Greening Digital Forensics: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Despite the fact that digital forensics involves strict procedures and principles, but as this paper presents, there are plenty of opportunities that can be practically employed in digital forensics to make this science greener. Virtualization can cost effectively reduce the number of workstations running forensic tools in the lab. Cloud computing not only facilitate managing and securing services but also decline the number of required network and cooling facilities. Forensic labs can also be optimized regarding environmental preservation. Using remote protocols and digitalizing paperwork procedures are environmentally helpful practices to accelerate investigation progress as well. Employing storage devices with optimal energy usage in digital forensics may highly reduce energy consumption. This paper studies established green technologies particularly in information technology field and suggests a framework for implementing compatible techniques in digital forensics to reduce greenhouse gas pollutants, limit carbon emissions, and preserve the environment.