Final Project Milestone One Draft Of Report To Complete

Final Project Milestone One Draft Of Reportto Complete This Assignmen

Review the prompt and grading rubric in the Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric document. Develop a forensic investigative report summarizing a case involving intellectual property theft by an employee. The report should include an executive summary, legal concerns, procedures for maintaining evidentiary integrity (including processes, procedures, and chain of custody), details of the investigation (resources, methods, findings), and an outline of your investigative journal notes. Support your explanations with examples from lab experiences, referencing appropriate forensic tools and techniques. The report should be 4 to 5 pages, double-spaced, in APA format, and include both the draft report and investigative journal.

Paper For Above instruction

In today's digital age, protecting intellectual property (IP) is crucial for businesses engaged in technological innovation, such as ACME Construction Company, which specializes in designing and manufacturing high-end construction equipment. When an employee, Drew Patrick, a senior manager with extensive access to sensitive design documents and proprietary data, is suspected of unauthorized data transfers and potential IP theft, a thorough and methodical forensic investigation becomes imperative. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the scenario, emphasizing the importance of legal considerations, procedures to preserve evidentiary integrity, and the investigative methods used to uncover the misconduct.

Executive Summary

The case involves Drew Patrick, a high-level employee at ACME Construction, suspected of exfiltrating valuable intellectual property related to their flagship excavator. The investigation was initiated after security systems detected unusual peer-to-peer network activity originating from Drew’s workstation. Despite explicit restrictions, evidence indicated that Drew accessed and transferred sensitive design files to external IP addresses, risking significant financial and reputational damage. The forensic team was called upon to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence, ensuring its admissibility in potential civil and criminal proceedings. The stakeholders involved include ACME's legal team, HR department, IT specialists, and external forensic investigators.

Legal Concerns

Protecting company IP involves multiple legal considerations, including respecting employee rights, ensuring evidence integrity, and complying with relevant laws such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The investigation must adhere to standards for legal admissibility of digital evidence, establishing a clear chain of custody, and safeguarding against evidence tampering or contamination. The objective is to gather sufficient evidence to support civil litigation for intellectual property theft and potential criminal charges related to unauthorized access and data exfiltration. Collaboration with legal counsel ensures that investigative steps are compliant with applicable laws and organizational policies.

Relevant Procedures

Processes and Procedures

Handling a criminal internal employee scenario involves establishing a structured approach that minimizes risks of evidence compromise. Initial steps include preserving the current state of digital evidence through cryptographic hashing and creating bit-for-bit copies (forensic images) of relevant devices. Access to the suspect’s workstation and network logs must be controlled and documented meticulously. All actions should be logged, and the investigative process should follow standard protocols such as those outlined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in their Computer Security Incident Handling Guide. Interviewing staff and documenting every step are critical to uphold procedural integrity.

Chain of Custody

Maintaining an unbroken chain of custody ensures the integrity and authenticity of evidence. From the moment evidence is collected, each transfer or handling is documented with details including date, time, personnel involved, and the purpose of each transfer. For instance, when seizing the suspect’s hard drive, the forensic team recorded its details, created a hash value for verification, and stored it securely. Subsequent analysis involved generating additional hash values for forensic copies to prevent tampering. All logs, including digital logs, physical evidence tags, and transfer records, form a documented chain that provides legal admissibility and accountability throughout the investigation process.

Details of Investigation

Resources Needs

A successful forensic investigation requires specialized personnel possessing skills in digital forensics, network analysis, and legal procedures. The team comprises digital forensic analysts, network security specialists, and legal advisors. Technical resources include forensic software tools such as EnCase, FTK, Autopsy, and Wireshark for analyzing disk images, network traffic, and log files. Hardware resources include write-blockers for creating forensic images, secure storage for evidence, and high-capacity servers for data analysis. Expertise in interpreting log files, email messages, chat histories, and understanding malware or hidden data tactics are essential to uncover the full scope of misconduct.

Methods

The investigation employed a combination of forensic imaging and detailed log analysis. First, the suspect's hard drive was acquired using write-blockers to prevent modification. Hash values were generated pre- and post-acquisition to verify integrity. Files were then analyzed using Autopsy and FTK, focusing on email correspondence, chat logs, SQL databases, and web browser histories. Network logs from firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) were scrutinized to identify unusual data exfiltration patterns. The investigation also included analyzing slack space to uncover hidden or temporary files indicating ongoing illicit activities. Throughout, a focus was maintained on preserving evidence integrity and avoiding contamination.

Findings

The forensic analysis revealed that Drew had accessed sensitive design documentation over several weeks, using his personal credentials to log into the R&D database. The evidence included email exchanges with external actors indicating intent to sell proprietary information, chat conversations referencing proprietary files, and encrypted SQL databases that hinted at data exfiltration. Files matching design schematics and parts lists were found in the suspect’s machine, transferred to an external IP address that was outside ACME’s control. Notably, the use of an anonymous account created shortly before the transfers suggested deliberate attempts to mask identity. The web history indicated searches on dark-web markets and encryption techniques, further corroborating the hypothesis of malicious intent. The use of forensic tools such as EnCase and Wireshark played a pivotal role in uncovering these activities and establishing a timeline of events.

Investigative Journal Notes

The investigative journal documents the steps undertaken, challenges encountered, and decisions made during this case. It includes detailed logs of evidence collection, hash generation, analysis procedures, and correspondence with legal advisors. Continuous updates ensure traceability and accountability, which are vital for legal admissibility. The journal also notes lessons learned for future cases, emphasizing the importance of timely collection, maintaining strict chain of custody, and using multiple forensic tools to corroborate findings.

Conclusion

The investigation into Drew Patrick’s conduct exemplifies the necessity of rigorous forensic procedures in safeguarding organizational assets. Employing a combination of technology, legal awareness, and procedural discipline ensures evidence reliability. This case underscores the importance of proactive security measures, timely investigation responses, and thorough documentation to protect valuable intellectual property from internal threats. As organizations increasingly rely on digital data, adhering to best practices in digital forensic investigations remains vital to ensure justice and protect corporate interests.

References

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• U.S. Department of Justice. (2021). Computer Crime Investigations: A Guide for Law Enforcement. DOJ Publishing.
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