Project Securing A Microsoft Windows Environment 473823

Project Securing A Microsoft Windows Environmentevidence Collection P

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

Paper For Above instruction

In the digital forensics landscape, especially within a Windows environment, establishing a comprehensive and robust evidence collection and handling policy is paramount for ensuring the integrity and admissibility of evidence in legal proceedings. This policy aims to set high-level standards that guide staff and incident response teams in managing digital evidence securely and effectively, aligning with legal and technical requirements.

1. Core Principles of Evidence Collection Policy

The foundation of this policy rests on the principles of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability. All evidence must be collected systematically to prevent contamination or alteration. The procedure must reflect adherence to legal standards such as those outlined by the Federal Rules of Evidence, ensuring that evidence remains untainted and admissible. The policy specifies that personnel involved in evidence collection must be trained and authorized to perform these duties, maintaining a clear chain of custody at all times.

2. Description of Information Required for Evidence Items

Each piece of evidence must be thoroughly documented. This includes a detailed description of the item, such as file names, timestamps, sizes, and storage locations. Additional contextual information should include the type of evidence (e.g., log files, disk images, temporary files), the source device or system, and the relevant data acquisition context. This metadata ensures traceability and reproducibility of the evidence collected.

3. Documentation Requirements

In addition to item-specific details, comprehensive documentation is essential. This should include the personnel involved in the collection, the date and time of collection, the circumstances under which evidence was gathered, and a description of the evidence's physical or digital state at the time of collection. Incident response logs, chain of custody forms, and verification reports should also be maintained to support the integrity and authenticity of the evidence.

4. Measures to Preserve Initial Evidence Integrity

To preserve the initial state of evidence, several measures are mandated. These include using write-blockers during data acquisition to prevent modification of source media, employing cryptographic hashing algorithms (such as SHA-256) to generate a unique hash value before and after collection, and securely storing the original evidence in tamper-evident containers. All handling activities must be logged diligently to create an unbroken chain of custody evidencing that the evidence has not been altered.

5. Measures to Preserve Ongoing Evidence Integrity

Ongoing integrity of digital evidence, such as logs or live system data, requires periodic validation through re-calculation of hash values and continuous monitoring of storage environments. Ensuring write-protected and access-controlled storage prevents unauthorized modifications. Additionally, maintaining strict access logs and employing environmental controls (e.g., climate-controlled vaults) helps guarantee that evidence remains pristine during investigations.

6. Controls for Evidence Storage

Secure storage controls include physically securing evidence in locked, monitored environments with limited access, and electronically securing evidence repositories via encryption and access authentication. Regular audits are conducted to verify that stored evidence remains unaltered, and any movement of evidence is recorded meticulously to uphold accountability. Redundant storage solutions, such as off-site backups, are recommended to prevent loss due to disasters or hardware failure.

7. Documentation to Demonstrate Evidence Integrity

Accurate and comprehensive documentation is critical in demonstrating ongoing evidence integrity. This includes detailed logs of all handling activities, cryptographic hash verifications, access records, and any physical movements. Digital signatures may be employed to authenticate documentation, providing an additional layer of trustworthiness. These records form the basis for legal defensibility, ensuring that the evidence can withstand scrutiny in court proceedings.

Conclusion

Implementing a high-level evidence collection and handling policy within a Windows environment is vital for maintaining the evidentiary chain of custody essential for legal processes. By clearly defining the information required, procedures for preservation, and controls for integrity, organizations can enhance their readiness for forensic investigations and judicial proceedings. This policy not only safeguards the integrity of digital evidence but also reinforces the organization’s commitment to legal and ethical standards in cybersecurity incident response.

References

• Casey, E. (2011). Digital Evidence and Computer Crime: Forensic Science, Computers, and the Law (3rd ed.). Academic Press.
• Easttom, C. (2018). Computer Crime, Forensics, and Digital Evidence. CRC Press.
• National Institute of Justice. (2017). Guide to Digital Evidence. U.S. Department of Justice.
• Rogers, M. (2015). Digital Evidence in Court. Wiley.
• Nelson, B., Phillips, A., & Steuart, C. (2019). Guide to Computer Network Security (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Garfinkel, S. (2010). Digital Forensics Research: The Next 10 Years. IEEE Computer Society.
• Higgins, M. (2019). Cybersecurity Law and Practice. Wolters Kluwer.
• Yar, M. (2013). Cybercrime and Digital Evidence: An Introduction for Law Enforcement. Routledge.
• ISO/IEC 27037:2012. Guidelines for Identification, Collection, Acquisition, and Preservation of Digital Evidence.
• Federal Rules of Evidence (2020). Federal Judicial Center.