3-1_Discussion_Forensic_Approaches[1]
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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Information Systems
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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What are the most critical components that are found in each of the various forensic methodologies and
why?
Forensic methodology refers to the application of scientific techniques or knowledge to the investigation
of a crime or the examination of evidence that may be used in a criminal trial (NIST, n.d). Forensic methodology plays a crucial role in the investigation and court. Some of the key components are:
Evidence Collection: Collecting evidence is a critical part of a forensic investigation. It involves finding, documenting, and storing evidence at the scene of a crime or in a digital environment. It captures all relevant information without contaminating or altering it, forming the basis for further analysis (Fumagalli, 2020).
Analysis techniques and Technology: The tools and technologies used in security operations vary from day to day, and different tools are used for different kinds of investigations. Integrating security tools into multiple platforms to collect data can be a manual process that can be painful and time-consuming. Time is always valuable, so it’s important to integrate security tools to improve efficiency and to integrate intelligence seamlessly to collect, analyze, and document all data in one place and immediately
share it with the relevant stakeholders. The types of analysis techniques used vary depending on the type of investigation and the types of evidence involved. Some examples of analysis techniques include forensic imaging, data recovery, decryption, physical evidence examination, and network traffic analysis (Fumagalli, 2020).
Chain of Custody: Chain of custody is the process of documenting how evidence is handled, stored, and transmitted from the time it is collected to the time it is presented in court. Chain of custody helps protect evidence from being tampered with or contaminated, thus maintaining its reliability and credibility.
Documentation and reporting: Documentation is key for transparency, accountability, and future reference. When investigating, investigators must accurately document their observations, methods of analysis, findings and conclusions in comprehensive reports. Good documentation allows peer review, cooperation and communication with interested parties (McCargo, 2022).
Quality Assurance/auditing: this ensures a consistent response during an investigation. It allows you to identify areas of improvement in your process and demonstrate that the actions you took were appropriate. Documenting activities during an investigation not only requires action to be taken, but it’s also critical to ensure the integrity of your documentation later. It ensures that the investigation follows standardized protocols and procedures (Fumagalli, 2020).
What processes would you most likely utilize in your own investigations and why?
I would use a combination of all key components to conduct my own investigations to meet the standard requirement and ensure the integrity and validity of my investigation. For instance, I would focus on evidence collection techniques that protect the integrity of possible evidence. I would use analysis techniques that are appropriate for the type of investigation I am conducting, whether it’s digital forensics/forensics/accounting/crime scene investigation. I would have a rigorous chain of custody in place to monitor evidence handling and reduce the risk of contamination/tampering, so that the evidence will be eligible for prosecution in the court of law. Finally, I would document my findings as
best as I can, using best practice forensic reporting and quality assurance procedures to verify the
veracity of my findings. By combining all the key components, I would be able to conduct investigations that are thorough, objective and defensible, that can withstand legal review and help to achieve justice.
References:
Fumagalli, A. (2020, August 31). 9 key components of incident and forensics management. Sumo
Logic
. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.sumologic.com/blog/9-key-
components-of-incident-and-forensics-management/
McCargo, H. (2022, December 6). The 9 Digital Forensics Phases and how they work
. U.S. Cybersecurity. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.uscybersecurity.com/blogs/the-digital-forensics-phases
NIST. (2023, March 13). Forensic Science | NIST
. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.nist.gov/forensic-science
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