Question(s): In response to your peers, suggest ways a particular artifact they mentioned may affect the investigation if it is or is not included in the technical report.
PEER POST # 1
When writing a technical report, especially in the context of digital forensics or cybersecurity, various artifacts are identified during the analysis of evidence. These artifacts serve as crucial pieces of information that help reconstruct events, identify security breaches, and provide actionable insights. Some common artifacts that might be included in a technical report are log files, system registry entries, network traffic captures, timestamps, and metadata from files (Carrier, 2005).
Log files, such as those from firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), or operating systems, provide a timeline of events that can reveal unauthorized access attempts or system failures (Nelson et al., 2018). System registry entries in Windows-based systems can store information about recently accessed files, installed applications, and user activities, which are critical for forensic investigations (Casey, 2011). Network traffic captures, obtained using tools like Wireshark, help identify suspicious communications, such as data exfiltration attempts or malware activity (Bejtlich, 2006). Timestamps and metadata play an essential role in establishing a sequence of events, determining when files were created, accessed, or modified. These artifacts are chosen because they provide verifiable and time-stamped evidence that can support incident response and legal proceedings.
The audience of a technical report significantly impacts the level of detail, content, and reporting style. Reports intended for technical professionals, such as IT security teams or forensic analysts, are typically highly detailed, including raw data, hexadecimal values, and in-depth analysis of system logs (Baryamureeba & Tushabe, 2004). In contrast, reports prepared for executives or legal teams may focus more on summaries, risk assessments, and actionable recommendations, avoiding overly technical jargon. A well-structured technical report should balance depth and clarity, ensuring that different stakeholders can understand and utilize the findings effectively.
PEER POST # 2
When creating a technical report, artifacts identified during the analysis of the evidence are some of the things that might be included in that kind of report. Digital forensic reports help show the work between multiple investigators, law enforcement officers, administrative, and legal personnel involved in the case (Salvation Data Technology, 2022).
What are some of the artifacts identified during the analysis of the evidence that might be included in a technical report?
There are various artifacts that should be detailed, identified, and explored within the technical report, showing a clear path from day of retrieval to the court proceedings. Specifically, some of the artifacts that should be included are as follows; recap of events, next steps, reviewal of evidence, verify digital forensic tools, overview of investigation, etc. (Salvation Data Technology, 2022). Technical evidence that should be logged examples such as device model numbers, serial numbers, captured logs, entries, deleted files, and more.
Why did you choose these particular artifacts and what is their role within the report?
How does the audience of a technical report affect the level of detail, content, and reporting style?
The audience of a technical report in court should be able to clearly understand that report and evidence. In court, the technical reports should cover authenticity of evidence, relevancy of evidence, and proper chain of custody. If all three are focused on, then evidence/technical reports will be fully understood by its intended audience.
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