Digital Forensics Service
Comprehensive forensic analysis to investigate, respond, and strengthen your cyber defences.
What is Digital Forensics?
Digital Forensics is the process of recovering, analysing, and preserving digital evidence from electronic devices. Whether responding to a data breach, insider threat, or ransomware attack, digital forensics enables organisations to understand how an incident occurred, what systems were impacted, and what data may have been exfiltrated or tampered with.
Our investigations cover a wide range of devices including laptops, desktops, servers, mobile devices, and increasingly, IoT and cloud systems.
The importance of Digital Forensics
Digital forensics plays a critical role in helping organisations detect threats, contain breaches, and build more resilient systems.
Key triggers for digital forensics:
- Suspicious user activity or performance anomalies
- Employees installing unauthorised software or browser extensions
- Suspected malware, ransomware, or credential theft
- Data exfiltration concerns or insider threats
- Legal or regulatory investigation following a breach
Samurai Security does not currently offer digital forensics services for legal investigations.
Complete Incident Timeline
- Establish exactly when the compromise occurred
- Track attacker actions from initial infection to present
- Identify all affected systems and data
Prevent Network-Wide Compromise
- Detect lateral movement attempts to other systems
- Identify compromised credentials and accounts
- Stop attackers before they reach critical infrastructure
Evidence Preservation
- Forensically sound collection for potential legal action
- Detailed audit trail for insurance claims
- Support incident response and remediation planning
Root Cause Analysis
- Identify security gaps that allowed the incident
- Provide actionable recommendations to prevent recurrence
- Strengthen overall security posture
Our Comprehensive Forensic Analysis Process
We employ industry-standard forensic techniques combined with custom-developed PowerShell tools to perform deep analysis across multiple artifact categories:
Browser Extension Forensics
- Installation and deletion history of all browser extensions
- Chrome, Edge, and Firefox extension analysis
- Extension permissions and capabilities
- Timestamps of installation/modification
Malicious browser extensions can steal credentials, inject malware, exfiltrate data, and monitor all web activity. Our analysis identifies unauthorised or suspicious extensions that may have been installed through social engineering or exploit kits.
01
Browser Artefact Analysis
- Download history and file origins
- Visited websites and URL patterns
- Cookies from suspicious domains
- Browser cache for malicious scripts
- Local/session storage for injected code
Browser artefacts reveal the infection vector, whether malware was downloaded, what malicious sites were visited, and what data may have been stolen through web-based attacks.
02
Persistence Mechanism Detection
- Registry Run keys (HKLM/HKCU)
- Startup folders and shortcuts
- Scheduled tasks and their triggers
- Windows services configuration
- WMI event subscriptions
Attackers establish persistence to survive reboots and maintain access. We identify all persistence mechanisms to ensure complete malware removal and prevent re-infection.
03
Network Activity Forensics
- DNS cache for command-and-control (C2) domains
- Active network connections and listening ports
- Firewall rules and exceptions
- HOSTS file modifications
- Prefetch files showing network tool execution
- Network shares and remote connections
Network analysis reveals whether the attacker communicated with external servers, attempted lateral movement, or established backdoors for future access.
04
Memory & Process Analysis
- Running processes and parent-child relationships
- Loaded DLLs and injection indicators
- Process hollowing detection
- Suspicious process locations
- Handle and thread anomalies
Memory analysis detects fileless malware, process injection, and active threats that may not have left disk-based artifacts. Critical for identifying sophisticated attacks.
05
User Activity Investigation
- Recently accessed files and documents
- Typed paths in Explorer
- Remote Desktop (RDP) activity
- USB device connection history
- Jump lists and program execution
- UserAssist execution tracking
User activity analysis determines whether sensitive data was accessed, what applications were run, and whether the attacker used the compromised system to access other resources.
06
Cloud & Remote Access Analysis
- OneDrive/Dropbox sync activity
- Remote Desktop connection logs
- VPN connection history
- TeamViewer/AnyDesk logs
- External IP connections
Attackers often exfiltrate data to cloud storage or establish remote access for persistent control. This analysis identifies data theft attempts and unauthorised remote access.
07
Suspicious Location Scanning
- Windows Temp folders
- User Temp directories
- AppData (Roaming/Local)
- ProgramData folder
- Public folders
- Downloads directories
- System32 anomalies
- Downloaded Program Files
Malware typically hides in temporary locations and user-writable directories. We scan these common hiding spots for executables, scripts, and malicious files.
08
Advanced Artifact Analysis
- Prefetch files (program execution)
- ShimCache/AppCompat Cache
- AmCache (installation history)
- NTFS Alternate Data Streams
- Windows Error Reporting dumps
- BAM/DAM execution tracking
- Recycle Bin forensics
- MUICache entries
Advanced artifacts provide execution timeline, detect anti-forensic techniques (like alternate data streams), and reveal programs that were run and then deleted.
09
Why choose us?
We at Samurai Security recognise the value of digital forensics in detecting and mitigating cyber incidents. We distinguish ourselves from other suppliers in several ways, including:
A) Experience: Our team is made up of certified Digital Forensics professionals who have conducted investigations in a variety of industries.
