Data Breach Forensics in Durham, NC
When a Durham healthcare practice, biotech startup, or research institution suffers a data breach, the actions taken in the first hours determine the outcome. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. provides emergency incident response, digital forensics, breach determination, and regulatory notification support for Durham organizations — led by Craig Petronella, a licensed digital forensic examiner with 30+ years of investigative experience. Same-day deployment to Durham locations.
BBB Accredited Since 2003 • Founded 2002 • 2,500+ Clients • Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner
Every Hour Matters After a Data Breach
Healthcare records, research IP, clinical trial data, and customer information — Durham’s sensitive data demands expert response.
HIPAA’s 60-Day Clock Starts Immediately
Durham healthcare providers must determine whether a breach of unsecured PHI has occurred and notify affected individuals within 60 days of discovery. Breaches affecting 500+ individuals require notification to HHS and local media. Forensic analysis is critical to determine the scope of exposure and whether the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule applies.
Preserve Research Data Integrity
Durham’s biotech companies and Duke-affiliated research labs hold proprietary compound formulas, clinical trial data, and genomic sequences. A breach can compromise data integrity, jeopardize FDA submissions, and destroy investor confidence. Forensic investigators must establish whether data was exfiltrated, altered, or remains intact — with evidence that holds up to regulatory scrutiny.
Support Legal & Insurance Claims
Forensic evidence must be collected, preserved, and documented using legally defensible methodology. Chain of custody must be maintained for every piece of digital evidence. Whether you are pursuing legal action against attackers, filing a cyber insurance claim, or responding to a regulatory investigation, our forensic reports meet the evidentiary standards required by courts and regulators.
Contain the Breach & Prevent Recurrence
An active breach may still be expanding while you assess the damage. Our incident response team simultaneously contains the threat, eradicates attacker access, and begins recovery operations. Post-incident analysis identifies the root cause and produces a hardening plan that prevents the same attack vector from being exploited again.
Data Breach Response Designed for Durham’s Regulated Industries
Durham’s data breach risk profile is shaped by its concentration of healthcare, biotech, and technology companies — all of which handle data that ranks among the most targeted and regulated in the economy. Duke Health’s network generates millions of patient records. The biotech corridor produces proprietary research data worth billions. The Innovation District’s SaaS companies store customer data for enterprise clients nationwide. When a breach occurs in any of these environments, the response demands forensic expertise, regulatory knowledge, and rapid execution.
Petronella Technology Group, Inc. has responded to data breaches and cyber incidents across North Carolina since 2002. Craig Petronella — a licensed digital forensic examiner — leads every forensic investigation with the methodology and rigor that courts, regulators, and insurance carriers require. Our data breach forensics and digital forensics capabilities cover the full incident lifecycle: from initial detection and containment through forensic analysis, regulatory notification, and post-incident hardening.
For Durham healthcare organizations, we understand the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule inside and out. We help determine whether the four-factor risk assessment classifies an incident as a reportable breach, guide the notification process for individuals and HHS, and prepare the documentation that OCR investigators expect. For biotech companies, we assess whether research data integrity has been compromised and coordinate with legal counsel to protect trade secrets and FDA submissions. For SaaS companies, we evaluate the impact on customer data and help coordinate breach notifications across multiple jurisdictions.
Located in the Triangle, our forensic investigators deploy to Durham locations the same day. When a breach is discovered at a Duke-area practice, an Innovation District startup, or a biotech lab along Highway 54, we arrive on site within hours — not days. In data breach response, every hour of delay increases the scope of damage, the cost of recovery, and the regulatory risk.
Data Breach & Forensic Services for Durham
From emergency containment to regulatory coordination, our forensic team handles every phase.
Emergency Incident Response
When your Durham organization discovers a breach or suspected compromise, our incident response team mobilizes immediately. We follow NIST 800-61 methodology: initial triage to assess scope and severity, immediate containment actions to stop the bleeding, and coordinated communication with your leadership, legal counsel, and insurance carrier.
For active ransomware attacks, we isolate affected systems, assess backup integrity, and determine whether decryption is possible without payment. For data exfiltration incidents, we identify the data accessed, the method of exfiltration, and the timeframe of unauthorized access. Every action is documented with timestamps for regulatory reporting and legal proceedings.
