{"id":77567,"date":"2022-09-02T07:01:46","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T07:01:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eccouncil.org\/cybersecurity-exchange\/?p=77567"},"modified":"2025-09-29T11:06:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T11:06:42","slug":"what-is-cloud-forensics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eccouncil.org\/cybersecurity-exchange\/computer-forensics\/what-is-cloud-forensics\/","title":{"rendered":"What do you need to know about cloud forensics?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Introduction <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cloud computing has gone from cutting-edge technology to a best practice for businesses of all sizes and industries. According to Flexera\u2019s State of the Cloud report, 94% of companies now leverage cloud computing.<\/p>

With the cloud in such widespread usage, it\u2019s no surprise that cloud forensics is growing in popularity. One of the most important cloud security<\/a> best practices have cloud forensic investigators ready after a cybersecurity incident.<\/p>

So what is cloud forensics, exactly? Cloud forensics involves applying digital forensics and crime investigation techniques to cloud computing environments. This article will discuss everything you need to know about cloud forensics, including cloud forensic techniques, challenges, and how to become a cloud forensic expert.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Is Cloud Forensics?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you\u2019re reading this, you\u2019re likely already familiar with cloud computing: a technology that delivers various on-demand computing services to users over the Internet. These services include applications, databases, servers, networking, and more\u2014all available on a rental or \u201cpay as you go\u201d basis.<\/p>

Cloud forensics refers to the use of forensic techniques to investigate cloud environments. When unlawful or criminal behavior has occurred using the cloud as a medium, cloud forensics experts use their skills and knowledge to detect the individuals or groups responsible. Cloud forensics encompasses users of the cloud, both victims and perpetrators. For example, a company using cloud servers might be the victim of a data breach or denial of the service incident. Criminals themselves might also use the cloud to launch an attack.<\/p>

As with other subfields of forensics, cloud forensic investigators must follow strict regulations to ensure their work is admissible in a court of law. This may involve obtaining court orders to search a cloud server, ensuring evidence has not been tampered with, and other necessary precautions.<\/p>

Cloud forensics jobs are usually listed under titles such as \u201cforensic computer analyst,\u201d \u201cIT security analyst,\u201d and \u201ccyber investigator.\u201d According to PayScale, the median U.S. salary for these jobs ranges from roughly $60,000 to $100,000. These individuals may be employed by governments, law enforcement agencies, and large companies such as banks and healthcare organizations that are common cybercrime targets. They may work in-house or provide their services as external contractors.<\/p>

There\u2019s no universally agreed upon background necessary for cloud analytics jobs, and each organization will have its own criteria. Most employers look for candidates with at least a bachelor\u2019s degree, although not necessarily in computer science or information technology. Going through cloud forensics training (such as a certification program) is usually essential, but some people can bypass this requirement with enough experience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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How Is Digital Forensics Different from Cloud Forensics?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Digital forensics<\/a> is a branch of forensics that works with electronic devices and data to detect crimes, examine the paths of criminals, and analyze and preserve evidence for the use of law enforcement and prosecutors.<\/p>

The domain of digital forensics encompasses a wide range of components in the IT environment: hard drives and other storage media; individual files; Internet and other networks; emails; mobile devices; databases; operating systems; computer memory; and more.<\/p>

Some examples of popular digital forensics tools are:<\/p>