Digital Forensics & Expert Witness Services for Raleigh-Durham
Craig Petronella is a Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner and expert witness who has provided testimony in high-profile cryptocurrency fraud, SIM swap, ransomware, and cybercrime cases. Petronella Technology Group provides court-ready forensic investigations, chain-of-custody evidence handling, and e-discovery support for law firms across the United States.
Petronella Technology Group delivers forensically sound evidence collection, chain of custody documentation, and court-ready analysis for data breaches, litigation, employee misconduct, and intellectual property theft. Led by Craig Petronella — Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner, CMMC Registered Practitioner, and MIT-certified cybersecurity professional with 25+ years of hands-on forensic experience.
BBB Accredited Since 2003
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Founded 2002
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2,500+ Clients Served
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Raleigh, NC
Forensic Imaging • Write-Blocker Verification • Chain of Custody • Expert Witness Testimony • eDiscovery
What Is Digital Forensics?
Digital forensics is the application of scientifically validated methods to the identification, preservation, collection, examination, analysis, and reporting of digital evidence stored on electronic media. Unlike standard IT troubleshooting or data recovery, forensic investigation follows strict procedural controls that ensure every piece of evidence maintains its integrity from acquisition through courtroom presentation. The goal is not simply to find information — it is to find information in a manner that is legally defensible, reproducible, and admissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence and Daubert standards for expert testimony.
At its core, digital forensics answers questions that matter in legal, regulatory, and corporate proceedings: Who accessed a system or file? What data was viewed, copied, modified, or deleted? When did specific actions occur, down to the second? How did an attacker gain entry, move laterally, and exfiltrate data? And critically, what is the provable scope of a data breach, theft, or policy violation?
Every digital interaction leaves traces — filesystem metadata, Windows Event logs, registry artifacts, browser history databases, email headers, network packet captures, and volatile memory contents. A qualified forensic examiner knows where these artifacts reside, how to acquire them without alteration, and how to interpret them within the context of an investigation. The difference between a forensic investigation and a standard IT review is the difference between evidence that wins a case and evidence that gets excluded on a motion in limine.
Petronella Technology Group has delivered forensic investigation services from our Raleigh, North Carolina headquarters since 2002. Our founder, Craig Petronella, holds a Digital Forensic Examiner license — a credential that requires demonstrated competency in forensic acquisition, analysis, and testimony. Craig also holds CMMC Registered Practitioner (CRP) certification and MIT cybersecurity credentials, combining deep forensic expertise with compliance knowledge that is especially critical for defense contractors and regulated industries operating in the Research Triangle.
Types of Digital Forensic Investigations
Each discipline requires specialized tools, acquisition procedures, and analytical expertise. PTG maintains capabilities across all five domains.
Computer Forensics
Examination of desktops, laptops, and servers. We create bit-for-bit forensic images using hardware write-blockers (Tableau, Wiebetech) and verify acquisition integrity with MD5 and SHA-256 hash values. Analysis covers NTFS and APFS filesystem artifacts, Windows Registry hives, prefetch files, link files, jump lists, Recycle Bin contents, VSS shadow copies, and user activity timelines. Tools include EnCase, FTK (Forensic Toolkit), X-Ways Forensics, and Autopsy. We recover deleted files, reconstruct user sessions, and trace document access across local and mapped network drives.
Mobile Forensics
Forensic extraction from iOS and Android devices using Cellebrite UFED, GrayKey, and Magnet AXIOM. We perform logical, filesystem, and physical acquisitions depending on device model and lock state. Analysis covers call logs, SMS/MMS, iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, GPS waypoints, photo EXIF data, app databases (SQLite), browser history, Keychain artifacts, and cloud-synced content. Mobile evidence is especially critical in employee misconduct, harassment, and intellectual property theft investigations where communications and location data establish intent and timeline.
Network Forensics
Capture and analysis of network traffic, firewall logs, DNS query logs, proxy records, IDS/IPS alerts, and NetFlow data to reconstruct attacker movement, identify command-and-control communications, and determine data exfiltration volume and destination. We analyze PCAP files with Wireshark, correlate events across SIEM platforms, and map lateral movement through Active Directory environments. Network forensics is essential in breach investigations where the attacker's entry point, dwell time, and exfiltration method must be documented for regulatory notification and insurance claims.
