Title: Physical security design of a digital forensic lab

Authors: Doug Weeks; Bing Zhou

Addresses: Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341, USA ' Department of Computer Science, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341, USA

Abstract: The physical security design of a digital forensic lab is one of the key components to ensure investigators are providing a secure environment to process and store evidence that has been entrusted to them. The existing guidelines that cover this topic generally provide the minimum requirements for securing a digital forensic lab. Following the existing guidelines as written will leave investigators with a lab operation that is inefficient and lacking in adequate layers of protection. In this paper, we demonstrate a system design that goes beyond the existing guidelines and provides the adequate layers of protection, integration and increased efficiency. The importance as well as the benefits of integrating the security system into one system is also discussed. Finally, recommendations for the design of physical security systems in digital forensic labs are provided so that one can use these recommendations to create a more efficient and more secure lab design.

Keywords: digital forensic lab; physical security; access control; evidence management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESDF.2021.116017

International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, 2021 Vol.13 No.4, pp.418 - 444

Received: 27 Jun 2020
Accepted: 02 Aug 2020
Published online: 06 Jul 2021 *

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