If not dealt with appropriately, brute-force attacks can wreak havoc on an organization’s security. Here’s a look at how RTCS stepped in to help a leading electrical supply and services company tackle this very issue.

The Menace of Brute Force Attacks

Imagine a thief trying every possible key until one fits – that’s essentially what a brute force attack is. Cybercriminals use automated tools to guess countless combinations of usernames and passwords until they find the right one. This method can be alarmingly effective, especially if weak passwords are being used. The fallout? Data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. To fend off such threats, companies need robust security measures like multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring of login attempts. But sometimes, even these aren’t enough, and that’s when expert intervention becomes crucial.

Case study: Electrical Supply and Services Leader’s Security Challenge

Our client, a major player in the electrical supply and service sector, faced a daunting challenge when a brute force attack targeted one of their virtual machines (VM). Recognizing the potential threat to their operations and sensitive data, they sought the expertise of RTCS., 

Diving into the Investigation

RTCS’s Incident Response Team jumped into action, conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the attack’s details. They began by scrutinizing alerts from Microsoft Defender for Cloud, identifying the attack vectors, and spotting any vulnerabilities. Here’s what team RTCS did step-by-step:

Verified the VM’s Status: First, they made sure the VM was powered off to prevent further unauthorized access.

Removed the Public IP: To stop external access, they removed the VM’s public IP address.

Quarantined the VM: Using EDR, they isolated the VM to contain any malicious activity.

Checked for Unauthorized Access: They scoured the VM for signs of unauthorized changes or compromises.

Comprehensive Reporting

After the investigation, RTCS provided the client with a detailed report. This report revealed whether the attackers had breached the VM or if the existing security measures held firm against the attack. RTCS reviewed Azure logs specific to the environment and the VM, offering clear recommendations on whether it was safe to turn the VM back on.

The Solution: Enhancing security posture

Team RTCS took decisive steps to fortify the client’s security:

Geo-Fencing: The RTCS team worked with the client’s IT team to restrict VM access to the United States only. They also reviewed and tightened conditional access policies in Azure Active Directory to limit external logins.

Firewall Adjustments: Together with the IT team, RTCS reviewed and tweaked firewall rules, both on-premises and in Azure. They ensured Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) access and other connections were properly restricted.

Login Attempts Policy: The team adjusted the default domain policy in Active Directory to reduce the number of allowed login attempts, making it harder for brute-force attacks to succeed.

Continuous Monitoring and Documentation: RTCS also provided the electrical supplier with recommendations for ongoing monitoring of their Azure resources, ensuring any future security incidents could be quickly detected and addressed. They meticulously documented all findings, actions taken, and security recommendations. Additionally, they gave the client a step-by-step guide for securely reconnecting to Azure.

Communication and Project Management

Effective communication and project management were key to this project’s success. RTCS ensured everything ran smoothly through several phases:

Initiation: RTCS kicked things off with a meeting to define roles, establish communication channels, and set protocols.

Planning: RTCS developed a detailed project plan, allocated resources, and conducted a risk assessment.

Execution: Throughout the investigation, they implemented security measures and kept the client in the loop.

Monitoring and Controlling: The RTCS experts regularly checked progress, addressing any issues that cropped up.

Closing: They wrapped up with a final review and comprehensive report, confirming the incident’s resolution and safe restoration of services.

The Impact

The partnership between RTCS and its client underscores the importance of a structured approach to cybersecurity. By leveraging expert knowledge in incident response, security implementation, and continuous monitoring, RTCS ensured that the client’s VM was not only protected from the current threat but also fortified against future attacks. This case study highlights the need for proactive security measures and constant vigilance to safeguard digital assets in today’s ever-evolving threat landscape.

While brute force attacks and other cyber threats remain a significant risk, businesses can protect themselves through diligent security practices and expert support. RTCS is committed to providing top-tier cybersecurity services and solutions, helping organizations navigate and mitigate the complexities of the digital age.

Are you facing similar challenges? Get in touch with us to learn how to overcome them for good.

The post Securing Electrical Supply and Services Against Brute Force Attacks appeared first on RTCS.

A Team of Experts That has Your Back in an Instant

Whenever you face any type of emergency, you know that you want experienced professionals there to help you. That same factor applies to disaster recovery and cybersecurity.

The experienced team from RTCS that shows up to help you has seen it all. Our company is not an organization that knows a particular product or has worked on a specific set of cybersecurity attacks. Instead, the team is composed of various subject matter experts, all with different perspectives and experiences.

Disasters bring chaos. You have many moving parts to juggle as the team works to not only stop the attack but also uncover the depth of the problem and restore your systems to get back online. Experience makes the team efficient and brings unique skills that professionals can only learn in the field. If you want your servers back online quickly, you want the team with this level of experience on your case.

What happens to companies without disaster recovery plans in place?

Not having a disaster recovery plan in place is a costly mistake. As a child, you likely had it drilled into you that if you experienced an emergency, you needed to call 911. You knew to get out of the house if there was a fire. In other words, you had a plan. You knew who you would call and what you would do.

If your company faces a cybersecurity attack and needs disaster recovery, lack of a plan will set you back hours, days or potentially weeks. After the attack, you will spend the initial time just determining who you need to call.

Disaster recovery planning will ensure you know what to do so that RTCS can start your recovery faster. A plan means less downtime and a faster resolution for you.

Real-life client disaster recovery story

Consider what happened with a client of ours. The group in question was a global company but they had outlined a thorough disaster recovery plan. They knew where their backups were, what needed to be done and what needed to be rebuilt to get themselves back online as quickly as possible. This foreknowledge meant they were already leaps and bounds ahead of many of our other clients. Despite their size, their planning meant that we got them back up and running significantly faster than other companies. Their planning set them up for success when facing a cyberattack.

How RTCS Helps with Disaster Recovery

When you work with RTCS, you will have a personalized experience. We tailor the services we provide for each client because we know that every company is different, which means the protection you need and the disaster recovery plan you require will also differ. We are going to be your partner, not just another vendor. We provide clients with a range of services, including setting up their disaster recovery plans if needed.

Our recovery experts have expertise not only in disaster recovery but also infrastructure and data centers. They know these systems inside and out, which means they bring a robust skillset to our clients. When looking at a disaster recovery project, their insight empowers them to achieve their objective faster and more efficiently.

We have tremendous experience witnessing worst-case scenarios and cyberattacks. After watching companies go through these situations, we go the extra mile to protect our clients. We have backups on top of backups, some off-site and others are on-site. Our clients can trust us to provide layers of protection that they will not experience with other managed service providers.

Your Experienced Managed IT Partner for Success

When it comes to disaster recovery, you want to work with a team you can trust to get you back online as quickly as possible. With RTCS, you can trust that we will help you navigate your recovery faster than most other managed service providers. If you are ready to see what our services can do for you, reach out to our team now.

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