OPERATE · Digital Forensics & Incident Response
Contain the Incident. Preserve the Evidence. Restore Control.
DFIR teams investigate, contain and help you recover from incidents with forensic, regulator-ready evidence.
- Forensic, regulator-ready evidence
- Faster containment
- Lessons that prevent recurrence
- 1Triage and Declare
- 2Preserve Volatile Data
- 3Contain and Hunt
- 4Analyze and Reconstruct
- 5Recover and Report
Executive Summary
- 01Effective incident response preserves evidence while it contains the threat, because the two goals depend on each other.
- 02Scope, timeline and root cause must rest on documented sources, not on assumptions made under pressure.
- 03Regulatory notification decisions are only as sound as the investigation behind them.
The Challenge
During an incident, every hour of uncertainty increases damage, cost and regulatory exposure.
Evidence mishandled in the first response can undermine investigations, insurance claims and legal action.
The DAAKYI Approach
DAAKYI responders scope the incident, contain the threat, and collect and analyze evidence using forensic practice.
Leadership receives clear updates and a report suitable for regulators.
- 01
Incident triage and scoping
- 02
Containment and eradication
- 03
Forensic collection and analysis
- 04
Post-incident reporting
In Depth
How the Discipline Works
Scoping Decides Everything That Follows
Scoping starts with a hypothesis, not a conclusion. Responders establish what is known: which systems alerted, which accounts are suspect, what data may be exposed. They then separate confirmed facts from assumptions and record both. This discipline matters because early guesses tend to harden into the official story. A clear scope also defines the legal and regulatory clock, since notification duties can begin when an organization becomes aware of a likely breach. Scope is revisited as evidence arrives. A ransomware alert may turn out to be the visible end of a weeks-long intrusion, and the investigation must widen accordingly.
Containment Without Destroying Evidence
Containment stops the attacker's progress, but every action changes the environment. Isolating a host, disabling an account or blocking a domain can alert the adversary and overwrite volatile data. Responders therefore capture memory and key logs before powering anything down, and they favor network isolation over shutdown where possible. Containment is staged: short-term measures stop spread, while longer-term measures such as credential resets, segmentation changes and patching close the paths used. Eradication follows only when the team is confident it has found all persistence mechanisms. Removing one backdoor while another remains simply resets the clock for the attacker.
Evidence That Survives Challenge
Forensic value depends on provenance. Each artifact, whether a disk image, memory capture or log export, is acquired with write protection or verified tooling, hashed at acquisition, and logged in a chain-of-custody record showing who handled it and when. Analysts work on copies, never originals. Timelines are built from multiple independent sources so that no single log carries the conclusion. Clock drift between systems is measured and corrected for. When an insurer, regulator or court asks how a finding was reached, the answer is a documented, repeatable procedure rather than an analyst's recollection.
Speed without preservation is not response. The evidence you destroy while recovering is the evidence you will need later.
Capability Matrix
What the Service Includes
| Capability | Coverage | GUIDE | SECURE | OPERATE | Delivered Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incident Response | Containment and eradication. | – | – | OPERATE stage | Managed Security Services, Advisory Engagements |
| Digital Forensics | Evidence collection and analysis. | – | – | OPERATE stage | Managed Security Services, Advisory Engagements |
| Root‑Cause Analysis | How the intrusion happened. | – | – | OPERATE stage | Managed Security Services, Advisory Engagements |
| Regulator‑Ready Reporting | Documented findings and timeline. | – | – | OPERATE stage | Managed Security Services, Advisory Engagements |
Incident Response
Containment and eradication.
- Stage
- OPERATE
- Delivered Through
- Managed Security Services, Advisory Engagements
Digital Forensics
Evidence collection and analysis.
- Stage
- OPERATE
- Delivered Through
- Managed Security Services, Advisory Engagements
Root‑Cause Analysis
How the intrusion happened.
- Stage
- OPERATE
- Delivered Through
- Managed Security Services, Advisory Engagements
Regulator‑Ready Reporting
Documented findings and timeline.
- Stage
- OPERATE
- Delivered Through
- Managed Security Services, Advisory Engagements
How It Works
How Digital Forensics & Incident Response Works
- 01Scope
- 02Contain
- 03Investigate
- 04Report
Methodology
The Method, Step by Step
- 1
Triage and Declare
Responders validate the alert, assign severity and decide whether an incident is declared. They open a case log, name an incident lead and set a communication channel separate from possibly compromised systems. Initial indicators are recorded with timestamps so later analysis can reconstruct decisions as well as attacker activity.
- 2
Preserve Volatile Data
Before changes are made, the team captures what disappears first: running processes, network connections, memory and cloud session data. Disk images and log exports follow. Each item is hashed and entered into chain of custody. Preservation is prioritized by volatility and by how likely the artifact is to matter later.
- 3
Contain and Hunt
Containment measures are applied in stages while analysts hunt for scope: other affected hosts, accounts, and persistence mechanisms. Indicators of compromise found on one system are searched across the estate. The aim is to cut off attacker access completely, not partially, before eradication begins.
- 4
Analyze and Reconstruct
Analysts examine artifacts to establish initial access, privilege escalation, lateral movement and data access. Findings are mapped to attacker tactics and built into a single evidence-backed timeline. Each conclusion cites its source, and gaps in logging are stated openly rather than filled with speculation.
- 5
Recover and Report
Systems return to service from known-good states, with monitoring heightened for signs of reentry. The final report states root cause, impact, actions taken and remediation priorities. Lessons feed back into detection rules, access controls and the response plan, so the next incident is shorter and better documented.
Operating Model
Delivered from the OPERATE Pillar
Pillar position
OPERATE
Security Operations & Managed Resilience
Engagement model
Managed Security Services
SOC, MXDR and managed cloud security under SLAs.
Best for · 24/7 coverage without building in-house
Engagement model
Advisory Engagements
Fixed-scope assessments, strategy, compliance and testing.
Best for · Defined questions with a clear deliverable
Threat Scenarios
What It Looks Like in Practice
Ransomware with Data Theft
How It Shows Up
Files are encrypted and a ransom note appears. Logs show large outbound transfers to unfamiliar hosts before encryption began.
Response
Isolate affected segments, preserve memory and logs, and determine what was exfiltrated so notification decisions rest on evidence.
Business Email Compromise
How It Shows Up
Hidden inbox rules, altered payment details and sign-ins from unusual locations appear in a mailbox.
Response
Reset credentials and active sessions, review mailbox audit logs, and trace which messages and data the attacker accessed.
Insider Data Misuse
How It Shows Up
Bulk downloads, access outside normal duties and transfers to personal storage show up in access records.
Response
Collect endpoint and access records under strict confidentiality, and coordinate with legal and HR before any action is taken.
Cloud Credential Compromise
How It Shows Up
Unexpected API calls, newly created access keys and resources launched in regions the organization never uses.
Response
Revoke keys, preserve cloud audit trails and disk snapshots, and map observed activity to attacker tactics.
| Scenario | How It Shows Up | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Ransomware with Data Theft | Files are encrypted and a ransom note appears. Logs show large outbound transfers to unfamiliar hosts before encryption began. | Isolate affected segments, preserve memory and logs, and determine what was exfiltrated so notification decisions rest on evidence. |
| Business Email Compromise | Hidden inbox rules, altered payment details and sign-ins from unusual locations appear in a mailbox. | Reset credentials and active sessions, review mailbox audit logs, and trace which messages and data the attacker accessed. |
| Insider Data Misuse | Bulk downloads, access outside normal duties and transfers to personal storage show up in access records. | Collect endpoint and access records under strict confidentiality, and coordinate with legal and HR before any action is taken. |
| Cloud Credential Compromise | Unexpected API calls, newly created access keys and resources launched in regions the organization never uses. | Revoke keys, preserve cloud audit trails and disk snapshots, and map observed activity to attacker tactics. |
Outcomes
What Your Institution Gains
- Forensic, regulator-ready evidence
- Faster containment
- Lessons that prevent recurrence
Deliverables and Roles
What You Receive, and Who Does What
| Deliverable | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Incident Timeline | Presents attacker and responder actions in one evidence-backed sequence. |
| Evidence Register and Chain‑of‑Custody Log | Proves what was collected, how, and who handled it. |
| Root‑Cause Analysis | Explains the initial access path and the control failures that allowed it. |
| Executive and Regulator‑Facing Report | Gives leadership and authorities a factual account of impact and response. |
| Remediation and Hardening Plan | Prioritizes the fixes that prevent the same intrusion from recurring. |
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Incident Lead (Provider) | Directs investigation and containment, and keeps decisions and timestamps recorded. |
| Forensic Analyst (Provider) | Acquires and examines evidence and documents every step so it can be repeated. |
| Executive Sponsor (Client) | Authorizes disruptive actions such as isolating business-critical systems. |
| Legal Counsel and Data Protection Officer (Client) | Decide on notification duties and manage privilege over the investigation. |
Maturity Model
Where Organizations Typically Stand
Stage 1
Ad Hoc
Response depends on whoever is available. Evidence is often lost when systems are rebuilt too quickly.
