Watch

Expert Witness Testimony

Raleigh, NC • Serving the Triangle & Beyond

Data Breach Forensics &
Digital Investigation Services

From eDiscovery and expert witness testimony to vulnerability testing and incident response, Petronella Technology Group delivers comprehensive digital forensics services that protect your data, preserve critical evidence, and hold bad actors accountable. Serving businesses across Raleigh, Durham, Research Triangle Park, and all of North Carolina.

Schedule a Free Consultation Call 919-348-4912
The Growing Threat

Data Breaches Don't Wait. Neither Should Your Response.

Every 39 seconds, a cyber attack strikes somewhere in the world. When a data breach hits your organization, the consequences ripple outward: customer trust erodes, proprietary data leaks to competitors, regulatory bodies issue devastating fines, and legal proceedings demand evidence that meets exacting chain-of-custody standards. Whether you are a healthcare provider bound by HIPAA, a defense contractor navigating CMMC and DFARS, or a law firm managing sensitive client records, the stakes could not be higher.

The real danger is not just the breach itself. It is the aftermath. Improperly handled digital evidence can be deemed inadmissible in court. Internal IT staff, no matter how skilled at their day-to-day roles, rarely possess the specialized forensic tools or courtroom experience required to preserve electronically stored information without contaminating it. Delayed response amplifies data loss. Operating systems randomly overwrite deleted files, and every minute a compromised device stays in use pushes critical evidence further out of reach.

Businesses across Raleigh, Durham, the Research Triangle, and greater North Carolina need a forensic partner who acts immediately, follows legally defensible processes, and produces evidence that stands up to judicial scrutiny. That partner is PTG.

The PTG Advantage

A Complete Digital Forensics Suite, Built for the Real World

Petronella Technology Group brings more than two decades of hands-on forensic investigation experience to every engagement. Our services span the full lifecycle of digital incident management, from the moment you suspect a breach through courtroom testimony and long-term prevention.

PTG's forensics division operates as a neutral, independent third party, which means the evidence we uncover and present carries maximum credibility in legal proceedings. Our team is certified in industry-recognized forensic methodologies and uses the same enterprise-grade tools trusted by federal agencies and law enforcement. We perform bit-for-bit forensic imaging that captures every byte on a device, including latent and ambient data that standard recovery tools miss entirely.

Our professional support forensics program is purpose-built for the specialized communities that need forensic evidence most: attorneys pursuing or defending litigation, CPAs investigating financial fraud, insurance adjusters validating or refuting claims, healthcare organizations responding to HIPAA breaches, and corporations facing internal theft or sabotage. Each engagement begins with a detailed fact-finding consultation so we can scope the investigation accurately and provide transparent cost estimates before work begins.

Beyond reactive investigation, PTG proactively strengthens your defenses with vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security awareness training. We simulate real-world attack scenarios to reveal weaknesses in your network perimeter, internal segmentation, web applications, and endpoint configurations before adversaries exploit them. Our training programs transform your employees from your weakest link into a vigilant first line of defense, addressing the human factor that causes 95% of all data breaches.

When a breach happens, PTG's incident response team deploys rapidly. We contain the threat, preserve the chain of custody, perform root-cause analysis, and deliver comprehensive forensic reports that satisfy regulatory auditors, insurance carriers, and judges. From small businesses in downtown Raleigh to enterprise organizations across the Triangle, PTG has a proven track record of zero breaches among our managed clients, an achievement built on relentless attention to detail and unwavering commitment to our clients' security.

Core Capabilities

Six Pillars of Digital Forensics Excellence

Every service is delivered by certified forensic professionals using legally defensible processes, purpose-built toolchains, and the deep domain expertise that comes from protecting over 2,500 organizations.

Professional Support Forensics

Tailored forensic investigation services for attorneys managing litigation and eDiscovery, CPAs tracking financial irregularities, insurance professionals assessing cyber claims, healthcare organizations addressing HIPAA data breaches, and corporations combating insider threats or executive misconduct. Our team interfaces directly with legal counsel to ensure all evidence collection follows court-mandated procedures, maintaining strict chain-of-custody documentation at every step. We have supported hundreds of civil and criminal cases across North Carolina and beyond, delivering forensic reports that judges and juries trust.

Forensics & Data Recovery

Whether the evidence resides on a personal laptop, a corporate server farm, or a mobile device, PTG's forensic data recovery experts can retrieve it. We perform bit-for-bit imaging of computer hard drives and solid-state drives, conduct deep server and network forensic analysis to trace lateral attacker movement, and extract data from tablets and smartphones, including deleted texts, call logs, app data, and geolocation records. Our lab-grade tools recover active, archival, and latent data that off-the-shelf recovery software simply cannot reach.

