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COVER STORY son. Dell combines all of these capabilities into a single system, and you don't have to be a forensic expert to do the work. "An investigator simply asks the system to look for specific types of evidence, such as emails, images, etc., and then the tool automatically scans the device for this data," he continues. "And before, if they had 3 terabytes of data, it would take them weeks to process. This scan takes just minutes." Training Digital triage tools are meaningless however without training, says Pepenella. Officers running digital forensics exams need a basic understanding of digital devices and the information they may house. They also require an understanding of how digital technologies store data, the file formats they use, and the operating systems they employ. Pepenella recommends departments tap into the free classes offered by NW3C to develop a foundation for computer forensics exams. They can then obtain advanced training from places such as the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3), and SEARCH. But before investing a dime in technology or training, Pepenella advises agencies to do their homework. "Reach out to someone in law enforcement who has done this for awhile," he says. "Ask them how they store their data, how they conduct their investigations, and for their recommendations on how to streamline the process and make it better." And, above all, Pepenella advises departments to take action now. "Don't wait for a red flag to pop up in your jurisdiction before you realize the need for this capability," he says. "Law enforcement needs to embrace the digital investigation, or they are going to be left behind, while the criminals move ahead." ■Ronnie Garrett formerly served as the editorial director of the Cygnus Law Enforcement Group. M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N For more information on these companies, circle the corresponding number on the Reader Service Card COMPANY READER SERVICE NO. AccessData 40 Cellebrite 41 Dell 42 Digital Intelligence 43 Evidence talks 44 Forensic Computers Inc. 45 Guidance Software 46 High Tech Crime Institute Group (HTCI) 47 MicroSystemation 48 Paraben Corp. 49 Salvation DATA 50 Susteen 51 Market-leading face recognition technology for fast and accurate criminal investigation FaceVACS-DBScan with Examiner instantly matches crime scene photos, composites and surveillance video images against your mug shot repository to support effcient suspect identifcation. The Examiner toolset enhances probe images to achieve faster and more accurate match results. www.cognitec.com Cognitec develops market-leading face recognition technologies and applications for enterprise and government customers around the world. In various independent evaluation tests, our FaceVACS® recognition software has proven to be the premier technology available on the market. Circle 39 on Reader Service Card 26 Law Enforcement Technology July 2013 www.officer.com