As ransomware attacks escalate in frequency and cost, Ingram Micro has launched a strategic partnership with Alvaka to offer its channel partners direct access to emergency ransomware remediation services. Through this, MSPs and their clients have a trusted, immediate response option when disaster strikes.
Under the new alliance, Ingram Micro partners can now “break the glass” and reach Alvaka’s response team via a dedicated email address. From there, Alvaka moves fast. “We typically respond in 15 to 30 minutes, and are often on the ground within a couple hours,” said Alvaka COO and CISO Kevin McDonald. “Our engineers are specialists in ransomware restoration. That’s all they do.”
The partnership goes beyond response to enable readiness. The surge in ransomware attacks, particularly targeting underprepared SMBs, means MSPs must defend and recover more effectively. The average ransom payment climbed to $2 million in 2024, up from $400,000 the year prior, according to Sophos. And projected recovery costs are skyrocketing.
Alvaka Steps In Swiftly
Kevin McDonald
The new program gives Ingram Micro partners a clear path forward. Alvaka begins an immediate triage when an MSP calls, McDonald explained. “We bring in a senior case manager, a project manager, and one of our top engineers. We’ll often ship out our NetSecure rescue device even before contracts are signed to get the client moving in the right direction.”
Most MSPs who contact Alvaka through this program are doing so for the first time. “It’s almost always a net-new relationship,” said McDonald. The contract is typically between Alvaka and the victimized client, though referral agreements can be put in place so the MSP is compensated for bringing in the service.
Notably, Alvaka encourages MSPs to involve breach attorneys early in the process. “Legal counsel should be brought in immediately — long before you’re thinking about paying a ransom,” McDonald advised.
No Need for ‘Using the Yellow Pages’
For Ingram Micro, this agreement represents a vital addition to its cybersecurity offerings. “This new relationship with Alvaka will help empower our customers with a direct line to the emergency response services they need when they need them,” said Adam Bellows, U.S. executive director of networking and security at Ingram Micro.
The goal, McDonald shared, is to prepare partners before the crisis hits. “You don’t want to be using the Yellow Pages when you’re under attack. Know who to call. Have a plan. That preparation makes all the difference.”
Alvaka’s services aim to shorten recovery time by up to five days, reduce damage from ransomware attacks, and ultimately strengthen MSP-client relationships in the face of cyber adversity.
Hackers Don’t Look Past SMBs
Ransomware often dominates headlines when large companies are hit. However, McDonald says the real shift is happening downstream. “The bad actors are going after smaller targets now. Big companies are getting better at recovery, so the attackers are focusing on businesses that are more likely to pay — and that’s often SMBs.”
Too many small businesses are unprepared, McDonald added. Without backups or insurance, they’re often forced to pay.
He advises that MSPs practice what they preach. “Eat your own dog food. You should be doing everything you’re telling your clients to do — patching vulnerabilities, using MFA, segmenting networks, reviewing alerts. Don’t assume your firewall is fine just because it’s there. Update it. Monitor it.”
Meanwhile, with this new alliance, Ingram partners now have a trusted, proven ally in Alvaka. The latter’s team has been recovering businesses from ransomware for decades. The message to channel pros: Don’t wait for the breach. Plan now. And know who you’ll call when the time comes.
Featured image: iStock
