Cloud forensics: new practice emerges out of necessity

In the past two years, we have seen an explosion in applications for cloud computing, for both enterprises and individuals seeking additional capabilities and more storage. Add to that the rise of social media, which is a form of cloud computing in itself.

For law enforcement and investigators, it no longer means vital evidence is sitting on the hard drives of corporate or individual computers that can be impounded and dissected. Evidence may be sitting out on a cloud somewhere, perhaps in another land.

To meet this challenge, a new practice is emerging: “cloud forensics.” The National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the US Department of Justice, is beginning to focus resources on this area.

As reported by TechTarget’s George Lawton, US courts, law enforcement and criminologists are just beginning to grasp the extent of the challenge, as lawsuits and investigations already have become more complex due to digitization of information. Studies are confirming that the costs of electronic investigations and discovery are growing at a clip of close to 50% a year.

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Source: smartplanet.com
By: Joe McKendrick