What Is Forensic Imaging?

[cite_start]Forensic imaging (also known as forensic acquisition) is the process of creating an exact, bit-by-bit copy of a digital storage device — such as a hard drive, SSD, USB, or mobile storage — without modifying the original data[cite: 151]. [cite_start]This copy, known as a forensic image, is then analyzed for digital evidence while preserving the original source for legal admissibility[cite: 152].

Our Capabilities

At Byte Breach Investigations, we use industry-standard tools and custom-developed acquisition frameworks to ensure that all imaging is:

• Legally admissible
• Cryptographically verified (MD5, SHA1, SHA256)
• Write-protected and documented
• Cross-platform compatible

Devices & Formats We Support

• 🖥️ Hard Drives (HDD, SSD – SATA, NVMe)
• 📱 Smartphones & Tablets (Android, iOS – logical & physical acquisition)
• 💾 USB Drives, SD Cards, External Disks
• ☁️ Cloud Snapshots (where credentials or access is legally permitted)
• 🕹️ Virtual Disks (VMs, VHDs, E01, AFF, DD, Raw formats)

Sample Workflow

1. Initial Inspection & Write Blocking: The original device is protected from any alterations.
2. Disk/Device Identification: All device details are meticulously documented.
3. Forensic Imaging (Bit-by-Bit): A complete and identical copy of the source data is created.
[cite_start]
4. Hash Calculation & Validation: A unique digital fingerprint (MD5/SHA256) is created from both the original and the copy to prove they are identical[cite: 155].
5. Chain-of-Custody Logging: Every action and handler is logged to maintain legal integrity.
6. Backup & Analysis Prep: The original device is securely stored, and analysis begins on the forensic image.