What is the primary purpose of a digital forensic investigation?

The primary purpose of a digital forensic investigation is to identify digital evidence and its relevance to a legal matter. This involves not only collecting and preserving data in a manner that maintains its integrity but also analyzing it to uncover facts that can be used in legal proceedings. Digital forensics plays a crucial role in various legal contexts, whether it's criminal investigations, civil disputes, or corporate cases, by providing a structured method to obtain factual information from digital sources.

The focus on identifying evidence emphasizes the investigative nature of the process, which often requires specialists to interpret data correctly and present it in a way that is understandable in a legal context. This can include determining how a crime was committed, who was involved, and how digital systems were exploited.

While recovering deleted files is an important aspect, it serves as a technique rather than the ultimate goal of the investigation. Protecting networks from further attacks pertains more to cybersecurity than forensic investigation. Similarly, ensuring compliance with software licenses does not align with the core objective of digital forensics, which is primarily about uncovering and presenting evidence relevant to legal matters rather than compliance checks.