Helping a Real Estate Firm Recover
—Before They Were Even a Client
Cyberattacks don’t send warnings, and they certainly don’t wait until your IT is in order.
This Ransomware Case Study highlights how one premier real estate brokerage firm in Vail, Colorado learned the hard way. Just as they were transitioning away from their in-house IT technician and reevaluating their technology strategy, ransomware struck—locking them out of their systems on the eve of Thanksgiving weekend.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. But fortunately, they knew exactly who to call.
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Not Yet a Client—But Still a Priority
The firm had been in conversation with SkyTide Group about becoming a managed IT client, but they hadn’t signed on just yet. Still, when their systems went dark, they reached out to us—and we responded immediately.
“SkyTide jumped in immediately—even before we were officially a client. We were back up within a day. Their team is now an essential part of our business.”
Steven J.— Associate Partner, Real Estate Brokerage Firm.
Our Emergency Response
We mobilized quickly to assess the situation and recover their data. Thanks to their existing file-level backups, we were able to:
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Recover their critical database files
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Rebuild all affected servers
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Restore operations within the same day
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Close the firewall vulnerability that allowed the threat in
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Deploy advanced security measures, including Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
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Conduct a full network audit to prevent future vulnerabilities
In short, we helped them bounce back—fast—and built a stronger foundation moving forward.
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Ransomware Case Study: From Reactive to Resilient
After the dust settled, the firm officially partnered with SkyTide Group for fully managed IT and cybersecurity services. Today, their systems are proactively monitored, protected, and aligned with long-term business goals.
This Ransomware case study illustrates how we turned what could have been a devastating incident into a launchpad for stability and growth.
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Industry Insight: Why Real Estate Firms Are Prime Targets for Cyberattacks
Real estate, title companies, and brokerages often operate with lean IT resources, high-value transactions, and sensitive client data—making them attractive targets for ransomware.
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Common IT gaps we see in real estate firms:
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Outdated firewall or antivirus protections
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Minimal endpoint security across remote agents and devices
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Lack of centralized backup or disaster recovery planning
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Over-reliance on a single internal IT contact or reactive support
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Why this industry is especially vulnerable:
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High transaction volume with large dollar amounts
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Fast-paced environments that leave little time for cybersecurity training
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Multiple third-party systems (MLS, CRM, cloud storage) without cohesive security policies
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Pressure to stay online—even during a breach—which can lead to paying ransoms quickly
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SkyTide Group helps firms in real estate and other professional services build scalable, secure IT systems that support their teams and protect their clients.
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⚠️ What This Real Estate Ransomware Case Study Teaches Us
If you’re still relying on outdated infrastructure, internal IT stretched thin, or just hoping for the best—it’s time to rethink your strategy. Ransomware can hit any organization, at any time. The real question is: will you be ready?
For a deeper understanding of how ransomware works and how to prepare, check out CISA’s official ransomware guidance—a trusted resource from the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.
At SkyTide Group, we don’t just help businesses recover from cyberattacks—we help them prevent them.
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Let’s make sure your business is protected before disaster strikes.
📅 Schedule a free IT risk consultation or reach out to our team today.
