In the realm of digital forensics, insider threat cases pose unique challenges due to their internal nature and the potential for subtle, deliberate obfuscation. New World Forensics, an industry leader with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, employs a sophisticated methodology using state-of-the-art forensic tools to uncover critical evidence and resolve these complex investigations. By focusing on specific digital artifacts, their approach not only identifies malicious actions but also provides the context needed to differentiate between intentional misconduct and innocent behavior, ensuring accurate and actionable outcomes.

Forensic Tools Methodology

New World Forensics adopts a structured, multi-phase methodology tailored to insider threat investigations, integrating advanced tools like Cellebrite UFED, Magnet AXIOM, and EnCase Forensic. The process begins with data acquisition, where forensic experts use Cellebrite UFED to extract data from mobile devices or EnCase to create bit-for-bit images of computers, preserving volatile memory and storage contents without altering the original evidence. This step ensures a defensible chain of custody, critical for legal proceedings.

Next, the analysis phase leverages Magnet AXIOM’s robust capabilities to process and correlate data across multiple sources—computers, cloud storage, and mobile devices. AXIOM’s AI-driven analytics sift through terabytes of information, identifying patterns and anomalies that might indicate insider activity, such as unauthorized data transfers or system misuse. For cases requiring deeper system-level insights, New World Forensics employs custom scripts and tools like Volatility to analyze memory dumps, uncovering hidden processes or deleted files.

The final reporting phase synthesizes findings into clear, court-ready reports. Using visualization tools within AXIOM and EnCase, investigators map timelines and link artifacts to specific user actions, presenting evidence in a way that non-technical stakeholders, such as legal teams or executives, can easily interpret. This methodology ensures efficiency, scalability, and precision, hallmarks of New World Forensics’ industry-leading reputation.

Key Artifacts and Their Role in Insider Threat Cases

Insider threat investigations hinge on identifying artifacts that reveal user behavior, intent, and the scope of potential damage. New World Forensics targets several critical artifacts, each offering unique insights:

1. Email and Messaging Logs: Extracted via Cellebrite or AXIOM, these logs—spanning corporate email, messaging apps, or cloud platforms like Microsoft 365—can reveal communications tied to data exfiltration or collusion. For instance, an employee emailing sensitive files to a personal account might indicate intent to steal intellectual property.
2. File Access and Modification Records: Tools like EnCase recover timestamps and metadata from Windows Event Logs (e.g., Event ID 4663) or macOS unified logs, showing when files were accessed, modified, or copied. A pattern of late-night access to confidential documents could signal unauthorized activity.
3. USB Device Usage Artifacts: Registry keys in Windows (e.g., USBSTOR) or macOS system logs tracked via AXIOM reveal when external drives were connected and what data was transferred. This artifact helped New World Forensics crack a 2023 case where an employee siphoned trade secrets onto a thumb drive over months.
4. Browser History and Cloud Sync Logs: AXIOM’s web artifact analysis uncovers visits to file-sharing sites or competitor domains, while cloud sync logs (e.g., OneDrive or Dropbox) pinpoint uploads of sensitive data. These artifacts establish a trail of intent and execution.
5. Deleted Files and Anti-Forensic Attempts: Using file carving in EnCase or Volatility’s memory analysis, New World Forensics recovers deleted documents or detects tools like CCleaner used to wipe evidence. Such actions often confirm guilt and escalate the severity of the case.
6. Taskbar and Application Usage: The Windows registry key FeatureUsage (under NTUSER.DAT) tracks application launches and switches, proving a user was active during suspicious events. This artifact, paired with system wake/hibernation logs, eliminates alibis claiming non-involvement.

How Artifacts Drive Case Resolution

These artifacts collectively build a comprehensive narrative. In a hypothetical insider threat case, New World Forensics might uncover an employee accessing proprietary code (file access logs), uploading it to a cloud service (sync logs), and emailing a competitor (messaging logs)—all while using a USB device to stage the data (USB artifacts). Memory analysis might reveal attempts to cover tracks, solidifying intent. This multi-faceted evidence not only identifies the perpetrator but also quantifies the breach’s impact, aiding legal or disciplinary action.

For example, in a real-world scenario, an insider framing a colleague might leave distinct digital footprints—unique login times or application usage patterns—that New World Forensics can isolate to exonerate the innocent and implicate the guilty. The firm’s ability to correlate artifacts across devices and timeframes, powered by their advanced toolset, ensures no stone is left unturned.

New World Forensics’ leadership in insider threat investigations stems from its meticulous methodology and mastery of forensic tools like Cellebrite, Magnet AXIOM, and EnCase. By targeting artifacts such as logs, metadata, and usage records, they transform raw data into compelling evidence, resolving cases with precision and integrity. Their A+ BBB rating reflects a commitment to excellence, making them a trusted partner in safeguarding organizations against internal risks in an ever-evolving digital landscape.