The Virtual Digital Forensics Lab:
Expanding Law Enforcement Capabilities

Sean A. Ensz
University of Oklahoma
200 Felgar Street, Norman, Oklahoma 73019
405.325.3954 Office
405.325.1633 Fax
ensz@ou.edu

Mark R. McCoy
University of Central Oklahoma
Forensic Science Institute
100 N. University, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034
405.974.5617 Office
405.974.3871 Fax
mmccoy@ucok.edu

 

ABSTRACT

Law enforcement is attempting to respond to the growing and complex need to examine all manner of digital evidence using stand-alone forensic workstations and limited storage solutions. Digital forensic investigators often find their cases stalled by cumbersome and inflexible technology limiting their effectiveness. The Virtual Digital Forensics Lab (VDFL) is a new concept that applies existing enterprise host, storage, and network virtualization technologies to current forensic investigative methods. This paper details the concept of the VDFL, the technology solutions it employs, and the flexibility it provides for digital forensic investigators.
 

Keywords: Virtual Digital Forensics, digital forensic investigations, law enforcement, virtual lab, Digital Forensics