What are the main challenges and benefits of using cloud forensics tools and techniques?

With IaaS you may have access to much of the data you would expect on-premise. But you will also have cloud level logging (normally in cloud storage such as S3 or a dedicated service such as CloudWatch). And you may have less access to more managed services, e.g. IAM vs a Domain Controller. With PaaS you manage the application and its data, but not the underlying compute. With SaaS you manage very little. When responding to PaaS and SaaS you are limited to the logs from the provider. With both PaaS and SaaS it is particularly important to make sure any optional logging is enabled in advance of an incident as forensics can be difficult. However, there is likely to be a cost associated with this. Forensic readiness for the win ;)

Understanding the different cloud models is important to developing and implementing an Incident Response plan to effectively detect, respond, investigate, and recover from possible incidents. As mentioned, due to varying levels of access, each operating model will require different procedures for acquiring and analyzing data during investigations. However, no matter the model, it is imperative to ensure the access, acquisition, and analysis capabilities meet the expectations and needs of the organization in order to effectively understand, recover, and learn from incidents within the cloud.

Understanding the diverse cloud service delivery and deployment models is a critical challenge in cloud forensics. The models (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) and deployment (public, private, hybrid) greatly influence investigator access and control over cloud resources and data. For instance, SaaS limits control, while IaaS offers more access but also more responsibility. Tailoring forensic approaches to these models is essential for effective investigations.

Agnostic tools are always a clear winner to me in cyber - In other words, tools developed with no motive other than to enable users to find the potential for attacker activity in their environment. Cloud is the wild, wild west or the pinnacle of an ever-changing frontier of cyber...It's developing at 'ludicrous speed' to borrow a known movie phrase... Two basic rules I have learned over time: 1) There will never be a silver bullet to catch any/all forms of evil or bad activity (in cyber). 2) Related to point #1 - Good human beings will be fundamentally required in order to track down and combat the (cloud) attackers in front of us. We need tools that will easily enable IR teams to investigate and identify questionable cloud activity.

The best tools are the ones that get the job done in an expedient, accurate, and effective manner. This is no different in the cloud. What is different in the cloud is the addition of a service/control plane with native logs. This is where cloud-native tools (i.e., native services) can be the most effective for acquisition and analysis. Aside from cloud service and control plane logs, you are likely still dealing with endpoints. The analysis methodologies and techniques do not differ from traditional means. What does differ is the methods and mechanisms for acquisition, as well as those for instrumenting analysis. This is (again) where leveraging cloud-native mechanisms are beneficial - to harness the unmatched speed/scale of the cloud.

Selecting the right tools is a key challenge in cloud forensics. These tools fall into three categories: native, extended, and specialized. Native tools from cloud providers offer valuable data, while extended tools cover traditional and cloud forensics needs. Specialized tools are designed solely for cloud forensics. Choosing the appropriate tool depends on the specific cloud environment and incident. Being well-versed in these tools and their strengths and weaknesses is crucial for effective evidence collection and analysis in cloud investigations.

Data location and jurisdiction: Cloud services often store data in multiple physical locations, and determining the exact location of relevant evidence can be challenging. Data isolation and multi-tenancy: Cloud environments typically involve shared resources and multi-tenancy, where multiple customers share the same infrastructure. Ensuring data isolation and securely separating the forensic investigator's activities from other users' data is critical to maintaining the integrity of the investigation. The volatility of cloud environments: This dynamic nature introduces challenges in capturing and preserving volatile data, such as logs and network traffic, which are crucial for forensic analysis.

In addition to existing challenges, one significant hurdle that cloud forensics and investigators will face is the location of servers. More specifically, the laws that govern these locations across different countries and continents can pose a unique set of problems. This can be especially problematic when a forensic examiner needs to perform a manual, byte-to-byte backup. The specific data regulations of the host country must be adhered to. Hence, examiners must not only possess technical expertise, but also a comprehensive understanding of local laws.

Navigating cloud forensics presents challenges due to dispersed data, shared resources, and virtualized environments. Tracing digital evidence becomes complex with remote access, varying data retention policies, and jurisdictional discrepancies. Traditional forensic methods may not directly apply. Overcoming these hurdles demands expertise in cloud infrastructure, compliance, and legal aspects. Precise data acquisition, preserving integrity, and coordinating with cloud providers are paramount. Developing adaptable tools and methodologies is essential for effective cloud forensic investigations. Proper framework should be there for cloud forensics.

