Looking Beyond the Initial Investigation
Years after a cybersecurity incident, a fresh review of historical evidence revealed additional attacker activity and provided a more complete understanding of how the breach unfolded.
The Challenge
Several years after a cybersecurity incident, a company became involved in litigation related to the breach. An incident response firm had already investigated the event and produced findings, but key questions remained unanswered.
The client needed an independent review of the available evidence to better understand how the attack unfolded, what actions the attackers took, and whether the original conclusions told the complete story.
Our Approach
Aletheian Labs was engaged to conduct a forensic review of historical evidence, including computer images, system logs, and investigative materials generated during the original response.
The analysis was focused on reconstructing the attack itself, so our team reviewed attacker activity, traced the sequence of events, and examined the vulnerabilities and system conditions that allowed the intrusion to occur.
The investigation also included an assessment of the organization’s security controls and practices at the time of the incident to understand how they contributed to the outcome and what conclusions could reasonably be drawn from the available evidence.
The Breakthrough
- Reconstructed attacker activity that had not been fully documented in the original investigation
- Identified additional systems, actions, and attack paths relevant to understanding the scope of the intrusion
- Clarified the sequence of events leading up to and following the breach
- Evaluated security controls and governance practices in place at the time of the incident
- Provided an independent expert opinion supported by forensic evidence and technical analysis
- Equipped counsel with a more complete understanding of the facts for use in litigation strategy and expert proceedings
