Ransomware Response and Recovery for a Critical Business Environment

Overview

A client engaged TDI Vertical for emergency incident response following a targeted ransomware attack that compromised critical systems and encrypted sensitive business data. The goal was to rapidly contain the threat, restore operations, and implement long-term protections to prevent recurrence.

TDI Vertical led the response and recovery effort, delivering a structured containment, forensic, and remediation plan that not only restored services within 48 hours but also enhanced the client’s cybersecurity posture for the future.

Business Challenge

The client was the victim of a sophisticated ransomware attack that resulted in:

• Encryption of Production Systems
  Key infrastructure—including file servers, email, and line-of-business applications—was rendered inoperable.
• Partial Backup Compromise
  Backup systems were either outdated, partially impacted, or lacked clear restoration pathways.
• Overwhelmed Internal IT Team
  The organization lacked a formal incident response plan and had limited resources to manage the attack’s scope.
• Urgent Business Disruption
  With services down and sensitive data locked, the organization faced reputational risk, operational downtime, and compliance exposure.

The client needed an experienced partner to take control of the situation, lead recovery efforts, and guide them toward long-term resilience.

Solution & Design

TDI Vertical was brought in as the primary incident response partner and immediately mobilized its cybersecurity team. The structured recovery process included:

• Threat Containment
  Infected systems were isolated from the network to prevent lateral movement and reinfection.
• Forensic Investigation
  Conducted rapid diagnostics to identify the attack vector, timeline, and systems impacted.
• Backup Validation & Recovery
  Recovered clean backups from immutable/offline sources and validated integrity before restoration.
• Core System Rebuilds
  Rebuilt compromised infrastructure—including Active Directory and critical application servers—with hardened configurations and secure authentication.
• Legal & Insurance Coordination
  Worked with legal teams and cyber insurance providers to document findings and support coverage claims.
• Security Tooling Deployment
  Implemented Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR/XDR), enhanced logging, and new security controls across all endpoints.
• Executive Reporting & Recommendations
  Delivered a full post-incident report with root cause analysis, timeline, and strategic security recommendations.

Unique TDI Vertical Contributions

TDI Vertical provided a full-spectrum ransomware response solution with several critical differentiators:

• Real-World Ransomware Expertise
  Deep experience with modern ransomware variants, common tactics, and recovery strategies.
• 24/7 Response Capability
  Around-the-clock technical support ensured containment and restoration continued without delay.
• Structured IR Playbook
  Followed proven incident response methodologies tailored to ransomware scenarios.
• Strategic Guidance
  Helped the client shift from reactive defense to a proactive, prevention-first mindset through roadmap development and policy enhancement.

Results & Impact

The outcome of the project was swift, comprehensive, and recovery-focused:

• 48-Hour Service Restoration
  Core systems and user access were restored within two days of engagement.
• No Ransom Paid
  Recovery was completed using validated, uncompromised backups.
• Vulnerability Patched
  The initial attack vector was identified, closed, and monitored for reoccurrence.
• EDR/XDR & Visibility Improvements
  Deployed new endpoint detection and prevention capabilities and logging across the environment.
• Cybersecurity Hardening
  Implemented multi-factor authentication, least privilege access, and internal segmentation.
• Regulatory & Insurance Readiness
  Final report satisfied legal, audit, and insurance obligations.

The client was able to resume operations quickly with stronger protections, clear visibility, and lessons learned applied across the organization.

This event became a turning point for the organization’s security maturity. What began as an emergency engagement evolved into a strategic partnership. Today, TDI Vertical continues to deliver:

• Managed Detection & Response (MDR)
  Real-time monitoring and incident management services
• Quarterly Vulnerability Scanning
  Regular assessments to identify and remediate risk
• Cybersecurity Advisory
  Strategic guidance on governance, compliance, and architecture

The client now operates with greater resilience, preparedness, and executive confidence—turning crisis into catalyst for long-term cybersecurity advancement.