Vulnerability & Penetration Testing

See your network through the eyes of an attacker before a real one finds the holes. PTG conducts thorough network security audits, IT security risk assessments, and full-scope penetration testing against your external perimeter, internal segments, web applications, wireless infrastructure, and social engineering defenses. Each engagement concludes with a prioritized remediation roadmap ranked by exploitability and business impact, so your team knows exactly where to invest for maximum risk reduction.

Security Awareness Training

Ninety-five percent of data breaches trace back to human error. PTG's security awareness training programs turn your employees from your greatest vulnerability into a resilient human firewall. We deliver phishing simulation campaigns, password hygiene workshops, social engineering recognition drills, and customized compliance training aligned with HIPAA, NIST, and CMMC requirements. Our incident response training prepares your staff to follow documented playbooks when a breach occurs, minimizing response time and evidence contamination so the forensic team can work with clean data.

Expert Witness Testimony

When your case reaches the courtroom, PTG's certified forensic investigators serve as expert witnesses who translate complex technical findings into clear, compelling testimony that judges and juries understand. As a neutral third-party firm with more than 22 years of experience, our testimony carries the weight of independence and deep expertise. We have supported litigation in state and federal courts across North Carolina, presenting evidence in fraud cases, intellectual property disputes, employment litigation, and criminal cyber crime proceedings.

Incident Response & Breach Containment

When a breach happens, every second counts. PTG's incident response team deploys immediately to contain the threat, prevent further data exfiltration, and begin forensic evidence collection while the trail is still fresh. We isolate compromised systems, perform live memory capture, image affected storage media, and conduct root-cause analysis to determine exactly how the attacker gained access. Our comprehensive post-incident reports satisfy breach notification requirements under HIPAA, state attorney general mandates, and cyber insurance policy conditions.

Proven Track Record

Numbers That Speak Louder Than Promises

For more than two decades, Petronella Technology Group has been the forensic partner that businesses across the Research Triangle and North Carolina trust when the stakes are highest. Our track record is not a marketing claim; it is a verified operational record spanning thousands of engagements.

22+
Years of Forensic Expertise
2,500+
Companies Protected
0
Breaches Among Managed Clients

Our zero-breach (for managed security clients) record among managed clients is the result of a systematic approach that combines proactive vulnerability management, continuous monitoring, rapid incident response, and deep forensic expertise. When other firms are still deploying their first analyst, PTG's team is already preserving evidence and containing the threat. That speed advantage makes the difference between evidence that holds up in court and evidence that is irretrievably lost.

From small medical practices in Cary to major enterprises in Research Triangle Park, from law firms in downtown Durham to government agencies across North Carolina, our clients return to PTG because we deliver results that directly impact the outcome of legal proceedings, insurance claims, and regulatory audits. When the outcome of a case rests on digital evidence, you need a team whose credentials and track record are beyond question.

Our Service Network

Explore Our Forensics & Security Services

PTG's forensics division covers every major discipline within digital investigation and proactive security. Select a service below to learn how we approach each specialty and what you can expect when you partner with our team.

Computer & Disk Drive Forensics → Litigation eDiscovery Forensics → Security Awareness Training → Penetration Testing → Digital Forensics Overview → Request a Free Consultation →
Why Choose PTG

What Sets Petronella Technology Group Apart

Choosing a digital forensics partner is one of the most consequential decisions a business makes after a breach. The wrong choice leads to contaminated evidence, inadmissible findings, and cases that unravel in court. PTG eliminates that risk with a combination of independence, depth, and operational speed that few firms in the Raleigh-Durham market can match.

  • ✓ Neutral Third Party: As an independent firm, our forensic findings carry maximum courtroom credibility, free from bias or conflict of interest.
  • ✓ Certified Forensic Professionals: Our investigators hold industry-recognized certifications and use enterprise-grade, court-validated toolchains.
  • ✓ 22+ Years of Experience: With thousands of investigations behind us, we have seen virtually every attack vector and evidence scenario.
  • ✓ Transparent Pricing: Detailed fact-finding consultations and upfront quotes mean no surprise invoices at the end of an engagement.
  • ✓ Minimal Business Disruption: We image devices during evenings and weekends, typically completing collection in fewer than six hours.
  • ✓ End-to-End Coverage: From initial breach containment through expert witness testimony, one team handles every phase of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions

Data Breach Forensics FAQs

Get clear answers to the most common questions about digital forensics, eDiscovery costs, evidence handling, and when you should contact a certified forensic specialist.

