Gather relevant information about the incident, including the type of incident, affected systems, and any potential evidence. Document the initial findings and create an incident response plan to guide the forensic investigation.
2.Preservation of Evidence:
Ensure the preservation of potential digital evidence by securing and isolating affected systems. Create forensic copies (images) of the storage media to work with while leaving the original evidence untouched.
3.Chain of Custody:
Establish a chain of custody for all collected evidence. Record the individuals who handle the evidence and ensure its integrity throughout the investigation.
4.Identify Scope and Objectives:
Clearly define the scope and objectives of the forensic investigation. Determine the specific questions that need to be answered and the potential sources of evidence to be examined.
5.Data Collection:
Collect relevant data from various sources, including logs, system files, network traffic captures, and volatile memory. Use appropriate forensic tools and techniques to preserve data integrity.
6.Data Analysis:
Analyze the collected data to identify relevant artifacts and potential evidence. Use forensic tools and manual examination techniques to search for clues and patterns that might shed light on the incident.
7.Timeline Reconstruction:
Create a timeline of events to reconstruct the sequence of activities leading up to and during the incident. This can help understand the attacker's actions and the impact on the affected systems.
8.Root Cause Analysis:
Identify the root cause of the incident by tracing the attack vector and determining the initial point of compromise.
9.Malware Analysis:
If malware is suspected to be involved, perform malware analysis to understand its behavior, capabilities, and potential impact on the systems.
10.Data Recovery and Reconstruction:
If data loss or corruption is involved, attempt data recovery and reconstruction to restore critical information.
11.Documentation and Reporting:
Document all findings, including the evidence collected, analysis results, and the conclusions drawn. Prepare a detailed forensic report with clear and concise explanations.
12.Legal Considerations:
Ensure that the investigation adheres to legal requirements and maintains the confidentiality of sensitive information. Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to handle any potential legal actions.
13.Remediation and Recommendations:
Provide actionable recommendations to mitigate the impact of the incident and strengthen the organization's defenses against future incidents.
14.Continuous Improvement:
After completing the investigation, conduct a post-incident review to identify areas for improvement in the incident response and forensic investigation processes.
