Introduction
Incident response and computer network forensics are two critical areas in the field of cybersecurity. Incident response refers to the process of managing and responding to a cyber incident, such as a breach or a malware infection. It involves identifying and containing the incident, investigating the root cause, and implementing remediation measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Computer network forensics involves the collection, analysis, and preservation of digital evidence in the aftermath of a cyber incident. It enables investigators to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the incident, identify the source of the attack, and gather evidence that can be used in legal proceedings. Both incident response and computer network forensics are essential in ensuring the security of an organization's digital assets and minimizing the impact of cyber incidents.
Refection
The Incident Response and Computer Network Forensics course is essential for any professional that wants to protect networks from cyber threats. Incident response involves a systematic approach to addressing and managing the aftermath of a cybersecurity breach or attack. It includes identifying the source and extent of the breach, containing the damage, eradicating the threat, and restoring normal operations. Computer network forensics involves investigating and analyzing digital evidence to identify the cause, scope, and extent of a cybersecurity incident. This course is critical because it equips cyber professionals with the knowledge and skills to respond to cyber incidents effectively, minimize damage, and prevent future attacks. By taking this course, cyber professionals can learn how to detect, investigate, and respond to cybersecurity incidents, which is essential in today's threat landscape, where cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and frequent.
My expectation for this course, Incident Response and Computer Network Forensics, was to be provided with the knowledge and skills related to detecting, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity incidents, including the collection and analysis of digital evidence from computer networks. I desired additional knowledge and efficiency in the following areas:
Artifact #1
This digital forensic examination report investigates a confidentiality breach at M57, where a confidential spreadsheet containing sensitive information was leaked on a public web application. The report reveals that the spreadsheet only existed on the hard drive of Jean Smith, an account executive at M57. Jean denies leaking the sensitive information and believes she was hacked. The report presents evidence that Jean violated M57's Corporate IT Policy by using an external USB device on her work system, which many companies strongly discourage for security reasons. Jean sent confidential information to Alison@m57.biz without following the proper security measures and encryption. The examination also reveals that on July 20, 2008, multiple emails were sent back and forth between Jean and her co-workers regarding the data breach. These emails reveal that Jean's salary and social security number were part of the leaked information. The report concludes that Jean is responsible for the breach of personally identifiable information (PII) of all employees included on the spreadsheet transmitted on July 19, 2008.
The burden of proof rests on the plaintiff or the person filing the suit (M57) in a civil lawsuit. The plaintiff must prove that the allegations are true and that the defendant, or the other party, caused damages. In this case, the objective of the report is to present what the preponderance of evidence reveals. The report highlights Jean's violation of M57's Corporate IT Policy, which resulted in the breach of PII of all employees. The evidence supports that Jean sent confidential information without following proper security measures, and the emails exchanged among her co-workers suggest she was not hacked, contradicting her claim of innocence.
Lessons Learned:
The Incident Response and Computer Network Forensics course is a critical training course for cybersecurity professionals. It equips them with the necessary knowledge and skills to detect, analyze, and respond to cybersecurity incidents effectively. The digital forensic examination report discussed in Artifact #1 highlights the importance of following IT policies and guidelines, using encryption for confidential information, and not using external devices on company systems without approval. It also emphasizes the need for regular monitoring and regulation of electronic communications to detect potential breaches. By learning from these lessons, cybersecurity professionals can better protect networks from cyber threats and prevent confidentiality breaches like the one experienced by M57.
My expectation for this course, Incident Response and Computer Network Forensics, was to be provided with the knowledge and skills related to detecting, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity incidents, including the collection and analysis of digital evidence from computer networks. I desired additional knowledge and efficiency in the following areas:
- Incident response learning about different types of incidents, the incident response process, and how to create an incident response plan.
- Digital forensics learning about the digital forensic process, data acquisition, preservation, analysis, and reporting.
- Network forensics: You can learn about network protocols, traffic analysis, intrusion detection, and packet capture analysis.
- Malware analysis learning about how to analyze malware samples and reverse engineering techniques.
- Legal and ethical issues and exploring the legal and ethical issues related to incident response and computer forensics, including chain of custody, admissibility of evidence, and privacy concerns.
- Incident management and how to manage a cybersecurity incident, including incident prioritization, communication, and coordination.
Artifact #1
This digital forensic examination report investigates a confidentiality breach at M57, where a confidential spreadsheet containing sensitive information was leaked on a public web application. The report reveals that the spreadsheet only existed on the hard drive of Jean Smith, an account executive at M57. Jean denies leaking the sensitive information and believes she was hacked. The report presents evidence that Jean violated M57's Corporate IT Policy by using an external USB device on her work system, which many companies strongly discourage for security reasons. Jean sent confidential information to Alison@m57.biz without following the proper security measures and encryption. The examination also reveals that on July 20, 2008, multiple emails were sent back and forth between Jean and her co-workers regarding the data breach. These emails reveal that Jean's salary and social security number were part of the leaked information. The report concludes that Jean is responsible for the breach of personally identifiable information (PII) of all employees included on the spreadsheet transmitted on July 19, 2008.
The burden of proof rests on the plaintiff or the person filing the suit (M57) in a civil lawsuit. The plaintiff must prove that the allegations are true and that the defendant, or the other party, caused damages. In this case, the objective of the report is to present what the preponderance of evidence reveals. The report highlights Jean's violation of M57's Corporate IT Policy, which resulted in the breach of PII of all employees. The evidence supports that Jean sent confidential information without following proper security measures, and the emails exchanged among her co-workers suggest she was not hacked, contradicting her claim of innocence.
Lessons Learned:
- Follow company IT policies and guidelines to prevent confidentiality breaches.
- Do not use external devices on company systems unless approved.
- Use encryption for all emails that include confidential or sensitive information.
- Do not send emails that hide the identity of the sender or represent the sender as someone else.
- Regularly monitor and regulate electronic communications within and outside the company to detect potential breaches.
- Employees should be aware that their electronic communications may be subject to discovery in the event of litigation.
The Incident Response and Computer Network Forensics course is a critical training course for cybersecurity professionals. It equips them with the necessary knowledge and skills to detect, analyze, and respond to cybersecurity incidents effectively. The digital forensic examination report discussed in Artifact #1 highlights the importance of following IT policies and guidelines, using encryption for confidential information, and not using external devices on company systems without approval. It also emphasizes the need for regular monitoring and regulation of electronic communications to detect potential breaches. By learning from these lessons, cybersecurity professionals can better protect networks from cyber threats and prevent confidentiality breaches like the one experienced by M57.