Investigate Incidents, Preserve Evidence and Support Legal Proceedings
When a data breach, fraud, insider misuse, or cyber attack occurs, the digital traces left behind can show what happened, who was involved, and what was affected. Those traces are fragile, and careless handling can destroy them or make them unusable as evidence.
ConsultHive provides cyber forensics consulting to help organizations and individuals preserve digital evidence, analyze devices and systems, reconstruct events, and prepare clear reports that can support internal action, regulatory reporting, and legal proceedings.
Our approach focuses on forensically sound acquisition, documented chain of custody, verified hash values, analysis of computers, mobile devices, email, cloud, and network data, and reports prepared for courts, regulators, and management.
Whether you are responding to a security incident, investigating employee misconduct, or preparing electronic evidence for a complaint or case, we help establish a careful and defensible process.
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What Is Cyber Forensics?
Cyber forensics, also called digital forensics, is the process of identifying, preserving, collecting, analyzing, and reporting digital evidence in a way that protects its integrity and can be explained and defended. It is used in cyber crime, fraud, intellectual property theft, employment disputes, and incident response.
A central principle is that the original evidence must not be altered. Examiners work on verified copies, record cryptographic hash values to show that data has not changed, and document each person who handles the evidence, which is known as the chain of custody.
In India, electronic records are admitted as evidence under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. Section 63 requires a certificate for electronic records tendered in evidence, which includes the hash value of the record and a part completed by an expert. The courts have been considering questions on how this applies, so legal advice should be taken on each case.
Forensic findings are limited by the data that remains available, and they describe what the evidence shows rather than making legal conclusions. Decisions on liability and guilt are for the courts and authorities.
Our Cyber Forensics Services
1. Incident Intake and Evidence Preservation Advice
Guide you on immediate steps to avoid losing evidence, such as isolating rather than powering off devices, preserving logs, and avoiding unauthorized access to affected systems.
Early advice often decides how much can be recovered later.
2. Computer and Server Forensics
Acquire forensic images of computers and servers and examine file systems, deleted data, user activity, installed software, external device use, and evidence of data copying or tampering.
3. Mobile Device Forensics
Examine mobile phones and tablets for messages, call records, application data, location history, and deleted content, within the limits of the device, encryption, and lawful access.
4. Email and Messaging Investigation
Analyze email accounts, headers, attachments, and messaging data to trace the origin and path of messages and detect spoofing, phishing, and unauthorized forwarding.
5. Cloud and Application Log Forensics
Collect and analyze logs and records from cloud services, business applications, and identity systems to reconstruct user activity and unauthorized access, subject to the data the provider retains and releases.
6. Network and Malware Analysis
Analyze network logs, firewall and proxy records, and suspicious files to identify intrusion paths, malware behavior, indicators of compromise, and the scope of an incident.
7. Data Breach and Ransomware Investigation
Support investigation of how a breach or ransomware attack occurred, what systems and data were affected, and what controls failed, to help with containment, recovery, and notification decisions.
8. Insider Threat and Employee Misconduct Investigation
Examine company devices and accounts for data theft, policy violations, fraud, and misuse of access, following lawful and policy-based procedures and respecting privacy rules.
9. Data Recovery and Secure Erasure
Recover data from damaged or deleted sources where possible, and carry out documented secure erasure of devices that are being retired, with certificates of erasure.
10. Expert Reports and Evidence Certification Support
Prepare detailed forensic reports and support the preparation of electronic evidence, including hash value documentation and the certificate that Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam requires.
Where a court or authority requires evidence examination by a notified Examiner of Electronic Evidence, we coordinate with the appropriate agency.
11. Incident Response and Reporting Support
Support incident response planning and reporting, including reporting to CERT-In within the prescribed time, regulator notifications, and personal data breach intimation under the DPDP Act, where applicable.
12. Training and Readiness
Provide training on evidence handling for IT, HR, legal, and security teams, and help set up forensic readiness practices such as log retention and incident playbooks.
Key Benefits of Cyber Forensics Services
A careful forensic process gives you reliable facts and evidence that can be used.
