Overview
This policy establishes a structured, legally defensible framework for the identification, collection, preservation, analysis, and disposal of digital evidence during actual or suspected security incidents.
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Ensure Legally Defensible Investigations: Provide a structured framework that supports internal investigations, legal proceedings, and regulatory reporting.
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Maintain Evidentiary Integrity: Preserve the integrity and authenticity of digital evidence by enforcing a strict, documented chain of custody.
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Align with Forensic Standards: Ensure all forensic activities align with internationally accepted standards like ISO/IEC 27035 and NIST SP 800-86.
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Support Regulatory & Legal Action: Collect and preserve evidence in a manner that supports breach notifications and potential legal proceedings.
Read Full Overview
The Evidence Collection and Forensics Policy is a critical component of an organization's cybersecurity framework, designed to provide a structured approach to handling digital evidence during security incidents. This policy ensures that digital evidence collection, preservation, and analysis are conducted in a manner that upholds evidentiary integrity and complies with legal standards, such as ISO 27001:2022, GDPR, and NIST SP 800-86. By integrating forensic readiness into the overall security management system, this policy helps organizations maintain governance transparency and legal compliance while minimizing operational disruptions. Effective evidence handling is crucial for supporting internal investigations, legal proceedings, and regulatory reporting. The policy outlines roles and responsibilities, from the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to forensic analysts, ensuring that all forensic operations are legally defensible and auditable. It mandates the use of validated forensic tools and emphasizes maintaining a chain of custody to ensure evidence authenticity and admissibility in court. This policy is invaluable for organizations looking to bolster their incident response capabilities. It applies to all employees, contractors, vendors, and service providers involved in system administration and investigative activities. The scope includes incidents such as data breaches, insider threats, and misuse of systems, providing a clear guideline for when and how evidence collection should be triggered. By adhering to this policy, organizations can confidently navigate the complexities of digital forensics, knowing they are equipped to handle evidence in a way that meets international standards and legal requirements. This proactive approach not only safeguards the organization but also instills confidence in stakeholders that data protection and compliance are prioritized. With this policy, organizations can breathe easier, knowing that their forensic processes are robust and ready to withstand scrutiny in any legal or regulatory forum.
What’s Inside
Governance Requirements: A formal Forensic Readiness Program, an authorized toolkit register, and secure evidence storage protocols.
Evidence Acquisition Procedures: Rules for using write-blocking tools and prioritizing volatile data like RAM and network sessions.
Chain of Custody Requirements: A mandatory log to accompany all evidence, documenting collection, handling, and transfer details.
System Preservation and Isolation: Procedures for logically isolating affected systems before imaging to prevent contamination.
Data Protection Safeguards: Controls for handling evidence containing personal data in compliance with GDPR and other regulations.
Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly defined duties for CISO, Forensic Analysts, IT, Legal, and Compliance Officers.
Built for Leaders, By Leaders
This policy isn't just a template; it's an audit-defensible document crafted by seasoned cybersecurity leaders. Every clause is designed for practical implementation within complex enterprise environments, ensuring you can meet auditor requirements without disrupting operational workflows.
Framework Compliance
🛡️ Supported Standards & Frameworks
This product is aligned with the following compliance frameworks, with detailed clause and control mappings.
| Framework | Covered Clauses / Controls |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | Clause 8.1 |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 | Controls 5.25-5.278.27 |
| ISO/IEC 27035:2016 | Parts 1 & 3 |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 | IR-1 to IR-9AU-6PL-2 |
| NIST SP 800-86 | Integrating Forensics |
| NIST SP 800-101 Rev.1 | Mobile/Media Forensics |
| EU GDPR | Article 533-34 |
| EU NIS2 | Article 23(1)-(4) |
| EU DORA | Article 17(1)-(3) |
| COBIT 2019 | DSS01.07DSS05.04 |
Part of a Complete ISMS Toolkit
This policy is one of 37 documents in our complete toolkit, designed for comprehensive compliance.
100%
ISO 27001:2022
95%
NIST
88%
NIS2
75%
DORA
70%
GDPR
Related Policies
P30 - Incident Response Policy
Defines incident triage and escalation pathways where forensic procedures are triggered.
P22 - Logging and Monitoring Policy
Ensures availability of event logs and telemetry for evidence collection and forensic correlation.
P14 - Data Retention and Disposal Policy
Governs the secure disposal and retention timelines for evidence and case-related data.
P18 - Cryptographic Controls Policy
Provides encryption requirements for storing and transferring sensitive or evidentiary data.
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About This Policy
The Clarysec Evidence Collection and Forensics Policy provides a structured and legally defensible framework for all stages of digital evidence handling. It is designed to ensure that the identification, collection, preservation, and analysis of evidence from security incidents maintain full integrity and chain of custody. By aligning with key international standards like ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27035, and NIST SP 800-86, this policy establishes forensic readiness to support internal investigations, legal proceedings, and regulatory reporting.
This policy's scope applies to all personnel, systems, and platforms involved in incident handling, including on-premises and cloud infrastructure. It governs the forensic process for a wide range of incidents, from data breaches and insider threats to OT and physical security events. The policy defines clear roles for the CISO, forensic analysts, and legal teams, and mandates strict procedures for using validated tools, preserving volatile data, and securing evidence to ensure its admissibility and support governance transparency.
