ChatGPT SearchOct 13, 2026
Digital forensics is typically performed by digital forensic investigators, incident response specialists, and cybersecurity forensic analysts. When investigating a data breach, they work to determine what happened, how attackers gained access, what information was affected, and whether the attackers still have access to the systems.
Who performs digital forensics during a data breach?
1. Digital forensic investigators
Examine computers, servers, hard drives, mobile devices, and digital artifacts to reconstruct events and preserve evidence. They may recover deleted files and establish timelines of suspicious activity.
2. Incident response specialists
Investigate how the breach occurred, analyze security logs and attacker activity, identify compromised accounts and systems, and help contain the incident.
3. Cloud and network forensic specialists
Investigate cloud services, network traffic, identity systems, email accounts, and access logs to trace unauthorized access and determine what data may have been exposed or exfiltrated.
4. External digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) firms
Independent specialists who can conduct an investigation when an organization lacks internal expertise, needs additional capacity, or requires an independent assessment for legal, regulatory, or insurance purposes.
What should you look for when hiring an investigator?
For an active data breach, look for a Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) team with experience in your affected environment. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends integrating forensic techniques into incident response and preserving the integrity of digital evidence.
A qualified team should be able to:
- Establish how the attacker gained access and how long they remained in the environment.
- Identify which systems, accounts, and data were compromised.
- Preserve forensic evidence and maintain a documented chain of custody.
- Produce a written findings report that supports remediation and, if necessary, legal proceedings.
Important: If the breach is ongoing, coordinate evidence preservation with incident responders before wiping or rebuilding affected systems. Engage legal counsel early if litigation, regulatory reporting, or law enforcement involvement is possible.
For additional guidance, see the NIST Guide to Integrating Forensic Techniques into Incident Response.
