Evidence Collection Policy Scenario After The Recent 441233

Evidence Collection Policy Scenario After the recent security breach, Always Fresh decided to form

After the recent security breach, Always Fresh decided to form a computer security incident response team (CSIRT). As a security administrator, you have been assigned the responsibility of developing a CSIRT policy that addresses incident evidence collection and handling. The goal is to ensure all evidence collected during investigations is valid and admissible in court. Consider the following questions for collecting and handling evidence: 1. What are the main concerns when collecting evidence? 2. What precautions are necessary to preserve evidence state? 3. How do you ensure evidence remains in its initial state? 4. What information and procedures are necessary to ensure evidence is admissible in court? Tasks Create a policy that ensures all evidence is collected and handled in a secure and efficient manner. Remember, you are writing a policy, not procedures. Focus on the high-level tasks, not the individual steps. Address the following in your policy: • Description of information required for items of evidence • Documentation required in addition to item details (personnel, description of circumstances, and so on) • Description of measures required to preserve initial evidence integrity • Description of measures required to preserve ongoing evidence integrity • Controls necessary to maintain evidence integrity in storage • Documentation required to demonstrate evidence integrity You can use the Internet access & Course textbook as resources Format: Microsoft Word (or compatible) Font: Times New Roman, size 12, double-space Citation Style: APA Length: 2 to 4 pages Checklist: create a policy that addressed all issues. follow the submission guidelines.

Paper For Above instruction

In the wake of a security breach within Always Fresh’s IT infrastructure, establishing a robust evidence collection policy is crucial for ensuring that collected evidence maintains its integrity, is legally admissible, and effectively supports incident investigations. A comprehensive evidence collection and handling policy must address concerns regarding evidence integrity, proper documentation, preservation measures, and storage controls.

Concerns When Collecting Evidence

The primary concerns in evidence collection involve maintaining evidence integrity, preventing contamination or alteration, and ensuring chain of custody. Evidence can be compromised through improper handling, environmental factors, or accidental modification, which diminishes its evidentiary value. Additionally, mishandling or failure to document evidence properly can undermine its admissibility in court, which makes meticulous procedures essential (Rogers, 2020).

Precautions to Preserve Evidence State

Ensuring evidence remains in its initial, unaltered state requires strict precautions. For digital evidence, write-blockers should be used to prevent modification during acquisition. For physical evidence, proper packaging using evidence bags, tamper-evident seals, and secure environments must be employed. Personnel handling evidence should be trained in forensic procedures, including avoiding unintended data alteration or contamination (Casey, 2011). Maintaining an environment with controlled access reduces the risk of tampering.

Ensuring Evidence Remains in Its Initial State

To preserve the initial state of evidence, procedures must include immediate documentation upon collection, such as capturing the state of devices via forensic imaging. Chain of custody forms must record each evidence transfer. Digital evidence should be duplicated using verified hashing algorithms (e.g., MD5, SHA-256) to create a forensic copy, with hash values recorded and stored securely. Physical evidence should be stored in controlled environments with restricted access, ensuring no environmental factors or handling alter its original form (Garfinkel & Ben-Shaul, 2014).

Admissibility in Court: Information and Procedures

Evidence admissibility depends on proper documentation and adherence to chain-of-custody protocols. The policy must specify that all evidence items are logged with precise descriptions, timestamps, personnel involved, and circumstances of collection. Personnel must be trained in forensic best practices, and evidence must be stored securely, with access logs maintained. Digital evidence procedures should include securing hash records, verification steps during analysis, and detailed documentation of handling and transfer. Regular audits of evidence storage and handling procedures are necessary to demonstrate compliance (ISO/IEC 27037, 2012).

High-Level Evidence Handling Policy

The policy mandates that all evidence collected during incidents must be documented with detailed descriptions, including item identifiers, source location, and relevant circumstances. Personnel involved in evidence collection must be trained to follow chain-of-custody protocols, including recording each transfer and storage movement. To preserve initial integrity, forensic imaging must be performed immediately for digital devices, with hash values compared and logged. All evidence must be stored in secure, access-controlled environments, with regular audits to verify integrity. The policy emphasizes periodic review and strict procedural adherence to ensure evidentiary value and legal defensibility.

Conclusion

Implementing a high-level evidence collection and handling policy as outlined ensures that Always Fresh can effectively respond to security incidents with credible, legal evidence. Upholding rigorous standards for documentation, preservation, and storage not only aligns with legal requirements but also enhances the effectiveness of forensic investigations—ultimately fortifying the company's cybersecurity posture (Casey, 2011; Garfinkel & Ben-Shaul, 2014).

References

• Casey, E. (2011). Digital Evidence and Computer Crime: Forensic Science, Computers, and the Justice System. Academic Press.
• Garfinkel, S., & Ben-Shaul, N. (2014). Digital Forensics: Log Analysis and Network Security. Elsevier.
• ISO/IEC 27037:2012. (2012). Guidelines for identification, collection, acquisition, and preservation of digital evidence. International Organization for Standardization.
• Rogers, M. (2020). Cybersecurity incident response: A practical guide. McGraw-Hill.