ISO/IEC 27037:2012 provides guidelines for the identification, collection, acquisition, and preservation of digital evidence. This standard is crucial for ensuring that digital evidence is handled in a way that maintains its integrity and admissibility in legal proceedings.
Key aspects covered include:
- Identification: Recognizing potential digital evidence that may be relevant to an investigation.
- Collection: Gathering digital evidence in a manner that preserves its integrity.
- Acquisition: Creating a copy of the digital evidence for analysis while ensuring the original remains unaltered.
- Preservation: Protecting digital evidence from alteration or destruction throughout the investigation process.
The standard also provides guidance on handling various types of digital devices, such as computers, mobile phones, digital cameras, and networked systems. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a chain of custody and using scientifically sound methods to ensure the evidence is reliable and legally defensible.