Preserving evidence does not begin only at the acquisition of data, but as early on as the physical viewing of the suspect device. There should be some kind of structured response to the suspected crime or breach in the same way as with a crime reported to the police. In the same way, a person makes a call to the emergency services who then dispatch the police, fire services, and ambulance personnel and other first responders who may then escalate the issue to the FBI or other agencies. There should also be a similar chain of command when dealing with reports that require digital investigation.
When a breach or crime is discovered or suspected, there should be a dedicated first responder who is alerted and called to the scene. This person usually has some knowledge or understanding of the workings of devices, networks, and even of the IT...
