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From “something desirable” to a necessity: Why digital forensics is more important than ever

By: Chad Gish – Magnet Forensics

One truth I've been highlighting a lot lately at conferences and talks is how important digital forensics has become.

When I started in this field over 20 years ago with the Metro Nashville Police Department, digital forensics was more of an “extra.” If we could access a phone or a computer, great—it could help advance a case. But it was not considered essential.

Con los años, eso cambió. Después de trabajar en miles de casos de delitos violentos y explotación infantil, puedo decirlo de primera mano: la evidencia digital es la clave para descubrir la verdad.

Messages, location data, deleted files, and hidden timelines on those devices often reveal truths that would otherwise remain hidden. Time and time again, that data helped us uncover the truth, protect victims, and bring closure to families.

Today, digital forensics is not a luxury. It's a necessity.
It no longer just supports research: it is research. Almost all cases today have a digital component, and if you don't have the tools or training to discover it, you are already at a disadvantage.

The difference between a solved case and a dead end often depends on what you can recover and interpret from that fingerprint.

Steve Gemperle and I recently created a presentation calledThe 6 pillars of digital evidence, which has become a popular topic at conferences. And as you look at these six sources of evidence, ask yourself: can you think of a modern investigation that doesn't involve at least one of them?

  • Physical devices: mobile phones, laptops, computers, tablets, USB drives

  • Video: DVR, doorbell cameras, CCTV, road cameras, dashcams, body cameras, city/security cameras

  • Call Records (CDR) – Advanced time, call and message data

  • Cloud content: social media activity, device backups, emails, location data

  • Open Source Intelligence (OSINT): Social Media, Public Records, Geospatial Data

  • Vehicle infotainment systems: call logs, messages, location and vehicle system data

That's why I'm so passionate about what I do now: helping agencies get the right technology into the hands of those who need it most. Because I have seen the difference it makes to have it.

And the consequences when they don't have it.

Digital forensics is more accessible than you think

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear, especially from small or rural agencies, is that digital forensics is out of their financial reach. And I understand it. When people hear “forensics,” they often imagine expensive laboratories, DNA sequencing, and highly specialized environments. But this is not the same as setting up a DNA laboratory.

Yes, it requires investment—tools, training, and sometimes infrastructure—but it is much more accessible than many believe. In fact, many departments already have the most important piece: digital evidence. Phones, computers, cloud accounts and videos are present in almost all cases.

The real question is whether you have the means to access and interpret them.

The good news: you don't need a million-dollar lab to get started. There are scalable solutions—from extraction to analysis and reporting—to fit different budgets and agency sizes.

Additionally, there are funds and grants that can help.

And most importantly: this is the evidence that police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors want at the beginning of the investigation. It is often the quickest route to leads, suspects, and corroboration. But agencies often must wait weeks or months for a device to be processed by an outside lab. Sometimes it is not even prioritized. That level of delay is no longer acceptable—not when the answers are literally in the palm of your hand.

From reactive to proactive

The demand for early access to digital evidence is not just a preference, it reflects how much this field has evolved.

What once required specialized laboratories and days of manual work can now be done in hours, and even in real time. Tools, techniques, and expectations have changed so rapidly that digital forensics is no longer an afterthought—it's frontline work.

Evolution of digital forensics (2010–2025)

2010–2012: Initial stage

  • Considered a niche specialty

  • Focused on hard drives

  • Limited Mobile Analysis (CDR)

  • Little specialized training

2013–2015: Rise of smartphones

  • Massive use of mobile devices

  • Tools like Magnet IEF and Magnet Axiom become standard

  • Call logs and photos as key evidence

  • Social networks come into play

2016–2018: Cloud and apps

  • Analysis of backups in iCloud and Google

  • Popularity of messaging apps

  • Creation of internal laboratories

  • Encryption challenges (Graykey emerges as a solution)

2019–2021: Integración total

  • Central digital evidence in almost all cases

  • Trained first responders

  • Greater collaboration between teams

  • Courts demand digital evidence

2022–2024: Automation and AI

  • AI to analyze large volumes of data

  • Cloud Forensics and Remote Acquisitions

  • Speed: weeks to hours

2025 onwards: Key discipline

  • It is no longer optional

  • Dedicated specialized teams

  • Standard certifications

  • Integration with real-time crime centers and cybercrime

  • SaaS platforms and real-time analytics as standard

Real cases: the power of a single artifact

Si hay dudas sobre su valor, basta ver la serie That One Artifact. Each case shows how a single digital artifact can solve or drive an investigation.

  • A Bluetooth connection allowed the identification of a vehicle and the suspect

  • An iPad Mini was key to solving the murder of a child

  • Incriminating search history became central evidence

  • Cloud data revealed thousands of tests when devices showed nothing

These are not hypothetical examples. They are real cases, with real victims and justice achieved thanks to digital evidence.

It is no longer optional

The move from “desirable” to “necessary” reflects the evolution of the field.

What was once a specialty is now an essential tool that all agencies must prioritize. Today it is possible to act faster, investigate deeper and discover the truth like never before.

And the evidence is in the cases.

Digital forensics is not just the future: it is the present.
The question is not whether you can afford to invest in it.
It's whether you can afford not to.