Response time: Same-day deployment to Durham locations. Managed security clients receive immediate response through our 24/7 SOC.
Digital Forensic Investigation
Craig Petronella is a licensed digital forensic examiner who conducts investigations with the methodological rigor required by courts, regulators, and insurance carriers. We create forensic images of affected systems using write-blocking hardware, preserving evidence in its original state with cryptographic hash verification.
Our forensic analysis examines file system artifacts, registry entries, event logs, network traffic captures, memory dumps, email headers, and cloud access logs to reconstruct the complete timeline of the incident. We determine the initial point of compromise, lateral movement paths, data accessed or exfiltrated, persistence mechanisms installed, and the full scope of the breach.
Forensic reports are written to meet the evidentiary requirements of the Durham County court system, federal regulators (OCR, FTC), and cyber insurance carriers. Chain of custody documentation accompanies every piece of evidence.
HIPAA Breach Determination & Notification
For Durham healthcare organizations, breach determination under HIPAA requires a four-factor risk assessment: the nature and extent of PHI involved, the unauthorized person who used or received the PHI, whether PHI was actually acquired or viewed, and the extent to which the risk has been mitigated. We conduct this analysis using forensic evidence and prepare the documentation required for OCR.
If breach notification is required, we guide the entire process: individual notification letter drafting, HHS breach portal submission, media notification for breaches affecting 500+ individuals, and documentation of all notifications with delivery confirmation. We coordinate with your legal counsel and privacy officer throughout.
Our HIPAA breach response experience helps Durham healthcare providers navigate one of the most stressful regulatory situations in healthcare — with the forensic precision and documentation that protects your organization during OCR investigation.
Ransomware Response & Recovery
Ransomware attacks against Durham healthcare providers and businesses are escalating. When ransomware strikes, we immediately isolate affected systems, assess the variant and encryption method, evaluate backup integrity, and determine the fastest path to recovery. We analyze whether data was exfiltrated before encryption — critical for breach notification decisions.
Recovery includes clean system rebuilding from verified backups, credential rotation across the entire environment, security gap closure to prevent re-entry, and enhanced monitoring during the recovery period. Post-incident, we deliver a comprehensive report documenting the attack timeline, root cause, and specific hardening recommendations to prevent recurrence.
Malware Analysis & Threat Intelligence
Understanding the malware used in an attack reveals the attacker’s capabilities, objectives, and potential for return. We conduct static and dynamic malware analysis in isolated sandbox environments to determine functionality, communication channels, persistence mechanisms, and data exfiltration methods.
For Durham organizations targeted by nation-state actors — particularly healthcare and biotech companies with valuable research data — understanding the threat actor’s tradecraft helps inform defensive strategies and threat intelligence sharing with industry peers and law enforcement.
Post-Incident Hardening & Prevention
A breach response is incomplete without closing the vulnerabilities that enabled the attack. Our post-incident hardening program addresses every finding from the forensic investigation: patching exploited vulnerabilities, strengthening access controls, deploying additional monitoring, updating security policies, and implementing the technical controls needed to prevent the same attack vector.
We also conduct lessons-learned sessions with your Durham team, update incident response plans based on real experience, and recommend ongoing security improvements. Many Durham organizations use a breach as the catalyst for a comprehensive security program upgrade — and we are here to guide that transformation.
How We Respond to Data Breaches in Durham
NIST 800-61 methodology adapted for Durham’s healthcare, biotech, and technology sectors.
Detection & Triage
We assess the scope and severity of the incident, identify affected systems and data types, and classify the event against applicable regulatory frameworks. For HIPAA-covered entities, we immediately evaluate whether PHI may be involved. Initial containment actions are taken to prevent further spread.
Containment & Evidence Preservation
We isolate compromised systems, terminate attacker access, and create forensic images of affected devices using write-blocking technology. Evidence is preserved with cryptographic hash verification and documented chain of custody. Backup integrity is verified. Credential rotation begins for compromised accounts.
