Project 5: Digital Forensics Analysis

The methodology for digital forensics follows a systems process. Identify the requirements, purpose, and objectives of the investigation. Click the links below to review information that will aid in conducting and documenting an investigation:

• secure programming fundamentals
• forensics fundamentals

Learn about the investigation methodology. Consider secure programming fundamentals. Define the digital forensics analysis methodology and the phases of the digital forensics fundamentals and methodology, including the following:

1. preparation
2. extraction
3. identification
4. analysis

This information will help you understand the process you will use during an investigation.

Professionals in the Field

Digital forensics is a specialized area of cybersecurity that overlaps with criminal law and the judicial system. As mentioned in a previous project, knowledge of multiple domains is often a desirable or even necessary bona fide job qualification. For instance, knowing and applying the best practices for setting up secure information systems does not necessarily mean that the system, processes, and people will align in a way that allows for the gathering of criminal evidence admissible in a court of law. That alignment requires knowledge in multiple domains. Could that be you?

Step 2: Tools and Techniques

Select the following links to learn about forensics analysis tools, methods, and techniques:

1. forensics analysis tools
2. web log and session analysis
3. hash analysis

Step 3: Explore Forensic Tools

This hands-on lab will introduce you to FTK Imager, a forensics tool. You will use your lab findings in the last step when you compile your research paper.

Complete This Lab

Resources

• Accessing the Virtual Lab Environment: Navigating UMGC Virtual Labs and Lab Setup
• Self-Help Guide (Workspace): Getting Started and Troubleshooting
• Link to the Virtual Lab Environment: https://vdi.umgc.edu/

Lab Instructions

• Digital Forensics Lab (Introduction to FTK Imager)

Step 4: Digital Forensics Research Paper

Now that you have learned the basics of digital forensics analysis and methodology, and have experienced one of the common forensic tools, use the material presented in this project as well as research you have conducted outside of the course materials to write a research paper that addresses the following:

1. digital forensics methodology
2. the importance of using forensic tools to collect and analyze evidence (e.g., FTK Imager and EnCase)
3. hashing in the context of digital forensics
4. How do you ensure that the evidence collected has not been tampered with (i.e., after collection)? Why and how is this important to prove in court?

The deliverables for this project are as follows:

1. Digital Forensics Research Paper: This should be a five-page double-spaced Word document with citations in APA format. The page count does not include diagrams or tables.
2. In a Word document, share your lab experience and provide screenshots to demonstrate that you completed the lab.

Submit your deliverables after reading the instructions below.

Check Your Evaluation Criteria

Before you submit your assignment, review the competencies below, which your instructor will use to evaluate your work. A good practice would be to use each competency as a self-check to confirm you have incorporated all of them. To view the complete grading rubric, click My Tools, select Assignments from the drop-down menu, and then click the project title.

• 5.3: Uses defensive measures and information collected from a variety of sources to identify, analyze, and report events that occur or might occur within the network in order to protect information, information systems, and networks from threats.
• 8.6: Provides professional preparation for computer digital forensics, investigation of crime, and preservation of digital evidence in criminal and civil investigations and information security incident response.
• 8.7: Provide theoretical basis and practical assistance for all aspects of digital investigation and the use of computer evidence in forensics and law enforcement.

Take Action

Submit your assignment to your instructor for review and feedback.

Follow these steps to access the assignment:

• Click My Tools in the top navigation bar.
• Click Assignments.
• Select the relevant assignment.