Assignment

Prepare draft incident response guidance to be included in the Sifers-Grayson Incident Responder's Handbook. Your draft guidance will explain the use of a commercially available system hard drive backup tool.

Your guidance will explain how to use your selected third-party tool to create either a system backup or a system image (bit for bit copy) of the system hard drive for a Windows 8.1 workstation. Suggested tools include: Acronis, FTK Imager, and Paladin.

You will create two separate procedures. The first will explain how to perform a backup. The second will explain how to use the known-good backup to restore the system hard drive (also, how to restore to a new hard drive).

Both procedures must address the use of cryptographic hash codes (e.g. MD5 or SHA-256) to verify the integrity of the backup files and/or system image files

Instructions

Part (a): Creating a "Known-Good" (Clean) Disk Image for a Windows 8.1 Workstation

1. Using the Internet, research commercially available system backup tool or application. (Do not use any features or utilities that are part of the Windows operating system.) Then, identify appropriate sources of information and instructions for your selected tool. Using those sources, research the procedures required to

a. Create a "known good" copy (system backup or complete system image) of the hard drive containing the Windows 8.1 system and installed applications for a workstation in the SCADA lab.

b. Generate a hash code for use in verifying the validity and integrity of the backup file or system image file. (If your backup utility does not provide this, you will need to find a separate tool that will generate an MD-5 or SHA-256 hash value for the image file or backup file.

c. You should also research and document best practices for labeling and storing the digital media containing the backup files and/or system image files. The storage location should provide secure storage yet be readily available to incident responders in the event of an incident. The label or storage log should include the hash value for each backup file and system image file.

2. Identify how the backup tool could be used during the preparation phase of the incident response and recovery process. Typical uses include:

a. Create a "known good" backup that contains a complete, verified and approved system configuration that includes the operating system and all required application software.

b. Create a copy of the original operating system installation (before software applications are installed).

3. Write a guidance document that identifies the tool, explains the capabilities it provides, and then lists and briefly describes the recommended uses identified under item #2. Add a list of resources that can be consulted for additional information. Next, summarize the procedures required to perform the tasks listed under item #1 (do not provide step-by-step instructions). Close your guidance document with a Notes / Warnings / Restrictions section that answers the question "Is there anything else the incident responder needs to be aware of when using this tool?"

Part (b): Using a "Known-Good" (Clean) Disk Image to Restore the System Hard Drive for a Windows 8.1 Workstation

1. Use the same tool and tool research as performed for part (a) of this lab. If necessary, identify additional sources of information and instructions for using your selected tool(s) to perform the following tasks:

a. Verify the validity of the backup image or file (using the hash code).

b. Use the "known good" copy (system backup or system image) to rebuild a workstation hard drive so that it contains the Windows 8.1 operation system and installed applications.

2. Identify how the tool could be used during the containment, eradication & recovery phase of the incident response and recovery process. Typical uses include:

a. Restore workstation hard drives to a "known good" configuration.
b. Build a new system disk using a replacement or newly purchased hard drive.
c. Restore the system to full operating status after an attack or suspected attack.

3. Write a guidance document that identifies the tool, explains the capabilities it provides, and then lists and briefly describes the recommended uses identified under item #2. Add a list of resources that can be consulted for additional information. Next, summarize the procedures required to perform the tasks listed under item #1 (do not provide step-by-step instructions). Close your guidance document with a Notes / Warnings / Restrictions section that answers the question "Is there anything else the incident responder needs to be aware of when using this tool?"

Finalize Your Deliverable

1. Using the grading rubric as a guide, refine your incident response guidance. Your final products should be suitable for inclusion in the organization's Incident Responder's Handbook. Remember that you are preparing multiple guidance documents, which must be presented separately.

2. As appropriate, cite your sources using footnotes or another appropriate citation style.

3. Use the resources section to provide information about recommended readings and any sources that you cite. Use a standard bibliographic format (you may wish to use APA since this is required in other CSIA courses). Information about sources and recommended readings, including in-text citations, should be formatted consistently and professionally.

4. Your submission file for this assignment should start with a title page which lists the following information:

• Lab Title and Number
• Date
• Your Name

5. The CSIA 310 Template for Lab Deliverable.docx file is set up to provide the required title page and two incident response guidance templates. Use the first template for your "How to Backup" guidance. Use the second procedure template for your "How to Restore" guidance.

Attachment:- Lab-Activity.rar