Forensic Analysis & Breach Determination
We reconstruct the complete incident timeline through forensic analysis of system artifacts, network logs, and cloud access records. For HIPAA-covered entities, we conduct the four-factor risk assessment to determine breach reportability. For biotech companies, we assess research data integrity. Findings are documented in a comprehensive forensic report.
Recovery, Notification & Hardening
We rebuild clean systems from verified backups, implement enhanced security controls, and coordinate breach notifications where required. Post-incident hardening addresses every vulnerability identified during the investigation. A lessons-learned review produces actionable recommendations that strengthen your Durham organization against future attacks.
Why Durham Organizations Trust Petronella Technology Group, Inc. for Forensics
Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner
Craig Petronella holds a digital forensic examiner license and has conducted investigations for over 30 years. Forensic reports produced under his direction meet the evidentiary standards required by courts, OCR, and insurance carriers.
Healthcare Breach Specialists
We have deep experience with HIPAA breach response for Durham healthcare organizations. From four-factor risk assessment to OCR reporting, we navigate the regulatory requirements that make healthcare breaches uniquely complex and consequential.
Same-Day Durham Deployment
Located in the Triangle, our forensic investigators deploy to Durham locations the same day. Whether your office is near Duke, in the Innovation District, or along the Highway 54 corridor, we arrive on site within hours when every hour counts.
End-to-End Response
We handle the entire incident lifecycle — from emergency containment through forensic investigation, breach determination, regulatory notification, system recovery, and post-incident hardening. One team, one engagement, complete accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Data Breach Forensics in Durham
We think we have been breached. What should we do first?
Call 919-348-4912 immediately. Do not turn off affected systems (this destroys volatile evidence in memory). Do not attempt to clean or reinstall systems. Disconnect affected systems from the network if possible. Document what you have observed with timestamps. We deploy to Durham locations the same day to begin containment and forensic preservation.
How quickly can you respond to a breach in Durham?
We deploy forensic investigators to Durham locations the same day, typically within hours of initial contact. Remote triage and containment guidance begin immediately over the phone. For managed security clients, our SOC provides real-time response 24/7.
Can you help with HIPAA breach notification for Durham healthcare providers?
Yes. We conduct the four-factor risk assessment required by the Breach Notification Rule, guide individual and HHS notification within the 60-day timeline, prepare media notifications for breaches affecting 500+ individuals, and document the entire process for OCR investigation. Our HIPAA breach response expertise helps Durham providers navigate this process correctly.
Will your forensic evidence hold up in court?
Yes. Craig Petronella is a licensed digital forensic examiner. All evidence is collected, preserved, and documented following forensic best practices with write-blocking hardware, cryptographic hash verification, and documented chain of custody. Reports are prepared to meet the evidentiary standards of courts, federal regulators, and insurance carriers.
Should we pay a ransomware demand?
We strongly advise against paying ransoms. Payment does not guarantee data recovery, funds criminal operations, and may violate OFAC sanctions. We focus on recovery from backups, forensic analysis to determine whether data was exfiltrated, and containment to prevent further damage. If backups are compromised, we explore all technical recovery options before any discussion of payment.
Do you coordinate with cyber insurance carriers?
Yes. We coordinate with cyber insurance carriers throughout the incident response process. Our forensic reports are prepared to meet carrier documentation requirements for claims processing. We also work with your carrier’s breach counsel and notification vendors when required by your policy terms.
Can you help prevent future breaches after the investigation?
Yes. Post-incident hardening is a core part of every engagement. We address every vulnerability identified during the forensic investigation, deploy enhanced monitoring, update security policies, and recommend an ongoing security program. Many Durham organizations transition from incident response to our managed security service for continuous protection.
How do we engage your forensic team?
For active incidents, call 919-348-4912 immediately for emergency response. For proactive engagement, schedule a consultation to discuss incident response retainer agreements that guarantee priority response time and pre-negotiated rates.
Need Emergency Breach Response in Durham?
If your Durham organization is experiencing an active security incident, call us immediately. Our forensic investigators deploy the same day. For proactive organizations, ask about our incident response retainer agreements that guarantee priority response.
Petronella Technology Group, Inc. • 919-348-4912 • Raleigh, NC 27606 • BBB Accredited Since 2003 • Founded 2002 • Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner