Imagine The University That Employs You As An Information So ✓ Solved

Imagine the university that employs you as an information se

Imagine the university that employs you as an information security professional has recently identified the need to design and build a digital forensic laboratory. You have been tasked with designing the lab for the organization. Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you: 1. Explicate the steps you would take to plan a budget for the lab, keeping in mind the general business objective to avoid unneeded costs. 2. Recommend the physical requirements and controls that you would consider implementing in order to keep the lab safe and secure. 3. Identify at least three (3) hardware and software tools that you would include in the design of the lab and explain your reasons behind your choices. 4. Identify the high-level criteria that would be considered when selecting the forensic workstations to be utilized. 5. Describe the mandatory policies, processes, and procedures you would implement in order to maintain the lab environment and preserve evidence. 6. Design a floor plan for the lab using a diagramming application such as Visio or Dia. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length. 7. Use at least three (3) quality resources.

Paper For Above Instructions

Executive Summary

This paper outlines a practical, cost-conscious plan to design a university digital forensics laboratory including budget planning steps, required physical controls, recommended hardware and software tools, workstation selection criteria, mandatory policies and procedures, and a verbal floor plan for diagramming. The recommendations follow industry guidance and best practices to ensure evidence integrity and operational efficiency (NIST, 2006; ISO/IEC 27037, 2012).

1. Budget Planning Steps

Effective budgeting begins with stakeholder analysis and requirements gathering: identify academic, research, campus security, and legal stakeholders and document expected case volume, research needs, and training demands (Palmer, 2001). Next, perform an inventory of existing assets and gap analysis to avoid redundant purchases. Create prioritized line items (tiered requirements): mandatory (e.g., secure evidence storage, workstations), recommended (network capture appliances), and optional (GPU-accelerated analysis servers). Estimate costs using vendor quotes and include lifecycle costs: warranty, maintenance, software licensing, training, and replacement cycles (Casey, 2011).

Adopt total cost of ownership (TCO) and procurement strategies such as staged procurement (phase 1: core lab; phase 2: expanded capacity). Build contingency (10–15%) and approval gates tied to metrics (utilization thresholds). Consider shared services across departments to reduce per-unit cost (Carrier & Spafford, 2003).

2. Physical Requirements and Controls

Design the lab as a secure, access-controlled facility with layered defenses. Key controls include:

  • Controlled access: badge readers, biometric locks, and role-based access lists for staff and supervised visitors (ACPO, 2007).
  • Evidence intake room: a secure, monitored entry with signed chain-of-custody logging and tamper-evident packaging supplies.
  • Climate control and power: redundant HVAC to maintain stable temperature/humidity, UPS and generator backup, and proper grounding to protect drives and equipment.
  • EMI mitigation and Faraday enclosures as needed for mobile device analysis and to prevent remote wiping (ISO/IEC 27037, 2012).
  • Surveillance and tamper detection: CCTV with retained logs, intrusion detection, and secure evidence vault (fire-resistant, humidity-controlled).
  • Anti-static flooring, ESD mats, and dedicated sink and decontamination area for non-digital artifacts.
  • Fire suppression: pre-action or FM-200 systems that are safe for electronics.

Segregated networks: an isolated forensic VLAN with no external internet access except via controlled proxy to preserve evidence integrity (NIST, 2006).

3. Recommended Hardware and Software Tools

At minimum, include the following tools and rationales:

  • Write-blocking hardware and imaging appliances (e.g., Tableau or Logicube): for forensically sound disk acquisition and fast cloning, ensuring evidence immutability at acquisition (AccessData, 2018; Tableau, 2017).
  • Forensic workstations with validated imaging suites (EnCase/FTK/Autopsy): industry-standard software supports broad file systems, automated processing, indexing and robust reporting. Vendors offer validation and support that reduce investigative risk (OpenText, 2019; Sleuth Kit/Autopsy documentation).
  • Network capture and analysis tools (Wireshark, NetworkMiner, dedicated packet capture appliances): to support live response and network evidence collection during incident investigations (NIST SP guidance).
  • Forensic-grade storage and backups: NAS with snapshots, WORM-capable media for long-term retention, and offsite secure backup to ensure chain-of-custody and continuity.

Supplemental items: mobile-device forensic kits, hash verification tools, encrypted evidence transport cases, and validated mobile extraction tools (NIST, 2006; Casey, 2011).

4. High-level Criteria for Forensic Workstations

Select workstations that meet these criteria:

  • Processing power and RAM: multi-core CPUs and ≥64 GB RAM for concurrent analysis and indexing (vendor guidance).
  • High-speed storage: NVMe system drives and large-capacity SATA/SAS storage pools for image storage and scratch space.
  • I/O flexibility: multiple USB 3.x, Thunderbolt, SATA controllers and PCIe slots for hardware write-blockers and capture cards.
  • Hardware validation and vendor support: certified configurations tested with major forensic tools to ensure reliability (OpenText, AccessData).
  • Security features: TPM, disk encryption, and BIOS-level protections; ability to boot into forensically sound live environments.
  • Scalability and virtualization: support for virtual lab instances and GPU acceleration for hashing or AI-assisted triage.

5. Mandatory Policies, Processes, and Procedures

Establish documented SOPs that are enforced and audited regularly:

  • Chain-of-custody policy and evidence intake SOP: standardized forms, unique identifiers, tamper-evident seals, and logged transfers (ACPO, 2007).
  • Access control and visitor policy: least-privilege access, visitor escort rules, and periodic access reviews.
  • Imaging and analysis procedures: approved imaging tools, hash verification, and read-only analysis workflows to prevent evidence alteration (NIST, 2006; ISO/IEC 27037, 2012).
  • Incident response integration: procedures for triage, escalation, and coordination with legal counsel and campus authorities.
  • Evidence retention and disposal policy: retention periods, secure long-term storage, and documented destruction processes.
  • Quality assurance and validation: tool validation, proficiency testing, and peer review of investigative results (Casey, 2011).
  • Training and certification requirements: mandatory training, continuing education, and documented competencies for all lab personnel.

6. Floor Plan Design (Verbal)

Recommended spatial layout (to be drawn in Visio/Dia): an entry/reception and evidence intake zone adjacent to the secure evidence vault for minimized transit; an isolated imaging room with bench space and write-blocker connections; a separate analysis area with 4–6 workstation bays arranged to minimize cross-contamination; a secure server/network capture closet; a small meeting/training room with whiteboard; and a lockable storage room for supplies and media. CCTV cameras should cover intake, vault, and ingress/egress points; the lab should have one secured exterior door for controlled deliveries. Design circulation to restrict unauthorized access to evidence storage and imaging areas (SANS, 2014).

Conclusion

A cost-aware forensic lab for a university balances strict evidence handling requirements with scalable, validated tools and carefully prioritized procurement. By following phased budgeting, implementing robust physical and procedural controls, selecting validated hardware and software, and documenting rigorous SOPs, the lab will support forensic investigations, research, and training while protecting evidentiary integrity (Casey, 2011; NIST, 2006).

References

  • AccessData. (2018). FTK Imager and Forensic Imager Documentation. AccessData Group. (AccessData, 2018).
  • ACPO. (2007). ACPO Good Practice Guide for Digital Evidence. Association of Chief Police Officers.
  • Carrier, B., & Spafford, E. (2003). Getting physical: Applying digital forensics to physical systems. Digital Investigation, 1(1), 70–79.
  • Casey, E. (2011). Digital Evidence and Computer Crime: Forensic Science, Computers, and the Internet (3rd ed.). Academic Press.
  • ISO/IEC. (2012). ISO/IEC 27037:2012 — Guidelines for identification, collection and/or acquisition and preservation of digital evidence. International Organization for Standardization.
  • NIST. (2006). NIST SP 800-86: Guide to Integrating Forensic Techniques into Incident Response. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
  • OpenText (Guidance Software). (2019). EnCase Forensic User Guide and Best Practices. OpenText, Inc.
  • Palmer, G. (2001). A Road Map for Digital Forensic Research. First Digital Forensics Research Workshop (DFRWS).
  • SANS Institute. (2014). Designing and Building a Forensic Lab: Practical Guidance for Forensic Managers. SANS Reading Room.
  • Tableau Forensic (Imaging Appliances). (2017). Product Documentation and Best Practices for Forensic Cloning. Logicube/Tableau.

Related Assignments