tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post5289888884361915813..comments2023-04-06T05:14:38.033-04:00Comments on A Fistful of Dongles: Did We Make a Mistake?Eric Huberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501931630996986857noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-14609924876516430072011-02-23T12:00:21.292-05:002011-02-23T12:00:21.292-05:00Accreditation is a humorus topic. Where were the ...Accreditation is a humorus topic. Where were the "forensics guys" when computer data cases started accumulating for LE. They weren't there. I was there from the start in my department, and the "forensics guys" would not help, could not help, and ridiculed our help request. The rest is history. Now they want a piece of the action.....hmmmmmmmm. This field is not a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-53670005353041657332010-12-19T13:16:57.456-05:002010-12-19T13:16:57.456-05:00I don't think we make a mistake by calling the...I don't think we make a mistake by calling the area we work "labs". That being said, your point about accreditation slowing innovation is on the mark. I have talked with an examiner who works in an ASCLD forensic lab and that is a big issue that they have - lack of innovation because of the restrictions of accreditation.<br /><br />And yes, while criminal labs can put people in Greg Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11087813718826491542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-62384884085130369832010-12-13T19:08:40.044-05:002010-12-13T19:08:40.044-05:00I think that Law Enforcement labs should be accred...I think that Law Enforcement labs should be accredited as their findings could send someone to jail. So their processes and procedures should be strictly accountable. <br /><br />On the other hand, for consultants that work in civil cases, I don't see where accreditation is necessary. Like Eric said, the consultant may work out of his home or take the drive to Startbucks and do his Phil Rodokanakishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663314202364550318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-7008577358775741022010-12-10T21:54:31.077-05:002010-12-10T21:54:31.077-05:00I've worked in an ASCLD/LAB digital evidence l...I've worked in an ASCLD/LAB digital evidence lab operated by a federal law enforcement agency. I can't begin to estimate how many hours are devoted to the bureaucracy of the concept, quality control and quality assurance, mandated training, policy development and review. It is all so permeated in the science of digital examinations that its difficult to tell where one ends and the other RodGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04357051628635895165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-26264268361790753862010-12-10T12:55:04.431-05:002010-12-10T12:55:04.431-05:00Eric,
Great article! At a recent forensics meeting...Eric,<br />Great article! At a recent forensics meeting I attended, this very issue was brought up about ASCLD/LAB standards amongst forensic laboratories. Digital Forensics is dynamic and evolving. Just as you mentioned, we can validate our forensic evidence (e.g.MD5/SHA-1 hashing).<br />At this point, I think any form of "governing body" enforcing accreditation, would negatively Bradhttp://computerforensicsource.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-33606247038679410972010-12-10T10:38:42.382-05:002010-12-10T10:38:42.382-05:00I think lab is fair. A place where a scientific me...I think lab is fair. A place where a scientific methodology is employed. If you look at the history of discovery and science, labs have certainly evolved over time. The main focus on proving an area where test can be performed over and over again to achieve measurable and repeatable results. There is certainly a want and need to have sterility and security in labs and I think that is where we do Douglas Brushhttp://www.thedigitalforensicgroup.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-22407868206697272452010-12-07T16:24:47.754-05:002010-12-07T16:24:47.754-05:00Eric,
Yes, I do believe we’ve made a mistake refe...Eric,<br /><br />Yes, I do believe we’ve made a mistake referring to digital forensic facilities as “labs”.<br />I think most normal people equate a lab with a group of white-coat scientists conducting experiments on rats, or in the case of forensics, a wet lab, i.e. DNA, blood, etc. It may not seem terribly important what normal people think but sometimes society trumps Webster’s Dictionary. Jakenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-39486738118229887152010-12-06T12:26:39.417-05:002010-12-06T12:26:39.417-05:00I should also point out that ASCLD are not the onl...I should also point out that ASCLD are not the only body in the US conducting ISO17025 Forensic accreditation.Mike Wilkinsonhttp://msdim.champlain.edunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-11682081666343752842010-12-06T12:24:33.857-05:002010-12-06T12:24:33.857-05:00The rest of the post due to size limitations....
...The rest of the post due to size limitations....<br /><br />The big concern with labs considering accreditation is the cost. I am not sure of costs in the US but in Australia you are mainly paying for travel and accommodation expenses for the assessors to attend for the inspection, we work on a volunteer basis (or more to the point our employers volunteer our time). The other big cost is the timeMike Wilkinsonhttp://msdim.champlain.edunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-6846651123423871832010-12-06T12:23:49.062-05:002010-12-06T12:23:49.062-05:00Here are a few thoughts on accreditation. Starting...Here are a few thoughts on accreditation. Starting with disclosure, I am a technical assessor with Australia’s accrediting body, NATA and I have spent the past several years working in a lab built from the ground up to meet the ISO17025 standards. So my opinions may be biased.<br />First some background, the standard Forensic Labs are accredited to is ISO17025, the title of this standard is “Mike Wilkinsonhttp://msdim.champlain.edunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-7918220979038783902010-12-05T17:37:16.369-05:002010-12-05T17:37:16.369-05:00I guess it depends on who you're talking to, o...I guess it depends on who you're talking to, or who's reading the post.<br /><br />When I started at ISS, our "lab" was in our home office. We were expected to follow certain procedures...admittedly, some clearly didn't. <br /><br />However, you could say "lab" to another person and they'd think "ASCLD certification". It's just like when you H. Carveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966595734678290320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-13340767726454006352010-12-05T17:14:08.781-05:002010-12-05T17:14:08.781-05:00Thanks for dropping by, Harlan. It's funny (o...Thanks for dropping by, Harlan. It's funny (okay, a lot less funny now...) that I had that same thought before I published the post. I wondered if I made it clear enough in the content itself. I decided that the first sentence in the third paragraph took care of it and stuck with the title.<br /><br />I'm wondering if we made a community-wide mistake by using the word "lab" Eric Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03501931630996986857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8875668111631820725.post-19602256539859079662010-12-05T16:14:42.213-05:002010-12-05T16:14:42.213-05:00Eric,
I'm not seeing where the "Did we m...Eric,<br /><br />I'm not seeing where the "Did we make a mistake?" post title fits in with the contents of the post...can you clarify?<br /><br />Thanks.H. Carveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966595734678290320noreply@blogger.com