Definition
Cloud forensics is the practice of collecting, preserving, and analyzing digital evidence from cloud computing environments. It involves applying forensic principles to data stored on or processed by cloud services, such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). This process is crucial for investigating security incidents, data breaches, or policy violations that occur within cloud infrastructures. For example, investigators might examine cloud logs to trace unauthorized access to sensitive data. Unlike traditional forensics which focuses on local systems, cloud forensics must account for the distributed nature of cloud resources and shared responsibility models. This topic is frequently assessed on certifications like CompTIA Security+, CySA+, and CISSP.