Cloud Forensics
Investigation of Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams), Google Workspace, AWS, Azure, and SaaS platforms. Cloud forensics presents unique challenges: no physical media to image, data distributed across regions, evidence accessed through APIs rather than disk, and provider-specific log retention policies. We collect Unified Audit Logs, Azure AD sign-in logs, CloudTrail events, S3 access logs, and admin activity records. We understand the shared responsibility model and work within each provider's forensic collection capabilities to produce defensible cloud evidence.
Email Forensics
Analysis of email headers, routing information, attachment metadata, mailbox rules, delegation permissions, and deleted message recovery. We examine PST/OST files, Exchange message tracking logs, journaling archives, and transport rules. Email forensics is central to business email compromise (BEC) investigations, phishing attack analysis, insider threat cases, and litigation where email communications are key evidence. We trace forwarding rules set by attackers, identify unauthorized mailbox access, and recover messages the sender attempted to recall or permanently delete.
Chain of Custody & Evidence Handling
The most thorough analysis is worthless if opposing counsel can demonstrate a break in the chain of custody. PTG treats evidence handling as the foundation of every investigation.
Forensic Acquisition Standards
Every forensic image PTG creates follows a strict acquisition protocol. We connect target media to hardware write-blockers — physical devices that prevent any write operation to the source drive during imaging. The write-blocker ensures not a single bit of the original evidence is modified during acquisition. We then create a bit-for-bit image (not a file copy) using EnCase or FTK Imager, capturing every sector including unallocated space, slack space, and deleted file remnants. Immediately upon completion, we generate cryptographic hash values (both MD5 and SHA-256) of the source and the image. Matching hashes prove the image is a mathematically exact copy of the original. These hash values are recorded in our chain of custody documentation and can be independently verified at any point.
Documentation & Custody Transfer
PTG documents every evidence interaction from the moment we take physical or logical possession: who handled the evidence, when, where, what actions were performed, and why. Each item receives a unique evidence identifier. Physical media is stored in tamper-evident evidence bags with signed seals. Digital images are stored on encrypted, access-controlled forensic workstations. Transfer between personnel is documented with signatures, dates, and times. This unbroken chain of custody documentation satisfies Federal Rules of Evidence requirements and survives scrutiny from opposing forensic experts, judges, and juries. We follow NIST SP 800-86 (Guide to Integrating Forensic Techniques into Incident Response), SWGDE (Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence) best practices, and ACPO guidelines for digital evidence handling.
North Carolina courts, including Wake County Superior Court and the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina federal courts, apply Daubert standards for the admissibility of expert testimony and forensic evidence. PTG's methodology is specifically designed to satisfy Daubert's requirements for testability, peer review, known error rates, and general acceptance within the forensic science community. Triangle law firms working cases in Wake, Durham, Orange, and surrounding counties rely on PTG evidence that has been collected, documented, and analyzed to withstand the most aggressive challenges.
Craig Petronella — Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner
Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent over 25 years conducting digital forensic investigations for businesses, law firms, and government agencies. Craig holds a Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner credential, demonstrating tested competency in forensic imaging, evidence analysis, report writing, and courtroom testimony. He is also a CMMC Registered Practitioner (CRP) — qualified to advise defense contractors on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requirements — and holds MIT cybersecurity certification.
Craig has provided forensic analysis and expert witness testimony in cases involving data breaches, intellectual property theft, employee misconduct, business email compromise, and contract disputes. His dual expertise in forensic investigation and regulatory compliance (HIPAA, CMMC, NIST 800-171, SOC 2) makes him uniquely qualified for cases where a breach triggers both legal proceedings and compliance obligations. Organizations that need ongoing security leadership often pair forensics with PTG's virtual CISO (vCISO) services. He works directly with attorneys across the Triangle, the NC State Bureau of Investigation when law enforcement involvement is warranted, and insurance carriers requiring forensic documentation for cyber claims.
