Explain the main stages & the associated procedures of a digital forensic investigation.

Learning outcome 1: Discuss the principles underpinning digital forensic practice & their importance;

Learning outcome 2: Explain the main stages & the associated procedures of a digital forensic investigation;

Learning outcome 3: Apply the principles & practices of digital forensics to given scenarios;

Learning outcome 4: Analyse forensic images of different formats using a suitable selection of tools;

Learning outcome 5: Prepare a suitable report to present your findings and professional opinion of a given scenario;

Learning outcome 6: Critically evaluate & reflect upon your own learning in relation to digital forensics & your future learning needs to be successful in the field of digital forensics;

Digital Forensics: Principles & Practice Distance Learning Coursework

Digital Forensics Report

Introduction

1. As a Digital Forensics Investigator, you are expected to follow several principles that are a combination of legal, ethical/moral and general guidelines.
Discuss what these principles are and why they are important.

2. Explain the main stages of a Digital Forensic investigation, giving examples of what tasks, activities and the tools where appropriate, you would complete or use at each stage.
Background

3. Summarise the case you have been asked to investigate in your own words. State the case hypothesis.

4. What will you be looking for? Where will you expect to find such artefacts?

5. What tools are you going to use? How will they help you investigate? How do you use these tools?
Main Body - Biggest Section.

6. Analyse the forensic image and illustrate step by step the process of what you did and what you found.

7. Assemble your findings in relation to what you have been asked to investigate.

8. Based on your findings, does the evidence support or refute the case hypothesis? Why? Back up your answer with demonstrable reasons and evidence.

Conclusions

9. What have you learnt during this assignment?

10. If you had to do the assignment again, what would you do differently? Why would this help you?
Appendices - each appendix should be on a separate page and have a title, plus a paragraph to explain what it is showing (except B and C which should just have a title)

A. References;
B. Spreadsheet and written details about their proposed lab setup and field kit;