A Community Cloud-Based Store for Forensic Operations in Cybercrime Control

Abstract

Digital forensics is intended to unearth evidence from concluded activities in the cyberspace and such workflow is data-intensive. A typical workflow would include gathering, analysis, preservation, authentication, and presentation. Generally, building a cyber-forensic system that supports digital evidence, forensic analysis, investigation, and collaborative engagements among anti-cybercrime agencies, and stakeholders is a complex task. In this paper, we present a practical model that could support the management of forensic workflows and collaborations among agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Police. We adopt a modified object-oriented methodology in the investigation, analysis, and design of components required to implement a cloud store for forensic operations. The model was validated against the forensic procedures of an anti-crime agency as well as a cloud database service provider using the MongoDB NoSQL platform, to ascertain the level of assurance on its implementability.