Challenges of cloud forensics

Abstract

Legal requirement for cloud forensics is currently uncertain and presents a challenge for the legal system. These challenges arises from the fact that cloud environment consists of distributed shared storages so there is a level of necessary interactions forensic examiners and law enforcement officers require from the cloud provider in order to conduct their investigations. Cloud computing has generated significant interest in both academia and industry, but it is still an evolving paradigm. Cloud computing services are also, a popular target for malicious activities; resulting to the exponential increase of cyber-attacks. Digital evidence is the evidence that is collected from the suspect’s workstations or electronic medium that could be used in order to assist computer forensics investigations. Cloud forensics involves digital evidence collection in the cloud environment. The current established forensic procedures and process models require major changes in order to be acceptable in cloud environment. This chapter aims to assess challenges that forensic examiners face in tracking down and using digital information stored in the cloud and discuss the importance of education and training to handle, manage and investigate computer evidence.