In April 2024, NAI Harmon Group, a Toledo-based commercial real estate company, faced an unprecedented crisis: a ransomware attack that locked down their entire digital infrastructure, freezing critical files and halting business operations. “April 1st, April Fool’s Day,” recalled Stephanie Kuhlman, Vice President of NAI Harmon. “But it was no joke. We were completely locked out of our files for almost a month. It was a nightmare for our team.”
The breach hit the company’s bottom line hard, affecting dozens of real estate agents who operate on commission. Deals were delayed, client relationships strained, and the organization’s reputation was on the line. As Stephanie explained, “Our agents depend on access to these files to close transactions. Without them, we were effectively out of business.”
NAI Harmon’s existing managed service provider struggled to regain control, failing to provide the rapid response or clear solutions needed in a crisis of this scale. Fortunately, Stephanie knew Dennis Schroder of Arakÿta, and their reputation as an IT provider with responsiveness and reliability. She reached out. “I didn’t know if they could help us,” she admitted. “But I had to try something. Within 12 hours, Dennis had a team on-site, and they quickly started building a path out of the chaos.”
The Arakÿta Approach: Quick, Strategic, and Human-Centered
Arakÿta’s team assessed the situation and worked directly with Microsoft, leveraging their partner status to expedite the recovery process. Within 48 hours, they had established new digital tenants for NAI Harmon and restructured its Office 365 environment to prevent future vulnerabilities. “They didn’t wait for contracts or formalities,” said Stephanie. “They treated our problem as their own and took action immediately.”
“When we received the call from NAI Harmon, we understood the critical nature of their predicament.” said Dennis Schroder, CEO of Arakÿta, “Our team mobilized immediately, working around the clock to restore their operations and secure their data.”
With a secure new framework in place, Arakÿta reconstructed NAI Harmon’s data from partial files, Dropbox backups, and any personal records team members could provide. “They were piecing together 13 years of documents,” Stephanie shared. “It was like putting together a massive puzzle. The Arakÿta team worked tirelessly, often over weekends, to bring us back to life.”
“It was like putting together a massive puzzle. The Arakÿta team worked tirelessly, often over weekends, to bring us back to life.”
Stephanie Kuhlman, Vice President, NAI Harmon Group
“Every organization’s IT infrastructure is unique.” Jacob Preston, Director of Technology and Security at Arakÿta, said, “We conducted a thorough assessment to identify vulnerabilities and implemented customized solutions to not only address the immediate threat but also to fortify NAI Harmon’s defenses against future incidents.”
Arakÿta implemented a suite of advanced security tools, including multi-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, and continuous threat analysis. “They even set up geofencing alerts,” Stephanie explained. “So if any team member logs in from an unusual location, we get notified right away. It’s that level of attention that gives us peace of mind.”
Resilience Through Partnership
For NAI Harmon, the aftermath of the breach underscored the importance of working with a provider that truly understands their business needs. Arakÿta’s solution didn’t end with system recovery; the company now conducts regular security check-ins and provides ongoing training and on-call support for technical questions. “We have a bi-weekly call with the team to go over any issues,” Stephanie noted. “Their approach is collaborative, and they genuinely want us to feel secure.”
Reflecting on the experience, Stephanie expressed gratitude for the newfound partnership. “It’s been transformative for us. Arakÿta didn’t just restore our operations—they’ve made us better prepared for the future. They’re always a phone call away, and I sleep better at night knowing they’re watching our systems.”