• Establish What Happened: Reconstruct events from digital traces with documented methods.
• Preserve Evidence Integrity: Use hash values and chain of custody to protect the value of evidence.
• Support Legal Proceedings: Prepare evidence and reports that can be presented in court or to authorities.
• Contain and Recover Faster: Understand the scope of an incident to guide containment and recovery.
• Meet Reporting Obligations: Gather the facts needed for regulator, CERT-In, and data breach reporting.
• Resolve Internal Disputes: Investigate misconduct and data theft in a fair and documented manner.
• Reduce Repeat Incidents: Identify control weaknesses and recommend improvements.
Types of Evidence and Sources Covered
Forensic work may cover the following sources, depending on the agreed scope and the data available.
| Source | Typical Evidence Examined |
| Computers and laptops | Files, deleted data, user activity, browser history, external device use, installed software |
| Servers and databases | System logs, access records, database activity, configuration changes |
| Mobile devices | Messages, call logs, application data, location history, media |
| Email and messaging | Message content, headers, attachments, mailbox rules, forwarding activity |
| Cloud services | Access logs, file activity, sharing events, administrator actions |
| Network devices | Firewall, proxy, and flow logs, intrusion indicators |
| Storage media | Hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, and backups |
| Malware samples | Behavior, persistence, communication, and indicators of compromise |
| CCTV and multimedia | Video and audio files, metadata, and authenticity checks, where in scope |
Some data may be encrypted, overwritten, or held by third parties, and what can be obtained depends on the facts and on lawful access.
Our Cyber Forensics Process
Step 1: Confidential Initial Consultation
Understand the incident or question, the people and systems involved, the objectives, and any legal or regulatory deadlines.
Step 2: Authorization and Scoping
Confirm legal authority to examine the devices and data, agree scope, and put confidentiality terms in place.
Step 3: Identification and Preservation
Identify sources of evidence, secure them, and preserve volatile and stored data using appropriate methods.
Step 4: Acquisition and Verification
Create forensic images with write protection, record hash values, and document the chain of custody.
Step 5: Analysis
Examine the data to answer the agreed questions, correlate artifacts, and build a timeline of events.
Step 6: Reporting
Prepare a clear report describing methods, findings, limitations, and conclusions, with supporting exhibits.
Step 7: Evidence Support and Presentation
Support the preparation of evidence certificates, respond to queries from counsel or authorities, and, where required, support presentation of findings.
Step 8: Recommendations and Closure
Recommend security and process improvements, and return, store, or securely dispose of evidence according to the agreement and legal requirements.
What Is Included in a Cyber Forensics Report?
Depending on the agreed scope, deliverables may include:
• Summary of the engagement, questions asked, and scope.
• Description of evidence items, acquisition methods, and hash values.
• Chain of custody records.
• Tools and techniques used.
• Detailed findings with supporting exhibits and screenshots.
• Timeline of relevant events.
• Limitations and assumptions.
• Conclusions based on the evidence.
• Recommendations to prevent recurrence.
• Support documents for electronic evidence certification.
Reports are factual and are written so that they can be understood by management, lawyers, and authorities.
Legal Framework and Standards
Cyber forensics work refers to Indian law and recognized technical guidance.
| Law / Standard | Application |
| Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 | Law of evidence, including admissibility of electronic records and the Section 63 certificate |
| Information Technology Act, 2000 | Cyber offences, the CERT-In framework, and notification of Examiners of Electronic Evidence |
| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 | Criminal procedure, including search, seizure, and investigation |
| CERT-In Directions of 2022 | Reporting of specified cyber incidents and retention of logs |
| Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 | Personal data breach obligations |
| ISO/IEC 27037 and ISO/IEC 27042 | Guidelines for identification, collection, acquisition, preservation, and analysis of digital evidence |
| NIST SP 800-86 | Guide to integrating forensic techniques into incident response |
Legal provisions and their interpretation continue to develop, so specific questions should be referred to a qualified advocate.
