A multi-location organization lost access to its centralized systems and historical files following a cybersecurity incident involving its third-party hosted environment.
E3NewGenIT was brought in to take control of the recovery effort, secure the remaining infrastructure, assess the available backups, and determine what information could still be recovered.
THE CHALLENGE
The organization depended on an off-site provider for centralized authentication, file storage, and network management. Following the incident, the hosted environment was no longer available, no complete recovery path had been provided, and the available backup data had not been adequately validated through routine recovery testing.
The organization was left with years of historical information stored in a disorganized collection of backup files, with no clear inventory of what remained usable.
E3’S RESPONSE
E3NewGenIT assumed control of the recovery and discovery process, secured the organization’s remaining network resources, and performed an extensive analysis of the available server images and backup data.
Our work included:
- Securing and documenting four connected locations
- Removing previous third-party administrative access
- Verifying connectivity between the locations
- Examining server images and inherited backup data
- Recovering and cataloging more than 65,000 files
- Preserving approximately ten years of historical information
- Identifying weaknesses in the previous backup and recovery process
- Developing a replacement infrastructure and backup strategy controlled by the client
THE RESULT
More than 65,000 files representing approximately ten years of historical information were recovered and preserved.
The organization regained control of its technology environment and received a defined path toward centralized management, monitored backups, documented recovery procedures, and infrastructure it can properly support and test going forward.
THE BUSINESS VALUE
At only five minutes per file, manually locating or recreating 65,000 files would represent more than 5,400 labor hours. The recovery protected potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in reconstruction effort—before considering downtime, outside recovery costs, compliance exposure, or the long-term value of the historical information.
THE LESSON
A backup is not proven because a system reports that it completed successfully. A backup is only proven when its data can be restored, validated, and used when the organization needs it.
65,000 files recovered. Approximately ten years of information preserved. Control returned to the client.
COULD YOUR BUSINESS RECOVER?
E3NewGenIT helps organizations take control of their technology, validate their backups, and build recovery plans that work when they are actually needed.