Credentials: Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner • CMMC Registered Practitioner (CRP) • MIT Cybersecurity Certified • 25+ Years Experience • BBB Accredited Since 2003
Our Forensic Capabilities
Breach Investigation & Root Cause
When a security incident is detected — whether through our incident response program or a third-party notification — PTG determines the full scope: initial access vector, lateral movement path, privilege escalation techniques, data accessed or exfiltrated, and whether the threat is fully contained. We reconstruct attack timelines using filesystem timestamps (MACB times), Windows Event Log correlation, authentication logs, and endpoint detection telemetry. Our breach investigation reports satisfy notification requirements under HIPAA, NC Identity Theft Protection Act (G.S. 75-65), PCI DSS, and SEC cyber disclosure rules. Insurance carriers accept our forensic documentation for claims processing.
eDiscovery & Litigation Support
Full-lifecycle eDiscovery services: identification, preservation, collection, processing, review support, and production of electronically stored information (ESI). We handle custodian interviews, legal hold implementation, defensible collection from email archives, file servers, endpoints, cloud platforms, and mobile devices. Our ESI processing produces load files compatible with Relativity, Concordance, and other review platforms. We satisfy Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) obligations and NC Rules of Civil Procedure requirements for ESI production.
Employee Misconduct Investigations
Forensic examination of workstations, email, file access logs, USB device history (Windows setupapi.dev.log and registry USB artifacts), internet browsing history, cloud storage sync activity, and mobile devices. We identify data theft, policy violations, unauthorized access to sensitive files, deletion or concealment of evidence, and intellectual property exfiltration. Reports are formatted for HR proceedings, termination documentation, civil litigation, trade secret claims, and referral to law enforcement.
Intellectual Property Theft Analysis
When trade secrets, proprietary data, or confidential business information is suspected stolen, PTG traces the evidence trail: which files were accessed, when they were copied, to what destination (USB, cloud, email attachment, personal account), and whether the departing employee or contractor attempted to cover their tracks by deleting files or clearing browser history. We recover evidence from Windows Recycle Bin artifacts, Volume Shadow Copies, cloud sync logs, and file server audit trails. Our findings support injunctive relief, damages claims, and criminal trade secret theft referrals.
Ransomware & Malware Analysis
Forensic analysis of ransomware attacks to determine the initial infection vector, identify all affected systems, assess data exfiltration prior to encryption (double extortion), and preserve evidence for law enforcement and insurance. We analyze malware samples in isolated environments, extract indicators of compromise (IOCs), and correlate findings with threat intelligence feeds. Our ransomware forensics documentation supports FBI/IC3 reporting, insurance claims, and breach notification decisions.
Regulatory Investigation Support
Forensic evidence collection and analysis for regulatory investigations, audits, and examinations. We support HIPAA/HHS investigations for healthcare organizations, DFARS/CMMC assessments for defense contractors, SEC and FINRA examinations for financial firms, and state attorney general inquiries. Our forensic reports are structured to answer the specific questions regulators ask and formatted for regulatory submission.
Expert Witness Services
Forensic findings only matter if they can be effectively communicated to judges, juries, arbitrators, and opposing counsel.
Expert Reports & Deposition Testimony
PTG produces detailed expert reports that document our forensic methodology, tools used, evidence collected, analysis performed, and conclusions reached. Reports are written in clear language accessible to non-technical readers while maintaining the technical rigor that satisfies peer review by opposing forensic experts. Craig Petronella provides deposition testimony and responds to interrogatories regarding forensic findings, methodology, and qualifications. Our reports follow the structure expected by federal and NC state courts and address Daubert factors proactively.
Trial Testimony & Litigation Consulting
PTG forensic examiners present findings in court with clarity and composure. We translate technical concepts — hash verification, metadata analysis, registry artifacts, log correlation — into terms that non-technical jurors understand without oversimplifying the science. We prepare visual aids, evidence timelines, and demonstrative exhibits that support attorney presentations. Beyond testimony, we provide litigation consulting: reviewing opposing expert reports, identifying methodological weaknesses, and preparing attorneys for technical cross-examination. Triangle law firms working cases in Wake County courts and the Eastern District of North Carolina rely on PTG expert testimony.
When You Need Digital Forensics
Data Breach
A breach has been detected or suspected. You need to determine scope, contain the threat, satisfy notification requirements, and preserve evidence for insurance and potential litigation.
Litigation
Civil or criminal proceedings require digital evidence. You need defensible ESI collection, forensic analysis, and an expert witness who can testify to the findings under cross-examination.
IP Theft
A departing employee or contractor is suspected of stealing trade secrets, customer lists, source code, or proprietary data. You need forensic proof of what was taken, when, and how.