Cyber Forensics Requirements in India
Organizations must report certain cyber incidents to CERT-In within the time prescribed in its directions, and entities regulated by financial and other regulators have their own notification duties. Data Fiduciaries must also follow breach rules under the DPDP Act.
Electronic evidence in Indian courts must satisfy the requirements of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, including the certificate under Section 63. Authorities may also direct examination by notified Examiners of Electronic Evidence or government forensic laboratories.
Examining another person’s device or account requires lawful authority, such as ownership, consent, a policy, or an order. Organizations should confirm that authority before evidence is collected.
A forensic engagement helps you collect and analyze evidence, but it does not replace legal advice or the role of the authorities.
Who Needs Cyber Forensics Services?
Any organization or individual that needs to investigate a digital incident or rely on digital evidence can benefit.
• Corporates and Startups: Organizations facing data theft, ransomware, fraud, or insider misuse.
• Banks, Fintech and Insurance Companies: Entities investigating online fraud, account compromise, and regulatory incidents.
• Law Firms and Legal Teams: Counsel who need independent examination and reporting of electronic evidence.
• HR, Compliance and Internal Audit Teams: Teams investigating employee misconduct and policy violations.
• Individuals and Families: People affected by cyber fraud, harassment, impersonation, or account takeover.
Why Choose ConsultHive for Cyber Forensics?
Careful Evidence Handling
We follow documented procedures for acquisition, hashing, and chain of custody so that evidence integrity can be shown.
Clear, Defensible Reporting
Reports explain methods, findings, and limits in plain language, so that they can be understood and questioned.
Confidential Handling
Engagements are carried out under confidentiality terms, and information is shared only with authorized people.
Legal and Regulatory Awareness
We take the evidence law, reporting duties, and privacy rules into account and coordinate with counsel where required.
Integrated Cyber Support
ConsultHive also supports cyber complaint and reporting, VAPT, DPDP Act compliance, and ISO/IEC 27001, which helps you link investigation with prevention and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cyber Forensics
1. What is cyber forensics?
Cyber forensics is the process of identifying, preserving, analyzing, and reporting digital evidence in a way that protects its integrity and allows it to be explained and defended.
2. What should I do first after a cyber incident?
Avoid altering the affected devices, do not delete files or reset systems, isolate affected devices from the network where safe, preserve logs, and contact a forensic professional. Early steps strongly affect what can be recovered.
3. What is a hash value?
A hash value is a unique digital fingerprint calculated from data. If the data changes, the hash changes, so it is used to show that evidence has not been altered after collection.
4. What is chain of custody?
It is the documented record of who handled the evidence, when, where, and why, from collection to presentation. It helps show that the evidence is the same as originally collected.
5. What is the Section 63 certificate?
Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 requires a certificate for electronic records tendered as evidence, including the hash value and a part completed by an expert. Please take legal advice on how it applies to your case.
6. Can deleted data be recovered?
Sometimes. It depends on the device, how the data was deleted, how long ago, and whether the space has been overwritten or encrypted. No recovery can be promised in advance.
7. Can you examine an employee’s device?
Only with lawful authority, such as company ownership, a clear policy, consent, or an order, and in line with privacy requirements. We confirm this before starting.
8. Do you provide expert testimony or notified examiner reports?
We prepare forensic reports and support evidence preparation. Where a court or authority requires a notified Examiner of Electronic Evidence or a government laboratory, we coordinate with the appropriate agency. Please discuss your requirement at the start.
9. How long does a forensic investigation take?
The time depends on the number and size of devices, the complexity of the incident, and the questions to be answered. A single device examination is faster than a multi-system breach investigation.
10. How much does cyber forensics cost in India?
The cost depends on the number and type of devices and data sources, the complexity of analysis, urgency, and reporting needs.
Contact ConsultHive with a brief description of your situation to request a quotation.
Get Cyber Forensics Support with ConsultHive
Preserve your evidence, find out what happened, and prepare reports you can rely on with ConsultHive.
Our cyber forensics services help organizations and individuals investigate incidents carefully and support regulatory and legal steps.
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Contact ConsultHive
+91 63828 84764
contact@theconsulthive.com