FORENSIC ANALYSIS

FORENSIC ANALYSIS:

Computer forensics, is the process of investigating and analysing digital artefacts to gather evidence related to cybercrimes, security incidents, data breaches, or any other IT-related misconduct. IT forensic analysis aims to reconstruct events, identify perpetrators, and provide evidence that can be used in legal proceedings or to improve an organization's security posture. Key aspects of forensic analysis in IT include

   Incident Response:
IT forensic analysis is an integral part of incident response, where experts investigate security incidents, malware infections, unauthorized access, or data breaches to understand how the incident occurred and what data or systems were affected.

   Evidence Collection:
The forensic analyst collects and preserves digital evidence from various sources, such as computers, servers, mobile devices, network logs, cloud services, and storage media. The process must adhere to strict protocols to maintain the integrity of the evidence.

   Data Recovery:
The analyst may attempt to recover deleted or damaged data to obtain relevant information related to the incident.

   Malware Analysis:
In cases involving malware infections, the forensic analyst examines the malware to understand its behavior, impact, and origin.

   Network Forensics:
Network traffic is analyzed to identify suspicious or malicious activities and track communication between systems.

   Memory Analysis:
The contents of computer memory (RAM) are analyzed to identify running processes, open files, and other volatile data.

   Timeline Reconstruction:
The forensic analyst reconstructs the sequence of events to understand the timeline of the incident.

   Authentication and Access Logs:
The examination of authentication logs and access logs helps identify unauthorized access or suspicious user activities.

   Data Carving:
Data carving techniques are used to extract files or data from unallocated disk space or fragmented files.

   Chain of Custody:
A strict chain of custody is maintained for the digital evidence to ensure its admissibility and reliability in court.

   Reporting and Documentation:
The findings of the forensic analysis are documented in a detailed report, which includes a clear explanation of the investigation process and the evidence collected.

IT forensic analysis is critical for organizations to respond to security incidents, protect sensitive data, and adhere to legal and regulatory requirements. By conducting thorough forensic analysis, organizations can identify weaknesses in their IT infrastructure and implement appropriate security measures to prevent future incidents.