Topic 3: Forensics of Environments

Network Forensics

Network forensics involves monitoring and analyzing network traffic to identify security breaches and malicious activities. By scrutinizing network logs, packet data, and other network activity, forensic experts can pinpoint unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and malware intrusions. Testing is an integral part of testing servers and securing a network. Network administrators also depend on snapshots as they are helpful in case of an update or software installation failure. This forensic approach provides crucial insights into the methods and vectors used in cyber-attacks, aiding in understanding the extent of the breach and formulating strategies to fortify network defenses. 

• DNS logs / passive DNS

• Netflow - Tool for collecting network traffic and the data associated with it.

• Check the sampling rate

Email Forensics

Emails are a common medium for communication and malicious activities such as phishing, fraud, and data theft. Forensic analysis of emails involves scrutinizing email headers, attachments, and content to trace the origins of fraudulent emails, track communication patterns, and gather evidence for legal proceedings. Communicating via email can be done in two environments, i.e., via the Internet or intranet. To communicate via email messages, client/server architecture is configured. The server runs email programs to provide email services, such as Microsoft Exchange Servers, and the client uses email programs, such as Outlook, for communication with the server. At the same time, when investigating email, you must also trace its path and domain from where it came. Through email forensics, digital investigators can uncover valuable leads, identify perpetrators, and ascertain the extent of email-based security incidents.

Cloud Forensics

In the event of a security breach or data loss in the cloud environment, forensic experts delve into cloud service provider logs, virtual machine snapshots, and access control records to reconstruct events leading to the incident. Before initiating a cloud investigation, review the CSA to identify any restrictions limiting collecting and analyzing data. Technical challenges in cloud forensics involve cloud architecture, data collection, analysis of cloud forensic data, anti-forensics, incident first responders, role management, legal issues, and standards and training. Anti-forensics is an effort to alter log records and date and time values of essential system files and install malware to hide hacker’s activities. Once a cloud system is compromised, the investigator must determine the type of crime, whether civil or criminal. Once this is known, the investigator's next step is to perform steps to retrieve evidence with the help of cloud forensics tools and the CSP network admin team. This meticulous analysis helps in understanding the scope of the compromise, identifying responsible parties, and implementing measures to prevent recurrence.