Corporate cybersecurity forensics is the application of specialized digital investigation techniques to examine, analyze, and document evidence of cyber incidents within a corporate environment. This includes investigating data breaches, insider threats, intellectual property theft, trade secret misappropriation, employee misconduct involving digital assets, and unauthorized access to corporate systems. PTG's forensic investigators use enterprise-grade tools and legally defensible methodologies to collect, preserve, and analyze electronic evidence that can be used in legal proceedings, regulatory filings, and internal disciplinary actions.

PTG investigates insider threats through a comprehensive forensic methodology that includes analysis of user access logs, email communications, file transfer records, USB device activity, cloud storage synchronization logs, and endpoint telemetry. Our investigators examine login patterns, data exfiltration indicators, privilege escalation events, and behavioral anomalies that suggest malicious or negligent insider activity. We deploy forensic imaging of suspect devices, conduct network traffic analysis to identify unauthorized data transfers, and produce court-admissible reports that document the full timeline of the insider's actions. For Triangle-area corporations, we can begin on-site evidence collection within hours of engagement.

The first step is to contain the breach by isolating affected systems without powering them down, as volatile memory may contain critical evidence. Do not attempt to investigate internally or allow IT staff to modify affected systems, as this can destroy forensic evidence and compromise its admissibility. Contact a certified digital forensics firm like PTG immediately. You should also preserve all logs, access records, and communications related to the incident. Notify your legal counsel, and begin documenting everything you know about the breach timeline. PTG's incident response team can deploy to your Raleigh, Durham, or Triangle-area facility within hours to begin forensic evidence collection and containment.

Yes. Intellectual property theft and trade secret misappropriation investigations are among PTG's core corporate forensics specialties. Our investigators trace the movement of proprietary files, source code, customer databases, manufacturing processes, financial models, and other confidential business information across corporate networks, email systems, cloud platforms, removable media, and personal devices. We reconstruct detailed timelines showing exactly when files were accessed, copied, transferred, or deleted, and by whom. Our forensic reports have been used successfully in trade secret litigation under the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the North Carolina Trade Secrets Protection Act.

Standard IT incident response focuses primarily on restoring operations and closing security gaps. Corporate cybersecurity forensics goes significantly further by collecting, preserving, and analyzing digital evidence using legally defensible chain-of-custody procedures that ensure findings are admissible in court, regulatory proceedings, and arbitration. Forensic investigators document every step of the evidence handling process, use write-blocking hardware to prevent modification of original media, create verified forensic images, and produce expert reports that meet the Daubert standard for scientific evidence. PTG's forensic team operates as a neutral third party, giving our findings maximum credibility in legal proceedings.

Corporate cybersecurity forensics can uncover a wide range of employee misconduct including unauthorized access to confidential data, theft of customer lists and proprietary information, destruction of corporate records, sabotage of IT systems, violation of acceptable use policies, inappropriate use of corporate devices, unauthorized installation of software, data exfiltration to personal accounts or competitors, falsification of electronic records, harassment conducted through corporate communication channels, and unauthorized sharing of credentials. PTG's forensic analysis examines deleted files, browser histories, application logs, email metadata, cloud sync records, USB device connections, and screen capture evidence to build comprehensive timelines of misconduct.

Yes. PTG's forensic evidence collection, preservation, and analysis procedures are designed to meet the Federal Rules of Evidence and the North Carolina Rules of Evidence. Our investigators maintain strict chain-of-custody documentation from the moment evidence is identified through final presentation. We use forensic imaging with cryptographic hash verification to prove evidence integrity, and our reports are prepared to the standards required for expert testimony under both Daubert and Frye standards. PTG's certified forensic professionals have supported litigation in state and federal courts across North Carolina, providing expert witness testimony that translates complex technical findings into clear, compelling evidence.

The duration depends on scope and complexity. A focused investigation of a single employee's device can typically be completed within one to two weeks, including evidence collection, analysis, and reporting. Larger corporate investigations involving multiple departments, dozens of devices, extensive email archives, and cloud platform analysis may take four to eight weeks. PTG provides detailed timelines during the scoping phase so you know what to expect. For urgent matters such as active data exfiltration or ongoing insider threats, our team can begin on-site evidence collection within hours and deliver preliminary findings within 48 to 72 hours for businesses in the Raleigh, Durham, and RTP area.

Yes. PTG's certified forensic investigators serve as expert witnesses in civil and criminal proceedings related to corporate cybersecurity matters. Our experts translate complex digital forensic findings into clear, understandable testimony for judges, juries, and arbitration panels. We have provided expert testimony in cases involving data breach liability, trade secret theft, employee misconduct, intellectual property disputes, regulatory enforcement actions, and contract disputes involving technology systems. As a neutral third-party firm with over 22 years of forensic experience, our testimony carries significant weight in courtrooms across North Carolina and beyond.

Corporate forensic investigation costs vary based on scope, the number of devices and data sources involved, and the complexity of the analysis required. PTG's forensic investigators typically charge between $250 and $300 per hour. A focused single-device investigation usually requires fewer than 15 hours of analysis and reporting, totaling approximately $5,000. Multi-device corporate investigations, including eDiscovery across email systems and cloud platforms, typically range from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on scale. PTG provides transparent, detailed quotes after an initial fact-finding consultation, and we can image devices during evenings and weekends to minimize disruption to your business operations. Contact us at 919-348-4912 for a confidential consultation and custom quote.