Stage 2
Documented
A written plan names roles and escalation paths, but it has rarely been tested under realistic conditions.
Stage 3
Rehearsed
Tabletop and technical exercises validate the plan. Logging and forensic tooling are ready before an incident occurs.
Stage 4
Measured
Each incident feeds detection and control improvements, and the organization tracks how quickly it scopes and contains threats.
Frameworks and Regulation
The Standards That Shape This Work
NIST SP 800-61
Provides widely used guidance on incident handling, from preparation through detection, containment, recovery and post-incident review.
NIST CSF 2.0
Its Respond and Recover functions, alongside Govern, frame how incident outcomes connect to enterprise risk and oversight.
MITRE ATT&CK
Its 14 enterprise tactics give analysts a common vocabulary for mapping observed behavior and finding gaps in the attack chain.
ISO/IEC 27001:2022
Annex A organizational and technological controls address incident management, logging and evidence collection, which a good investigation tests.
Buyer Guidance
Choosing the Right Provider
What to look for
- Look for a documented evidence-handling procedure, including hashing and chain of custody.
- Look for responders who can work across endpoints, identity systems, email and cloud platforms.
- Look for reports that separate confirmed findings from hypotheses and state logging gaps.
- Look for clear coordination with your legal counsel, insurer and data protection officer.
Questions to ask a provider
- How do you preserve volatile data before containment actions are taken?
- How will findings be presented so a regulator or court can test them?
- What access and logging do you need from us on day one?
- How do you handle conflicts between fast recovery and evidence preservation?
Regulatory & Industry Context
The Obligations This Service Supports
Response supports incident reporting under Ghana's Act 1038 and breach notification duties under Act 843, GDPR and HIPAA.
Frameworks DAAKYI helps clients implement
- Ghana Act 1038
- Ghana Act 843
- GDPR
- HIPAA
Framework references describe client implementation support, not DAAKYI certifications.
Technical Detail
For Architects and Security Leads
Framework and regulatory alignment
- Ghana Act 1038
- Ghana Act 843
- GDPR
- HIPAA
Response supports incident reporting under Ghana's Act 1038 and breach notification duties under Act 843, GDPR and HIPAA.
Architecture reference
How Digital Forensics & Incident Response Works: Scope → Contain → Investigate → Report.
DAAKYI responders scope the incident, contain the threat, and collect and analyze evidence using forensic practice.
Memory and Disk Acquisition
Live response begins with memory. Tools capture RAM to external storage, recording the hash and tool version. Memory can reveal injected code, decrypted payloads, active network connections and credentials that never touch disk. Disk acquisition follows, using hardware write blockers for physical media or verified snapshot methods for virtual machines and cloud volumes. Analysts then examine file system metadata, registry hives, event logs, prefetch records and browser artifacts to reconstruct execution. Encrypted volumes need keys captured while the system is running, which is another reason not to power off early. In cloud workloads, snapshots of disks plus exported control-plane logs serve the same purpose.
Timeline and Log Correlation
A defensible timeline merges sources: endpoint telemetry, authentication logs, firewall and proxy records, email audit data and cloud trails. Analysts normalize timestamps to a single time zone and account for clock offsets. Events are tagged with ATT&CK tactics, from initial access through exfiltration and impact, which exposes gaps in the attack chain that need further evidence. Indicators such as file hashes, domains and account names are pivoted across the estate to find additional victims. Where retention has expired or logging was never enabled, the report says so. Those gaps become remediation items, because missing logs limit both scoping and notification decisions.
Glossary
Key Terms
- Chain of Custody
- The documented record of who collected, held and transferred each piece of evidence.
- Indicator of Compromise
- A artifact such as a file hash, domain or account name that signals attacker activity.
- Volatile Data
- Information such as memory contents and active connections that is lost when a system powers down.
- Persistence Mechanism
- A method an attacker uses to regain access after a reboot or credential reset.
Related
Explore Connected Capabilities
Proof Points
What We Can Stand Behind
- Every stage of DAAKYI's delivery methodology produces documented, auditable deliverables.
FAQ
Questions Leaders Ask
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