Expert witnesses are commonplace in the legal world to provide well…expert… insight into cyber scenarios. Because the Average Joe may not know the technical terms of computer forensics or best practices of cyber security, a professional is often necessary to skillfully relay reliable information to all relevant parties.
With over 1,000 data breaches in 2020 alone, it’s not uncommon for a company to be facing data protection lawsuits and other sticky legal situations as a result.
Having someone in your corner who will put in the work and come to your defense when necessary, is essential to keeping your business reputation clean. These are the times your company may need to call on an IT security expert, and what that individual can do to ease any legal troubles for your organization.
Investigations and Computer Forensics
Although criminal investigations have been around as long as there have been crimes, the full capabilities of computer forensics are still being explored. Computer forensics is the gathering of evidence stored in computers and digital storage devices. This evidence could be behind firewalls, deleted histories, encrypted files, or anywhere else in the digital world. Once the evidence is found, it has to be analyzed for authenticity and relevance.
Why a Cyber Security Expert Is Needed
Information gathered through computer forensics is taken legally in order to be used as evidence, especially when they pertain to criminal investigations such as:
- Data breaches.
- Alleged privacy violations.
- Charges of alleged cyber crimes.
This evidence is often complicated in nature not only to obtain but to explain the evidence. A cyber security expert can analyze evidence, share findings, provide legal support, and even testify in court if necessary. Having an expert witness is important because their expertise holds weight both in and out of the courtroom.
When a Cyber Security Expert is Needed
Legal Battles
When it comes to digital/computer forensics, having a cyber security expert witness can be a huge asset. But at what stage in the legal process should an expert witness be called? An expert is helpful in all stages including:
- Legal discovery.
- Cases.
- Disputes.
From finding the needed digital information to answering questions, an expert must be called for legal claims to hold any relevance. If your company experienced a data breach, you may need an expert witness to testify that your security measures were up to code. Additionally, someone who can offer proof that your company maintained best practices during an investigation could prove to be priceless, especially if that witness's reputation is undeniable.
Delicate Cyber Security Issues
Some cyber security problems are not as easily solved as changing a password. Cyber security issues that need an expert may include:
- Problems with Homeland Security.
- Cyber crimes.
- Cloud computing.
- Digital forensics.
- Malware.
- Intrusion detection.
- Phishing.
It’s better to find one expert entity that you can trust with all cyber security components than to try and cobble together multiple individuals who may be missing real experience and knowledge. This is because threat actors are always trying new approaches to breaching your defenses, and you must stay one step ahead of them at every turn.
Kevin Mitnick and The Global Ghost Team
Kevin Mitnick and The Global Ghost Team are the leading authority when it comes to cyber security. From social engineering to penetration testing, we have challenged (and won versus) the security systems of several multi-million dollar companies per those companies’ requests for testing and analysis. In fact, we have done it countless times. Every single member of The Global Ghost Team has over 10 years of experience in the field, and work all across the globe to provide the best expertise available.
With this ultimate level of knowledge and support, Mitnick Security is the superior choice as a cyber security expert witness for any winning legal team.
