Which of the following is MOST important for an IS auditor to determine when reviewing how the organization's incident response team handles devices that may be involved in criminal activity?
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A. B. C. D.D.
When reviewing how an organization's incident response team handles devices that may be involved in criminal activity, an IS auditor should consider various factors. However, among the given options, the MOST important aspect to determine is whether there is a chain of custody for the devices. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
A chain of custody is a documented process that tracks the movement of evidence from the point of seizure to the point of presentation in court. It ensures the integrity and reliability of evidence, and it is essential in any investigation involving potential criminal activity.
In the case of an incident response team, a chain of custody ensures that evidence obtained from devices is collected, preserved, and analyzed in a way that is legally defensible. It ensures that the evidence has not been tampered with, altered, or destroyed, and that the chain of possession can be established to prove the integrity of the evidence in court.
Option A, whether devices are checked for malicious applications, is also important, but it is not the MOST important factor. The incident response team should perform a thorough analysis of devices to determine whether they have been compromised, including checking for malicious software, but this is not useful if the chain of custody is not maintained.
Option B, whether the access logs are checked before seizing the devices, is also important but not the MOST important. The incident response team should review access logs to identify who has accessed the devices, when, and what activities were performed. This information can help determine whether the devices have been compromised, but it is not as critical as establishing a chain of custody.
Option C, whether users have knowledge of their devices being examined, is not as critical as the other options. While it is essential to ensure that the investigation is conducted legally and ethically, notifying users that their devices are being examined can compromise the integrity of the investigation. The incident response team should follow legal guidelines for examining devices, and it is not necessary to inform users before the investigation begins.
In summary, establishing a chain of custody for devices involved in criminal activity is the MOST important factor when reviewing how an organization's incident response team handles such devices. It ensures the integrity and reliability of evidence and is essential in any investigation involving potential criminal activity.