When startup founder Alex needed critical files from a heavily reformatted, 10-year-old MacBook Pro, he turned to DriveSavers. Their expert team tackled the challenging recovery, retrieving vital emails, iMessages, and documents previously thought lost. With custom solutions and quick turnaround, DriveSavers delivered beyond expectations, providing Alex with the data he needed to resolve urgent matters.
Case Study: SQL Server and Database Recovery After Ransomware Attack
Case Study: SQL Server and Database Recovery After Ransomware Attack
Device Type:
Thecus NAS
File System:
ReFS
Client:
Independent Law Firm
A prominent independent law firm recently suffered a severe ransomware attack that compromised both its production data and critical backups. The attack encrypted essential Microsoft SQL Server databases, Veeam Backup files (VBKs), and virtual machine disk files (VMDKs), leaving the firm unable to access vital client and operational data.
With no functional backups available, the firm faced the risk of significant operational downtime and severe data loss. Referred by its incident response partner, the law firm contacted DriveSavers Data Recovery, a leader in complex data recovery, including after a ransomware attack.
This case study explores how the company’s technical expertise, secure remote recovery methods, and custom-engineered tools successfully restored the firm’s data.
The ransomware attack targeted the firm’s backup repository stored on a Thecus NAS with a 12TB iSCSI LUN formatted using the ReFS file system. Three Veeam Backup files were severely damaged, including one that contained 20 essential snapshots needed for SQL Server database restoration. Additionally, 18 virtual disk files (VMDKs) embedded within these backups were corrupted. The Veeam Backup files were deleted from the NAS, a common tactic in ransomware attacks.
The pattern was consistent with typical ransomware attacks, where production data was encrypted while backup files were deleted or partially overwritten, leaving the organization with no reliable way to restore operations.
DriveSavers Data Recovery began with a same-day remote evaluation, followed by an approved quote for priority service. Engineers executed a multi-phase recovery process tailored to the specific challenges posed by the damaged SQL Server backups and ReFS filesystem structures.
The first phase involved a deep analysis of ReFS metadata to identify and reconstruct the deleted Veeam Backup files. DriveSavers data recovery engineers developed specialized algorithms to address data gaps caused by partial overwrites. This resulted in two VBK files being restored with 98% integrity, preserving crucial recovery points for SQL Server and virtual machine data extraction.
The next phase focused on SQL Server database repair. The primary SQL Server database files (MDF and LDF) were significantly corrupted, preventing normal restoration. Engineers isolated the databases, performed integrity checks, and used custom-built SQL repair tools to rebuild missing segments. The final database restoration achieved a 99% success rate, with minimal data loss affecting only a few non-critical rows. DriveSavers provided the customer with a fully mountable database.
The final step involved extracting and restoring the virtual machine data stored within the VMDK files. DriveSavers engineers carefully reconstructed the VMDK file systems from the repaired VBK backups, successfully recovering an average of 98% of the virtual machine data needed to restore key business systems.
Our client faced an unprecedented data loss scenario, leaving them in a critical situation. This complex recovery demanded a multi-faceted approach, pushing our team to innovate and explore uncharted territory. The successful outcome not only salvaged invaluable data but also reinforced our commitment to providing unparalleled support and delivering exceptional results for our clients.
–Shane Denyer, Data Recovery Developer
The entire data recovery effort was conducted remotely using a highly secure process designed to protect the client’s sensitive data. DriveSavers Data Recovery established a 256-bit AES encrypted connection with TLS protocols and multi-level password authentication to ensure maximum data protection throughout the project.
All data remained at the client’s site during the recovery, ensuring full compliance with legal confidentiality standards and regulatory obligations.
The SQL Server and database recovery effort was highly successful. Two Veeam Backup files were restored with 98% integrity, including critical snapshots necessary for further system recovery. The SQL Server databases were recovered with 99% integrity, and virtual machine data was restored with an average of 98% integrity.
This case study highlights DriveSavers Data Recovery’s expertise in SQL Server recovery and database restoration after a highly complex ransomware attack. The successful recovery of the law firm’s SQL Server databases, Veeam backups, and virtual machine data demonstrates the company’s ability to handle multi-layered data corruption under extreme circumstances.
For industries like legal services where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount, partnering with a proven data recovery provider can be the difference between full operational recovery and catastrophic data loss.
If your organization requires expert SQL Server recovery or ransomware data recovery, contact DriveSavers Data Recovery today for immediate assistance.
*DriveSavers Standard Turnaround times are 1-2 Business days, Economy 5-7 Business days, and Priority 24/7 service – on occasion, unique circumstances require more time and are approved by the customer.
Why Law Firms Are Frequently Targeted by Ransomware
Law firms are often prime targets for ransomware attacks due to the highly sensitive data they manage. Confidential client records, legal strategies, intellectual property, and privileged communications make legal organizations attractive to cybercriminals seeking high payouts.
The potential for both reputational damage and regulatory consequences increases the pressure to pay ransoms, making it crucial for law firms to have both strong data protection strategies and access to reliable recovery services.
Preventive Strategies for SQL Server and Backup Protection
While DriveSavers Data Recovery successfully restored the law firm’s critical data, ransomware incidents emphasize the importance of proactive data protection strategies. Implementing preventive measures can reduce the risk of data loss and simplify recovery efforts.
Maintaining immutable backups can help prevent ransomware from altering or deleting stored data, ensuring a reliable point of restoration in case of an attack. The widely recommended 3-2-1 backup strategy—keeping three copies of data, stored on two different types of media, with one copy stored offsite—adds further protection through redundancy.
Air-gapped backups, which physically separate data from network access, can provide additional protection against remote attacks. Regular backup integrity testing is equally important, as it ensures stored data can be successfully restored when needed. Strengthening endpoint security measures and using behavior-based threat detection tools can also help identify ransomware activity before it causes widespread damage.
By integrating these strategies, organizations can strengthen their data resilience and reduce the risk of extended downtime during a ransomware event.
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