Employee Misconduct
HR has identified potential policy violations, harassment, fraud, or unauthorized system access. You need a discreet forensic investigation that produces evidence suitable for termination or legal action.
Compliance
Regulatory investigators or auditors require forensic evidence. HIPAA, CMMC, PCI, SEC, or state regulators need documented proof of what happened and what data was exposed.
Our Forensic Investigation Process
PTG follows a six-phase methodology aligned with NIST SP 800-86 and SWGDE best practices. Each phase is documented to produce a defensible, reproducible investigation.
Identification
Scope the incident. Identify potential evidence sources: endpoints, servers, mobile devices, cloud accounts, network logs. Determine legal and regulatory obligations. Establish investigation priorities with legal counsel.
Preservation
Issue litigation holds. Isolate affected systems. Capture volatile evidence (RAM, running processes, network connections) before it is lost. Secure physical access to devices. Begin chain of custody documentation immediately.
Collection
Create forensic images using hardware write-blockers. Verify integrity with SHA-256 and MD5 hashes. Collect cloud audit logs via API. Extract mobile device data. Package and seal physical evidence in tamper-evident containers.
Analysis
Examine forensic images using EnCase, FTK, X-Ways, and Autopsy. Correlate log sources. Reconstruct user activity timelines. Recover deleted files from unallocated space. Identify indicators of compromise. Map attacker TTPs to MITRE ATT&CK.
Reporting
Produce detailed forensic reports documenting methodology, tools, findings, and conclusions. Reports are structured for legal proceedings, regulatory submissions, insurance claims, and executive briefings. Include evidence exhibits and timeline visualizations.
Testimony
Provide expert witness testimony in depositions, court proceedings, arbitration, and regulatory hearings. Prepare demonstrative exhibits. Support attorney preparation for technical cross-examination. Respond to opposing expert challenges.
Digital Forensics in the Raleigh-Durham Triangle
Petronella Technology Group is headquartered at 5540 Centerview Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606 — centrally located to serve businesses, law firms, healthcare organizations, and defense contractors throughout the Research Triangle. Our proximity means we can deploy forensic examiners on-site within hours for emergency evidence preservation, which is critical when systems need to be imaged before they are rebooted, powered off, or tampered with.
We work regularly with Triangle law firms handling cases in Wake County Superior Court, Durham County courts, the NC Business Court, the Eastern District of North Carolina (Raleigh Division), and the Middle District of North Carolina. Our forensic methodology and testimony are designed to satisfy the evidentiary standards these courts apply. When cases involve criminal activity, we coordinate with the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and local law enforcement to ensure forensic evidence is collected in a manner that supports prosecution.
North Carolina's Identity Theft Protection Act (G.S. 75-65) requires businesses to notify affected individuals when a security breach involves personal information. PTG's forensic investigation determines the precise scope of a breach — which records were accessed, by whom, and whether data was actually exfiltrated — so your legal counsel can make informed notification decisions. For defense contractors in RTP and the greater Triangle, our CMMC expertise ensures that CUI exposure incidents are investigated and reported in compliance with DFARS 252.204-7012 72-hour reporting requirements.
The Triangle's concentration of technology companies, healthcare systems (Duke Health, UNC Health, WakeMed), financial institutions, law firms, universities, and defense contractors creates a high-density environment for forensic investigation needs. PTG has served this community for over two decades, building relationships with attorneys, insurance carriers, and regulatory contacts across the region.
Digital Forensics Questions Answered
What qualifications does your forensic examiner hold?
Craig Petronella is a Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner with over 25 years of experience conducting forensic investigations. He also holds CMMC Registered Practitioner (CRP) certification and MIT cybersecurity certification. Craig has provided expert witness testimony in federal and state courts and works directly with attorneys, insurance carriers, and law enforcement agencies. His dual expertise in forensic investigation and regulatory compliance means he understands both the technical and legal dimensions of every case.
What tools do you use for forensic imaging and analysis?
PTG uses industry-standard forensic tools including EnCase Forensic, AccessData FTK (Forensic Toolkit), X-Ways Forensics, Autopsy, Magnet AXIOM, Cellebrite UFED, and FTK Imager. For forensic acquisition, we use hardware write-blockers from Tableau and Wiebetech to prevent any modification to source media during imaging. All forensic images are verified with SHA-256 and MD5 cryptographic hash values. For network forensics, we use Wireshark, NetworkMiner, and SIEM log correlation. These are the same tools used by federal law enforcement and accepted by courts nationwide.
