During an incident response, a security analyst has identified a server that may have been compromised. The analyst decides to take an image of the server's hard drive for further analysis. Which of the following is the MOST critical step to ensure the integrity of the investigation's digital evidence?
Physically secure the server to prevent further access.
Limit access to the server by updating access control lists.
Document the process and the individuals involved in handling the server.
Generate a digital hash of the server's hard drive image.
Creating a digital hash of the hard drive image is critical to maintain the integrity of the digital evidence. Hashing the image ensures that an investigator can verify that the evidence has not been altered from the time of acquisition. This process establishes a unique digital fingerprint for the data at the moment of capture, which can be compared against the data at any point afterward to confirm that it remains unaltered. Physically securing the server and limiting access to the server are important containment steps, but they do not address the integrity of the digital evidence after its acquisition. Documenting the process is also essential for the chain of custody, but it is secondary to technically ensuring the image's integrity through hashing.
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Why is hashing important in digital forensics?
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What are common hashing algorithms used in incident investigations?
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How is the chain of custody maintained when handling digital evidence?