B) All-inclusive solutions: Our Digital Forensics service is tailored to your specific requirements, ensuring a thorough investigation and analysis of your digital assets.
C) Confidentiality: We recognise the importance of the information we handle and adhere to strict confidentiality throughout the investigation process.
Our Approach to Digital Forensics
01
Planning
The initial phase of our engagement involves collaborating closely with you to develop a tailored investigation strategy. This plan is specifically designed to meet your unique needs and objectives, ensuring that our efforts are precisely aligned with your specific circumstances. This customised approach guarantees that our investigative activities are as relevant and effective as possible.
02
Investigation
Our expert team conducts a thorough investigation of your digital assets. This stage encompasses a meticulous process of data collection and analysis, focusing on the specifics of the incident. We ensure that every relevant piece of information is scrutinised, leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit to understand the full scope and nature of the breach.
03
Analysis
With all critical data in hand, we proceed to a detailed analysis phase. Here, we identify the source of the incident, determine the extent of the damage, and identify any potential vulnerabilities that were exploited. This step is vital for constructing a clear and comprehensive understanding of the incident—insight that is crucial for preventing future security breaches.
04
Reporting
The culmination of our investigation and analysis is a detailed report that encapsulates our findings, conclusions, and recommendations. This report acts as a strategic roadmap, equipping you with the necessary knowledge and insights to enhance your preventive measures and secure your digital environment against future threats. This document is designed to provide actionable guidance, ensuring your ongoing resilience and security.
Outputs from Our Digital Forensics Service
Our Digital Forensics service delivers a range of critical outputs that not only address the immediate incident but also enhance your overall cybersecurity posture for the future. These outputs include:
Comprehensive Investigation Report
Our in-depth investigation report is a comprehensive document detailing the incident, serving as a detailed account and a strategic guide for future cybersecurity initiatives. This report meticulously documents the event, from the initial breach to the final impact, identifying the root cause and any vulnerabilities that were exposed during the incident. It provides actionable insights and specific recommendations, enabling you to fortify your defences and better prepare against future cyber threats.
Our reports include:
Executive Summary
- Clear, non-technical overview of findings
- Risk assessment and business impact
- Immediate recommended actions
Technical Timeline
- Chronological sequence of malicious activity
- Detailed artefact analysis with timestamps
- Attack progression visualisation
Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
- Malicious file hashes
- C2 domains and IP addresses
- Registry keys and persistence mechanisms
- Known malware signatures
Evidence Package
- CSV exports of all findings
- Detailed forensic logs
- Screenshots of key artefacts
- Suspicious file samples (quarantined)
Remediation Recommendations
- Step-by-step cleanup procedures
- Security improvements to prevent recurrence
- Policy and training recommendations
- Network segmentation advice
Compliance Documentation
- GDPR breach notification support
- Incident documentation for auditors
- Timeline for legal/insurance purposes
Our reports are delivered from our expert team and any follow ups are welcomed.
Expert Analysis of Collected Data
Our team of seasoned cybersecurity experts conduct a thorough analysis of the data collected during the investigation. This detailed examination uncovers critical aspects of the breach, including the methods used by the attackers, the specific vulnerabilities exploited, and the overall scope of the damage. This expert analysis is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the incident, allowing you to develop precise and effective strategies to address and mitigate the identified weaknesses.
These outputs from our Digital Forensics service are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to respond to and recover from cyber incidents effectively, as well as to strengthen your security measures to prevent future occurrences.
Our Work
Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience
“Samurai takes the time to understand our needs and helps us to be an enabler for Flagship Group’s mission. It’s always a pleasure to work with them and I’d recommend them to others.”
Enabling Remote Work for the NHS
“When I have a problem nobody else can solve, I call Samurai because I know that they’ll deliver what I need, every time, without fail.”
Incident Response Retainers To Enable Growth
“This partnership has allowed us to scale and grow with the confidence that we are protected from cyber threats around the clock.”
Client Testimonials
“Samurai takes the time to understand our needs and helps us to be an enabler for Flagship Group’s mission. It’s always a pleasure to work with them and I’d recommend them to others.”
“We were astonished by what Samurai’s Black Dragon assessment revealed, even though we thought we had everything covered. The findings spoke for themselves, and the team’s expertise and clarity were outstanding.”
"Samurai’s Black Dragon: Attack Surface Risk Assessment was exactly what we needed and something we’ve never seen done before. They turned it around quickly, highlighted risks that could have easily been overlooked, and gave us a clear roadmap for improvement."
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Digital Forensics help if my business is a victim of a cyber attack?
Our Digital Forensics service is an essential tool to understand how a breach occurred, who was behind it, and what information was affected. This knowledge not only aids in legal and compliance efforts but also helps fortify your systems against future attacks.
What types of devices do we analyse?
Our team can analyse a wide range of digital devices, including desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, servers, and IoT devices.
Is Digital Forensics relevant to small businesses?
Absolutely. Cyber threats do not discriminate by size. Small businesses often hold valuable data and may have fewer security defences, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
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If you want to chat, give us a call: 0121 740 1304
Or, email us: [email protected]