How much does a digital forensics investigation cost?
Investigation costs depend on scope: the number of devices to examine, volume of data, complexity of analysis, and whether expert testimony is required. PTG provides a detailed scoping assessment and transparent pricing before work begins. For breach investigations, forensic costs are frequently covered by cyber insurance policies — we work with carriers regularly and understand their documentation requirements. Contact us at 919-348-4912 to discuss your specific situation and receive a scoping estimate.
Will your forensic evidence be admissible in court?
Yes. PTG follows NIST SP 800-86, SWGDE, and ACPO guidelines for digital evidence handling. We use hardware write-blockers, verify all forensic images with cryptographic hashes, and maintain documented chain of custody from acquisition through testimony. Our methodology is specifically designed to satisfy Daubert standards for expert testimony admissibility, which North Carolina federal courts and state courts apply. Our forensic reports address testability, known error rates, peer review, and general acceptance — the four Daubert factors — proactively.
How quickly can you respond to a forensic emergency?
PTG provides 24/7 emergency forensic response. For clients in the Raleigh-Durham Triangle, our forensic examiners can be on-site within hours to begin evidence preservation. Remote forensic collection from cloud environments and endpoint agents can begin within minutes of engagement. Time is critical — volatile evidence like RAM contents, running processes, and network connections is lost the moment a system is powered off or rebooted. Early engagement dramatically improves evidence completeness and investigation outcomes.
What is the difference between digital forensics and data recovery?
Data recovery focuses on retrieving lost or damaged files — the goal is to get the data back. Digital forensics focuses on preserving, analyzing, and documenting digital evidence in a legally defensible manner — the goal is to produce evidence that is admissible in court, acceptable to regulators, and defensible under cross-examination. Forensic investigation uses write-blockers, hash verification, chain of custody documentation, and validated analysis tools. Data recovery uses none of these procedural safeguards. If there is any possibility that the data may be needed as evidence in legal or regulatory proceedings, you need forensics, not data recovery.
Can you investigate Microsoft 365 and cloud environments?
Yes. PTG's cloud forensics capability covers Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams), Google Workspace, AWS (CloudTrail, S3, IAM), Azure (AD sign-in logs, Activity Log), Salesforce, and other SaaS platforms. We collect Unified Audit Logs, mailbox audit logs, admin activity records, and file access history using API-based and administrative collection methods. Cloud forensics requires understanding provider-specific log retention policies, data residency implications, and the shared responsibility model — our team has this expertise.
Does cyber insurance cover forensic investigation costs?
Most cyber insurance policies cover forensic investigation costs for covered incidents. PTG works with major cyber insurance carriers and produces forensic reports that satisfy their investigation requirements, documentation standards, and claims processing workflows. Our evidence documentation helps clients maximize their insurance recovery while meeting carrier cooperation obligations. If you are unsure whether your policy covers forensics, we can review the relevant policy provisions during the initial consultation.
Do you work with law enforcement?
When a forensic investigation reveals criminal activity, PTG coordinates with law enforcement including the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and local police departments. We preserve evidence in a manner that supports both civil proceedings and criminal prosecution, ensuring that our forensic work product is usable by prosecutors. We advise clients on when law enforcement involvement is legally required (as in certain breach notification scenarios) and when it is strategically beneficial.
What North Carolina regulations affect digital forensics?
North Carolina's Identity Theft Protection Act (G.S. 75-65) requires breach notification when personal information is compromised. DFARS 252.204-7012 requires defense contractors to report CUI incidents within 72 hours. HIPAA requires covered entities to investigate and document PHI breaches. The NC Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure govern ESI preservation and production obligations. PTG's forensic investigations are structured to satisfy all applicable regulatory requirements and produce evidence that meets the evidentiary standards applied by NC state courts and the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina federal courts.
Digital Evidence Does Not Wait. Neither Should You.
Every hour that passes after a breach, theft, or misconduct event degrades the evidence you need to prove your case. Contact Petronella Technology Group for forensic investigation led by a Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner with 25+ years of experience.
5540 Centerview Dr, Suite 200, Raleigh NC 27606 • Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner • BBB Accredited Since 2003 • 24/7 Emergency Response