Excerpt from the opening chapter of my new #book, Diving In – An Incident Responder’s Journey: A Guide for Executives, Lawyers, Insurance, Brokers & Audiences Eager to Learn, can be purchased here.
“Digital Forensics and Incident Response (#DFIR) are two essential areas of investigative and reactive cybersecurity that aim to protect individuals, governments, and organizations of all sizes and complexity from ever-present, ever-evolving cyber threats. Legal counsel and cyber insurance carriers are often called upon by their clients to help start and navigate the Digital Forensics and Incident Response process.
Digital Forensic science, commonly referred to as digital or computer forensics, is the branch of forensic science that deals with the collection, analysis, and preservation of digital data — evidence of something that has occurred. It involves the investigative use of specialized tools and techniques to defensibly extract and analyze data from a ubiquitous and continually growing array of computers, tablets, servers, #smartphones, smartwatches, network devices, Internet of Things (IOT), etc. If it powers on and stores data, it can be analyzed.
In the context of cybersecurity, Digital Forensics is often used to investigate incidents such as ransomware events, #network intrusions, insider threats, malware, intellectual property theft, cyber espionage, and #cyber terrorism. By analyzing the digital evidence left behind, investigators can determine causes of incidents and gather evidence for legal action.
Incident Response is essentially the steps taken to address, contain, and minimize the impact of a cyberattack and prevent further damage. This process involves a range of activities, including identifying the scope of the incident, containing the attack, collecting evidence, analyzing the reach of the incident, and restoring affected systems and data. It requires a coordinated effort by a team of experts, including IT professionals, cybersecurity and Digital Forensics experts, and legal professionals.”
Check back tomorrow for another excerpt!