Digital evidence accreditation in the corporate and business environment

A prominent banking institution in the United States has submitted an application to have its Computer Forensics unit inspected as the first step towards attaining accreditation. Several other corporations and businesses that operate Computer Forensics units are also considering submitting their applications. This is in response to the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board's (ASCLD/LAB) accreditation program which began offering accreditation in the Digital Evidence Discipline in 2003. As defined in the ASCLD/LAB accreditation manual, any laboratory conducting forensic analysis in any of the four sub-disciplines of Digital Evidence (Audio Analysis, Computer Forensics, Digital Imaging Analysis, or Video Analysis) can apply for accreditation. This information is widely known in the forensic crime laboratory community, but most executives and examiners in the corporate and business sector are not aware that they also can apply for accreditation in the Digital Evidence discipline.