight Altaro VM Backup, ProSight 365 Total Backup (formerly Altaro 365 Backup), ProSight ECHO Backup using Barracuda dedicated storage, and ProSight DPS MSP360 Cloud and On-prem Backup. Your Progent service representative can assist you to identify which of these 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 and virus filtering service that incorporates the infrastructure of top information security vendors to provide centralized management and comprehensive protection for your inbound and outbound email. The hybrid structure of Email Guard managed service integrates a Cloud Protection Layer with a local security gateway device to offer complete protection against spam, viruses, Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks (DHAs), and other email-based threats. Email Guard's Cloud Protection Layer serves as a preliminary barricade and keeps most unwanted email from reaching your network firewall. This decreases your exposure to external threats and saves system bandwidth and storage space. Email Guard's on-premises gateway device adds a further layer of inspection for incoming email. For outgoing email, the onsite gateway offers anti-virus and anti-spam filtering, protection against data leaks, and email encryption. The onsite security gateway can also assist Microsoft Exchange Server to monitor and protect internal email that stays inside your security perimeter. For more details, see ProSight Email Guard spam filtering and data leakage protection.

• ProSight Duo Multi-Factor Authentication: ID Confirmation, Endpoint Remediation, and Secure Single Sign-on (SSO)
  Progent's Duo MFA service plans incorporate Cisco's Duo technology to protect against password theft by using two-factor authentication. Duo enables one-tap identity verification with iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. With 2FA, when you log into a secured application and enter your password you are asked to verify who you are via a device that only you have and that uses a separate network channel. A wide selection of devices can be utilized as this added means of authentication such as an iPhone or Android or wearable, a hardware/software token, a landline telephone, etc. You can register multiple verification devices. For details about Duo two-factor identity validation services, refer to Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication services.

• Progent's Outsourced/Shared Service Center: Call Center Managed Services
  Progent's Support Desk managed services enable your IT staff to offload Help Desk services to Progent or split activity for support services transparently between your in-house support team and Progent's nationwide pool of IT service technicians, engineers and subject matter experts. Progent's Shared Help Desk Service offers a transparent extension of your in-house support team. User interaction with the Service Desk, provision of support, issue escalation, trouble ticket generation and tracking, performance measurement, and maintenance of the service database are consistent regardless of whether issues are taken care of by your internal support resources, by Progent, or a mix of the two. Learn more about Progent's outsourced/shared Help Center services.

• Active Protection Against Ransomware: AI-based Ransomware Identification and Cleanup
  Progent's Active Protection Against Ransomware is an endpoint protection managed service that utilizes next generation behavior-based analysis technology to guard endpoints as well as physical and virtual servers against new malware assaults like ransomware and file-less exploits, which easily get by traditional signature-based AV products. Progent Active Security Monitoring services protect local and cloud resources and offers a unified platform to address the entire threat progression including blocking, detection, containment, cleanup, and forensics. Key features include single-click rollback using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service and real-time network-wide immunization against new attacks. Learn more about Progent's ransomware defense and cleanup services.

• ProSight IT Asset Management: Network Documentation Management
  ProSight IT Asset Management service is an IT infrastructure documentation management service that allows you to capture, maintain, retrieve and protect data related to your network infrastructure, procedures, business apps, and services. You can instantly find passwords or serial numbers and be warned automatically about impending expirations of SSLs or domains. By cleaning up and organizing your IT infrastructure documentation, you can eliminate up to half of time wasted searching for vital information about your IT network. ProSight IT Asset Management features a centralized repository for holding and sharing all documents required for managing your business network such as standard operating procedures and self-service instructions. ProSight IT Asset Management also offers advanced automation for gathering and relating IT data. Whether you're planning enhancements, performing maintenance, or responding to a crisis, ProSight IT Asset Management delivers the knowledge you require as soon as you need it. Find out more about ProSight IT Asset Management service.

• Patch Management: Patch Management Services
  Progent's managed services for patch management provide businesses of all sizes a versatile and cost-effective solution for evaluating, validating, scheduling, applying, and tracking software and firmware updates to your dynamic IT system. In addition to maximizing the security and functionality of your IT network, Progent's software/firmware update management services free up time for your IT team to focus on line-of-business initiatives and activities that deliver maximum business value from your information network. Read more about Progent's software/firmware update management services.

• ProSight Virtual Hosting: Hosted Virtual Machines at Progent's World-class Data Center
  With ProSight Virtual Hosting service, a small or mid-size business can have its key servers and applications hosted in a secure Tier III data center on a high-performance virtual host set up and managed by Progent's IT support experts. Under the ProSight Virtual Hosting model, the customer retains ownership of the data, the OS software, and the apps. Because the environment is virtualized, it can be ported easily to an alternate hardware solution without a time-consuming and technically risky configuration process. With ProSight Virtual Hosting, you are not locked into one hosting service. Learn more about ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

• ProSight Active Security Monitoring: Endpoint Protection and Ransomware Defense
  ProSight Active Security Monitoring is an endpoint protection (EPP) service that incorporates SentinelOne's cutting edge behavior-based machine learning tools to guard physical and virtual endpoints against modern malware assaults such as ransomware and email phishing, which easily evade traditional signature-based anti-virus products. ProSight Active Security Monitoring protects local and cloud resources and provides a single platform to address the complete threat lifecycle including blocking, identification, mitigation, remediation, and post-attack forensics. Top features include single-click rollback using Windows VSS and automatic system-wide immunization against new attacks. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, reseller, and integrator. Learn more about Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) endpoint protection and ransomware defense.

• ProSight Enhanced Security Protection: Endpoint Protection and Microsoft Exchange Email Filtering
  ProSight Enhanced Security Protection (ESP) managed services deliver affordable in-depth security for physical servers and VMs, desktops, smartphones, and Exchange email. ProSight ESP utilizes adaptive security and advanced machine learning for round-the-clock monitoring and reacting to security assaults from all attack vectors. ProSight ESP offers firewall protection, penetration alerts, device control, and web filtering via leading-edge tools packaged within one agent accessible from a unified console. Progent's data protection and virtualization experts can assist you to design and configure a ProSight ESP deployment that addresses your company's unique requirements and that allows you achieve and demonstrate compliance with government and industry information security standards. Progent will assist you define and configure security policies that ProSight ESP will enforce, and Progent will monitor your IT environment and respond to alarms that call for urgent attention. Progent can also help your company to install and verify a backup and disaster recovery system such as ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS) so you can recover rapidly from a destructive cyber attack such as ransomware. Read more about Progent's ProSight Enhanced Security Protection unified endpoint protection and Microsoft Exchange filtering.