CYBER SECURITY

Sample Solution

Cybersecurity Investigation & Forensic Methodology (Plan)

Introduction

This document outlines a comprehensive plan for investigating a recent digital crime or cyber attack on my new organization, Acme Corp. As the Cyber Security Analyst, I will collaborate with law enforcement officials to collect, analyze, and present digital evidence for the prosecution of the perpetrators.

Full Answer Section

1. Initial Contact: Upon notification of the cyber attack, I will immediately contact the Information Security Officer (ISO) and internal IT team to understand the nature and scope of the incident. We will determine the affected systems, potential data breaches, and the time frame of the attack.
2. Incident Containment: Working with the IT team, I will implement containment measures to isolate compromised systems, prevent further damage, and limit lateral movement within the network. Firewalls and network segmentation strategies can be employed to restrict access to vulnerable systems.
3. Log File Analysis: System logs, application logs, and network logs will be collected and analyzed to identify suspicious activity, potential entry points, and attacker behavior.
4. Identify Potential Evidence: Based on the initial findings, I will identify potential digital evidence sources including server files, user workstations, network devices, and backup systems.

1. Timeline Development: A timeline of events will be constructed based on log analysis, user activity reports, and any available witness accounts. This will help establish the sequence of events and identify critical points in the attack.
2. Attacker Tactics & Tools: The investigation will focus on identifying the attacker's methods, tools used, and potential vulnerabilities exploited. Analyzing malware samples and network traffic patterns can provide valuable insights.
3. Root Cause Analysis: A thorough examination of the network infrastructure and security controls will be conducted to identify the root cause of the breach. This will help improve future security posture and prevent similar attacks.

1. Chain of Custody: All evidence will be collected and documented following a strict chain of custody procedure. This ensures the authenticity and integrity of evidence for legal proceedings.
2. Forensic Imaging: Certified forensic tools will be used to create forensic images of affected hard drives and servers. These images will serve as a pristine copy of the original data for further analysis.
3. Volatile Data Collection: Memory forensics will be used to capture volatile data residing in RAM, which might provide clues about active processes and running malware.
4. Network Capture: If the attack is ongoing, network traffic capture tools will be deployed to record the communication between attacker and compromised systems. These network packets can reveal valuable information about the attacker's command and control infrastructure.

1. Data Carving: Data carving techniques will be used to recover deleted files, fragments, and potentially hidden data on storage devices.
2. Log Analysis Tools: Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems will be used to analyze system logs for suspicious activity and identify potential anomalies.
3. Malware Analysis: Any malware samples detected will be analyzed in a controlled environment to understand their functionality, payload type, and communication patterns. This can help identify the attacker's motives and potential targets.
4. User Activity Monitoring: User activity logs will be analyzed to identify unusual access patterns or unauthorized login attempts.

1. Timeline Correlation: Analyze how evidence from different sources correlates with the timeline of events. This can help establish a more complete picture of the attack and identify any dependencies between attacker actions.
2. Indicators of Compromise (IOCs): Extracted indicators such as IP addresses, URLs, and file hashes will be compared with known threat intelligence feeds to identify connections to known malware or attacker groups.
3. Attribution: While definitive attribution may be challenging, identifying attacker techniques, tools, and potential geographic location can provide valuable insights about the perpetrator.

1. Documentation: A comprehensive report will be prepared documenting the entire investigation process, findings, and analysis of collected evidence. Clear and concise documentation is crucial for presenting evidence in court.
2. Collaboration: Throughout the investigation, I will work closely with law enforcement officials to ensure proper handling of evidence and a seamless legal process.
3. Expert Witness Testimony: If necessary, I will be prepared to present my findings and analysis as an expert witness in court, explaining the technical aspects of the investigation and the significance of digital evidence.