Why Digital Forensics is Essential for Corporate Legal Counsel
Innovate & Integrate
Enhancing Security, Compliance, and Efficiency
In today’s corporate world, digital forensics has become increasingly important as companies face rising cybersecurity threats, data breaches, and compliance requirements. “Digital forensics has become increasingly important in today’s corporate world as companies face rising cybersecurity threats, data breaches, and compliance requirements.” With the growing dependence on digital tools and data, companies must be ready to investigate incidents at any given moment. Digital forensics helps resolve these issues and also plays a crucial role in preventing future incidents by identifying vulnerabilities.
To understand how digital forensics tackles these issues, we spoke with IST’s very own digital forensics expert, Arthur Schmeiser, National Director of Forensics, eDiscovery. On a fascinating episode of the Outside-IN Podcast, Schmeiser explains how digital forensics can collect, process, analyze, and present digital evidence to address these issues head-on.
Understanding Digital Forensics in the Corporate World
Corporate legal counsel often faces a wide range of complex cases. One significant pain point is dealing with potential data breaches or cybersecurity incidents where sensitive information is compromised or stolen. In these cases, legal counsel must quickly assess the scope of the breach, identify responsible parties, and determine the potential legal harm. Additionally, issues like employee misconduct, property theft, and fraud can complicate legal matters, requiring thorough investigation.
This puts a high responsibility on those who are part of a corporate legal counsel. Digital forensics provides critical support in these situations by empowering legal teams with the tools to help build a strong case, ensure compliance, and protect the company from further harm. Digital forensics is sure to add value to your company all while enhancing security, compliance, accuracy and efficiency.
Security & Compliance
It is crucial that your company complies with data privacy and protection regulations. By conducting thorough investigations into data handling practices and security incidents, digital forensics allows corporate legal counsel to trace the flow of sensitive information, identify potential breaches, and verify that personal data is processed in compliance with regulatory requirements. Additionally, forensic analysis helps document the necessary steps taken to protect data, which is essential for demonstrating compliance during audits or regulatory reviews.
Schmeiser offers valuable insight into IST’s rigorous security and compliance protocols. For example, when collecting a device along with its data, IST prioritizes the protecting sensitive information by ensuring full transparency throughout the collection process. As Schmeiser explains, “I have no problem sitting on a phone and explaining to [the client] what we're doing, what processes are taking place, what a forensic tool is or is not doing, and letting them sit and essentially shadow me while I'm doing the collection.”
Throughout the entire case lifecycle, collected hardware is securely stored and meticulously guarded by security personnel during both the analysis and presentation of digital evidence. On the software side, IST holds SOC II certification, and our digital forensics team collaborates closely with our IT department to uphold infrastructure security that exceeds industry standards. Upon case completion, IST follows strict protocols, destroying data in accordance with Department of Defense standards. This seamless partnership between our digital forensics and IT teams ensures the highest level of security in every aspect of our digital forensics operations.
Accuracy & Efficiency
Digital forensics tools are specifically designed to handle large volumes of data efficiently, using advanced algorithms and automation to speed up the analysis process without sacrificing accuracy. By automating repetitive tasks and focusing human resources on more complex analysis, digital forensics tools allow for a balance between speed and accuracy. Utilizing digital forensics as a helpful tool can relieve some of the responsibility from a corporate legal counsel.
One of the ways IST has increased efficiency is through the use of remote collections. Remote collection offers several advantages, primarily its ability to gather data without being physically present, which can save time and resources. It allows forensic experts to collect evidence from multiple locations simultaneously. Additionally remote collection ensures that sensitive data can be preserved securely without the need to move physical devices, which is especially useful in a compliance-heavy environment. Furthermore, it enables a quicker response to incidents, as investigations can begin very quickly, regardless of geographical location.
Schmeiser shares, “this allows us to create an environment where we're able to cater to anybody in any state throughout the US, any country, essentially anywhere that we can ship a computer or a hard drive, we're able to cater to the needs of that client.”
Thanks to this convenience, the process of gathering and analyzing evidence has become faster, more efficient, and easier than ever before. IST takes pride in its commitment to delivering efficient and accurate digital forensics services. By leveraging advanced tools, every investigation is conducted with speed and precision, handling large volumes of data without compromising the quality of findings.
An Indispensable Tool
Digital forensics has emerged as an indispensable tool for corporate legal counsel. With the rise of cybersecurity threats, data breaches, and regulatory requirements, the ability to quickly and accurately investigate legal matters is crucial for mitigating risks and ensuring compliance. Digital forensics not only helps resolve immediate issues but also provides proactive measures to identify vulnerabilities and prevent future incidents. It’s clear that digital forensics offers invaluable support by combining security, compliance, efficiency, and cutting-edge technology to empower legal teams.
If your organization is facing cybersecurity challenges, data breaches, or compliance concerns, it’s time to partner with IST Management for your digital forensics needs. Our expert team, led by professionals like Arthur Schmeiser, is dedicated to providing efficient, accurate, and secure digital forensic services that protect your sensitive data and help ensure legal and regulatory compliance. Don't wait for a crisis, take proactive steps to safeguard your company today.
Contact IST Management to learn how we can support your legal team, today!