As mentioned, there are a variety of complicated backend mechanisms that make the cloud run while balancing numerous technical, operational, and regulatory requirements. My advice is to focus on what you can control, and do the best you can with what you have. You may be surprised by how little your processes are affected by the aforementioned complexities that are, by design, often nearly completely transparent to you as the end user. For example, in IaaS, running on a multi-tenant system that is physically distributed/fragmented, completely encrypted, and replicated across regions, likely has little to no bearing on your capability to click a few buttons or issue a single command to acquire a full disk image of the system.

Cloud forensics indeed presents unique challenges. Multi-tenancy can jeopardize privacy and confidentiality, as multiple users share resources. Data's dynamic nature, encryption, fragmentation, and distributed storage can hinder evidence location and impact availability, integrity, legality, and access. Complex policies, regulations, and agreements across multiple regions further complicate the forensic process. Addressing these challenges requires a deep understanding of cloud environments and effective strategies for preserving and accessing evidence while adhering to legal and regulatory requirements.

Cloud forensics offers several benefits, including rapid scalability for investigations, cost-efficiency, and global accessibility to digital evidence. It enables investigators to analyze virtual machines, storage, and network data, aiding in incident response and legal proceedings. Despite challenges, such as data privacy and jurisdiction issues, cloud forensics remains essential for efficient and effective digital investigations in today's interconnected and cloud-driven landscape

The cloud offers unmatched scale, speed, and efficiency to detect, respond, analyze, and recover from incidents. Though, it can be very easy to simply "lift and shift" traditional mechanisms, tooling, and thought processes into the cloud. Want to run a bunch of manual commands on thousands of systems in lightning speed? No problem. Want to download Terabytes of data from the cloud for local analysis? No problem. The cloud will gladly do many of your traditional things in traditional (and costly) ways. The cloud doesn't care how inefficient you are. But, you should. To fully realize the benefits of the cloud, you must first deeply understand how it works and how to build what meets your needs. And, cloud forensics is no exception.

Cloud forensics provides several advantages that can streamline the investigative process. Scalability and elasticity enable the efficient handling of extensive data and complex analysis tasks, while automation and orchestration enhance task efficiency. Collaboration and communication among forensic teams and stakeholders are facilitated. Standardized protocols and formats promote tool compatibility and interoperability. Furthermore, cloud environments can inspire innovation, driving the development of novel forensic techniques that leverage the unique capabilities of the cloud. Embracing these benefits can lead to more effective and efficient cloud-based investigations.

The best practice that makes the most tangible difference in building an effective cloud incident response and forensic analysis program is the following: Don't treat the cloud like it's just another system. The cloud is a new(er) paradigm that adds an additional layer of operation and artifacts that, in turn, requires targeted knowledge and expertise to effectively operate, secure, and defend. Applied to the 3 pillars of security (People, Process, Technology), this requires people dedicated to being IR and forensic experts in the cloud, processes/procedures developed specifically for the cloud (cloud-specific IR plan), and cloud-native services/mechanisms to facilitate targeted and efficient/effective acquisition and forensic analysis.

Adhering to best practices is crucial for successful cloud forensic investigations. This entails incorporating cloud-specific scenarios into incident response plans, ensuring a solid grasp of cloud service and deployment models, building trust with both cloud providers and customers, collecting evidence ethically and promptly, and applying suitable tools and techniques for analysis. Being well-informed about the unique challenges and benefits of cloud forensics is fundamental for effectively responding to security incidents. Following these practices is essential for ensuring the success and integrity of cloud forensic investigations.

In my experience focusing on cloud incident response and forensics since 2012, the organizations with the most successful cloud IR programs have purposefully and continuously invested in all 3 pillars of security - People, Process, and Technology. They have hired, mentored, and trained a dedicated set of staff that are subject matter experts in performing IR and forensics in the cloud. They have developed, implemented, and regularly tested cloud-specific IR plans that include all relevant stakeholders like Legal, Comm's, BU leaders, ... (not just technical staff). They have built targeted cloud-native solutions (leveraging existing traditional mechanisms/solutions, as merited) by working backwards from specific needs/goals.