Assignment 3: Securing the Scene

Imagine you are a digital forensic investigator for a healthcare organization. You learn from your internal information security department that an employee has been using password-cracking software to access confidential patient health information (PHI). The account information extracted is unknown at this time, though it appears as though multiple computers were being used for the crime and it isn't clear whether an attack is currently in progress. The employee has been detained but his computers remain online.

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:

1. Develop a detailed plan to approach and secure the incident scene based on the information you have from the scenario.
2. Discuss the initial steps you would take for the investigation, depending on whether or not the attack is still in progress. Include how your actions would differ based on the current status of the incident.
3. Explicate the importance of creating an order of volatility by identifying the potential evidence that is the most volatile. Explain, in detail, how you would extract this evidence.
4. Identify the high-level steps that would be performed in collecting and analyzing the evidence. Include steps that are required, as well as what should not be done, in order to maintain the potential admissibility of evidence.
5. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Outline system forensics issues, laws, and skills.
• Examine and explain the evidence life cycle.
• Analyze the impact of sequestration on the evidence-gathering process.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in computer forensics.
• Write clearly and concisely about computer forensics topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.