Anyone can fall victim to a cyber attack, whether you are a small business, a large corporation, a government agency, or an individual. Over 90% of newly produced data is stored electronically, and digital footprints appear in more than 85% of all crimes. As reliance on technology grows, so does the importance of having a certified computer forensics specialist who can collect, preserve, and analyze digital evidence. Whether a computer was directly used in the crime or not, forensic analysis can provide evidence or defense critical to your case.
Digital forensics collects, authenticates, analyzes, and preserves electronic evidence, allowing experts to reconstruct the who, what, when, why, and how of a cyber crime. Forensic investigators pursue three types of data: Active Data (visible to typical users), Archival Data (stored on backup media), and Latent or Ambient Data (accessible only with specialized tools). The process follows four key steps: define the investigation objective, recover all relevant data, preserve what is discovered, and deliver a detailed analysis report that can stand up in court.
Electronic discovery (eDiscovery) is the process by which forensics specialists identify, collect, and produce electronically stored information (ESI) for use in legal proceedings. Common forms of ESI include emails, text messages, voicemails, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, audio and video files, social media content, and website data. Proper eDiscovery ensures that this information is collected in a legally defensible manner, preserving its admissibility and integrity throughout the litigation process.
Costs depend on variables such as device type, storage capacity, and the scope of the investigation. Digital forensics investigators typically charge $250 to $300 per hour. The process includes ESI collection (usually around $500 plus expenses), ESI examination (hours vary by complexity), and a written report of findings. A standard investigation generally requires fewer than 15 hours of analysis and reporting, bringing the total to approximately $5,000. PTG provides transparent quotes after an initial fact-finding consultation, and we can image devices during evenings and weekends in fewer than six hours to minimize business disruption.
You should contact a forensics professional if you are involved in a civil or criminal lawsuit where computers or electronic devices were involved, if you have been targeted by ransomware, malware, or hackers, if your data is being held for ransom, or if you are an attorney defending a client in a technology-related case. A forensic specialist obtains all available information, preserves evidence, determines facts, and analyzes whether devices were used illegally. Having court-admissible forensic evidence can dramatically change the outcome of legal proceedings.
While your IT staff may be skilled at their daily responsibilities, eDiscovery demands specialized expertise, certified methodologies, and expensive tools that most organizations do not maintain. You often have only one opportunity to recover evidence without contamination. Most court systems mandate that eDiscovery be performed by outside specialists to ensure objectivity. Internal staff can inadvertently raise questions about evidence authenticity and validity, potentially making critical findings inadmissible. If there is even a small chance your case will go to court, an independent forensics expert is essential.
Yes. Using untrained personnel for forensics can result in lost or damaged ESI that is irretrievable, which can cost you your entire case. Beyond direct costs, consider the opportunity costs: overtime for IT staff diverted from their normal duties, the inability to accurately apply legal standards to the analysis, and the risk of presenting tainted evidence in court. A qualified forensic professional from PTG gets it right the first time, protecting both your evidence and your budget in the long run.
Absolutely. Billions of dollars are lost annually to employee fraud, theft, and sabotage. Factor in negative publicity, lost credibility, decreased morale, litigation costs, productivity loss, and intellectual property theft, and the total damage is staggering. Victims can still face regulatory fines and penalties on top of the original loss. The cost of hiring a certified forensics specialist like PTG is a fraction of the financial exposure you face from improper evidence handling, extended litigation, or a lost case.
Generally, the party seeking eDiscovery is responsible for the costs. However, depending on court rulings and legal responsibilities, the guilty party may be ordered to reimburse costs incurred by the victim. Even without cost recovery, the investment in a certified forensic expert typically costs far less than the consequences of mishandled evidence, prolonged litigation, or an unfavorable verdict resulting from incomplete or tainted findings.
Yes. An experienced forensics specialist can extract ESI from a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, cell phones, desktop and laptop computers, internal and external hard drives, tapes, optical discs, DVDs and CDs, USB drives, SD cards, and digital cameras. PTG's forensics team in Raleigh, North Carolina, maintains the tools and certifications necessary to handle evidence extraction from virtually any digital storage medium while preserving a strict chain of custody throughout the process.
Take the First Step

Protect Your Business. Preserve Your Evidence. Win Your Case.

Whether you are responding to an active breach, preparing for litigation, or strengthening your defenses before an attack occurs, PTG's digital forensics team is ready. Schedule a free, confidential consultation with our team to discuss your situation and receive an honest assessment of your options. Every minute matters when evidence is at stake.

Schedule a Free Consultation Call 919-348-4912