Challenges in Forensic Investigation of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing provides various services such as Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). The hosted desktop is a virtual machine that connects remote applications to local users, allowing for access and control similar to traditional computers. Digital forensics is used to analyze computer systems, communication, storage, and network devices. There are two main categories of digital forensic science: live and static. Qualitative methodology will be used in this research paper to analyze the cause-and-effect relationship between cloud computing and digital forensics. The study aims to identify challenges and develop a framework for addressing digital forensic challenges in cloud environments.

Running head: DIGITAL FORENSICS
Digital Forensics
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
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Abstract
There has been increasing interests in the use of cloud computing and thus it presents
different types of opportunities for the exploration as well as the proper enforcement of the
laws. There must be provision for the identification of proper changes and this will lay
emphasis in the preservation of data for different types of forensic purposes. Research is
conducted to examine the forensic methodologies for different deployment models as well as
cloud platforms. It has been found that the benefits derived from the cloud storage device
must be secured with the help of forensic investigation. This will help to understand the
malicious practices that are being carried out and thus it can be solved with digital forensics.
This research paper will analyse the use of digital forensic framework in cloud computing
investigations

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Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................3
Research Aim.........................................................................................................................4
Research Objectives...............................................................................................................4
Research Questions................................................................................................................4
Background of the Study............................................................................................................4
Methodology..........................................................................................................................6
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
The concept related with the process of virtualisation in computing includes the use of
operational system that is used in running the hardware process. This virtualisation is
provided on the grounds from the birth of cloud computing. There are several developments
in the computing paradigm and this has provided different types of opportunities in
cybercrimes. There were several types of developments and this has helped in the
presentation of new challenges that are necessary for the law enforcement agencies. There
were different types of research efforts that were used in the advanced stages to deal with the
process of digital forensics in traditional computing paradigms including the virtual
environment and thus there are different types of solution that might be applicable in the
cloud process. The application of user data in the cloud environment is often used in the
distribution process that is within the jurisdiction of the forensic investigators (Martini &
Choo, 2012).
It can be said that digital forensic science is still in the stage of infancy and this will help
in the postulation of new tools, methods as well as other types of rising cloud crime as well as
attack surface. There must be application of digital forensic practices in the cloud computing
environment and this has helped to pay special attention to the research. It is necessary to put
huge effort to address the challenges and this will help in fulfilling the forensic investigation
in the cloud process. There must be proper technical as well as fulfilment of legal
complexities in the cloud environment and this is considered to be one of the most serious
concern of the forensic investigation process (Sibiya, Venter & Fogwill, 2012). There must
be provision for different kinds of challenges and this will help in effective practices as well
as dealing with different types of entities. There must be privacy in the presentation and this
is considered to be one of the most important aspects that is considered for the future

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development of the process of cloud computing and also addressing it from the perspective of
forensic cloud that will help in the protection of data in the particular environment (Birk &
Wegener, 2011).
Research Aim
The aim of this paper is to analyse the use of digital forensic framework in the cloud
computing investigation process
Research Objectives
 To understand the usage of cloud computing
 To analyse the concepts related to digital forensic framework
 To investigate the cloud computing process in digital forensic framework
Research Questions
What is the use of digital forensic framework in the cloud computing investigation
process?
Background of the Study
It can be said that cloud computing is one of the scalable computing resources that is
provided by the external service with the help of Internet. These services are generally
provided to the customers in the cloud pay for services and thus they can use it from time to
time. There are different types of cloud model that provides solution to the resources based
on the constraint of small, medium and micro enterprises. This can be provided in different
forms such as community cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud and public cloud. These types of
clouds are deployed within the system and thus it helps in the fulfilment of common interests
(Zawoad & Hasan, 2013). The community clouds are shared by the organizations for the
fulfilment of common business interests. On the other hand, the public clouds are deployed in

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such a way that it is used by different research organizations regardless of the business
interests. Moreover, hybrid cloud process is considered to be a combination of any of the clod
models. The services in the cloud model can be grouped in different forms and layers and this
makes it easier to perform the task in a better way (Garfinkel, 2010).
The different layers in the cloud process provides different types of services and thus
it helps in the provision of software as service (SAAS), infrastructure as service (IaaS) and
platform as a service (PaasS). The most important service that is provided by this cloud is
referred to as the Hosted Desktop and this is considered to be the virtual machine that is
generally hosted through the cloud process. There are different types of applications that are
connected to the remote system and the local user with the help of this machine in the same
way that is done in the traditional computer (Martini & Choo, 2012). There must be proper
access to the owners of the desktops regarding the application process and this cannot be
done in the ordinary desktop or in other types of services. Therefore, it is necessary to use the
process that involves crime in the computation of cloud computing in such a way that it
becomes easier for the forensic experts to handle it in a proper way (Beebe, 2009).
The use of digital forensic is generally defined as the discipline that combines the
different types of elements of computer science and law and therefore it must be used in the
analysis of proper computer systems, communication, storage as well as network devices.
There must also be provision for the collection of artefacts and this will help in the potential
value collection, preservation of original artefacts in such a way that is considered to be
reliable, verifiable as well as accurate. On the other hand, it is necessary to carry out further
analysis of the process and this will help in the removal or inclusion of different items that
are considered to be of higher value. On the other hand, there must be proper presentation of
the different phases and this will support the investigation process (Taylor et al., 2011).

