Attorney Forensic Services & eDiscovery in Raleigh-Durham

Why Choose Petronella Technology Group

Petronella Technology Group has been a trusted IT and cybersecurity partner for businesses across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, and the Research Triangle since 2002. Led by CEO Craig Petronella, an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License# 604180-DFE), CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner, Cybersecurity Expert Witness, Hyperledger Certified, and MIT-certified professional in cybersecurity, AI, blockchain, and compliance, PTG brings deep expertise to every engagement.

With BBB accreditation since 2003 and more than 2,500 businesses served, PTG has the experience and track record to deliver results. Craig Petronella is an Amazon number-one best-selling author of books including "How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice," "How Hackers Can Crush Your Law Firm," and "The Ultimate Guide To CMMC." He has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and WRAL, and serves as an expert witness for law firms in cybercrime and compliance cases.

PTG holds certifications including CCNA, MCNS, Microsoft Cloud Essentials, and specializes in CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171/172/173, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001 compliance. Our forensic specialties include endpoint and networking cybercrime investigation, data breach forensics, ransomware analysis, data exfiltration investigation, cryptocurrency and blockchain analysis, and SIM swap fraud investigation.

PTG Digital Forensics Methodology

PTG follows a rigorous, court-accepted digital forensics methodology developed through years of experience in law enforcement collaboration, litigation support, and corporate investigations. Our process adheres to the National Institute of Standards and Technology digital forensics guidelines and the Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence standards, ensuring that all findings are defensible and admissible in legal proceedings. Every step of our investigation is documented in detail, creating a clear chain of custody and audit trail.

The forensic investigation process begins with evidence identification and preservation. Our examiners use forensic imaging tools and write-blocking hardware to create exact bit-for-bit copies of storage media without altering the original evidence. We capture volatile data from running systems when appropriate, including memory contents, network connections, and running processes. Each forensic image is verified using multiple hash algorithms to ensure complete integrity throughout the investigation.

During the analysis phase, our forensic examiners use specialized tools to examine file systems, recover deleted data, analyze application artifacts, examine email communications, review internet browsing history, analyze log files, and reconstruct timelines of user activity. We look for indicators of compromise, unauthorized access, data exfiltration, malware activity, and other relevant evidence depending on the nature of the investigation. Our analysis covers computers, servers, mobile devices, cloud accounts, and network infrastructure as needed to build a complete picture of events.

The final phase involves comprehensive reporting and, when needed, expert witness testimony. PTG forensic reports are written to be technically accurate while remaining understandable to non-technical readers including attorneys, judges, and juries. Reports include detailed methodology descriptions, findings with supporting evidence, timeline reconstructions, and conclusions supported by the evidence. Craig Petronella and our forensic team are available to provide depositions and courtroom testimony, explaining complex technical concepts in clear, accessible language that helps legal professionals and triers of fact understand the significance of digital evidence.

Our Approach to Cybersecurity

At Petronella Technology Group, cybersecurity is not just about installing antivirus software or setting up a firewall. We take a comprehensive, layered approach to security that addresses people, processes, and technology. Our methodology is built on industry-standard frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK, ensuring that your security program is aligned with the same standards used by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment of your current security posture, followed by a prioritized remediation roadmap that addresses your most critical risks first.

Our security operations team provides continuous monitoring through our Security Information and Event Management platform, which correlates events across your entire environment to detect threats in real time. When a potential threat is identified, our analysts investigate and respond immediately, often containing threats before they can cause damage. This proactive approach dramatically reduces the risk of successful cyberattacks and provides the rapid response capability that is essential in today's threat landscape.

We believe that employee awareness is one of the most important layers of defense. Human error remains the leading cause of data breaches, and no amount of technology can fully compensate for untrained employees. PTG provides comprehensive security awareness training programs that educate your team about phishing, social engineering, password security, data handling, and incident reporting. Our training programs include simulated phishing campaigns that test employee readiness and identify areas where additional education is needed, helping organizations build a strong security culture from the ground up.

Beyond prevention, PTG prepares organizations for the reality that breaches can occur despite the best defenses. Our incident response planning services help businesses develop, document, and test response procedures so that when an incident does occur, your team knows exactly what to do. From tabletop exercises to full incident simulations, we ensure that your organization is prepared to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing damage, preserving evidence, and meeting all regulatory notification requirements within required timeframes.