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There are different categories of digital forensic science and this are considered to be
live digital as well as static digital. There are different categories that will help in the forensic
evaluation as well as measuring the sophisticated incidences in a proper way. There must also
be use of static data and this will help in the acquisition processes as well as procedures in the
proper way. The live forensic analysis provides proper format of the entire storage memory
and there must be relevant use of data that will help in the analysis of the entire system in a
proper way. Therefore the forensic challenges in the cloud computing section in different
organisations are useful and beneficial to the organisation in different ways (Damshenas et
al., 2012).
Methodology
In this research paper, qualitative method will be used in conducting the research.
This qualitative methodology will help in carrying out a detailed analysis of the cause as well
as the effect and this will make it easier to understand the forensic investigation analysis. On
the other hand, a new process of composite based approach will also be used in the paper and
this will make the research paper more effective. This composite approach will attempt to
improve the digital framework approach and there should be provision for supporting tools
and documents that will identify and extract the information. On the other hand, there should
be proper investigation carried out in the cloud based environment and thus proper evidence
must be collected for it. This investigation in the cloud based environment will be considered
to be a challenge and this is possible with the help of digital device. There should be
provisions for supporting framework as well as tools for the cloud forensics. There should be
strong legislation as well as co-operation across multiple jurisdiction process and this will
alleviate the difficulties in carrying out the research. There should be provision for privacy
requirements that is considered to be vital for the completion of the forensic process.

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Therefore, the above mentioned methodology will help in the improvement of clod forensic
process.
Conclusion
There are different types of framework that are aimed at addressing the digital
forensic challenges in a particular cloud environment. This will help in addressing the issues
that helps in addressing the issues related to data acquisition in the cloud processing device
that is beyond the jurisdiction of the investigators. This also helps in the access of available
information that is necessary to build the case information along with the process of data
acquisition. There must be provision of different types of environment that is vital in building
the desired setup framework from different foreign countries. It also makes it easier to access
the processes associated with data acquisition that generally requires a cloud user in such
case. There must also be provision of virtual machine that uses the particular network system
in the access of information and with the development of proper monitoring tools. There must
also be presentation of the domain knowledge and this will help in the process of reasoning
while linking it with the data in the cloud that requires further developmental process. Thus,
it is necessary to carry out research with proper guidelines and this will help in the proper
implementation of the service in a better way.

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References
Beebe, N. (2009, January). Digital forensic research: The good, the bad and the unaddressed.
In IFIP International Conference on Digital Forensics (pp. 17-36). Springer, Berlin,
Heidelberg.
Birk, D., & Wegener, C. (2011, May). Technical issues of forensic investigations in cloud
computing environments. In Systematic Approaches to Digital Forensic Engineering
(SADFE), 2011 IEEE Sixth International Workshop on (pp. 1-10). IEEE.
Damshenas, M., Dehghantanha, A., Mahmoud, R., & bin Shamsuddin, S. (2012, June).
Forensics investigation challenges in cloud computing environments. In Cyber Security,
Cyber Warfare and Digital Forensic (CyberSec), 2012 International Conference on (pp. 190-
194). IEEE.
Garfinkel, S. L. (2010). Digital forensics research: The next 10 years. digital investigation, 7,
S64-S73.
Martini, B., & Choo, K. K. R. (2012). An integrated conceptual digital forensic framework
for cloud computing. Digital Investigation, 9(2), 71-80.
Sibiya, G., Venter, H. S., & Fogwill, T. (2012). Digital forensic framework for a cloud
environment.
Taylor, M., Haggerty, J., Gresty, D., & Lamb, D. (2011). Forensic investigation of cloud
computing systems. Network Security, 2011(3), 4-10.
Zawoad, S., & Hasan, R. (2013). Cloud forensics: a meta-study of challenges, approaches,
and open problems. arXiv preprint arXiv:1302.6312.