Why is it critical to avoid altering system states during an investigation?

Avoiding alteration of system states during an investigation is critical primarily because changes can compromise evidence and the details of the incident being studied. When an investigation is launched into a security incident, it is vital to preserve the integrity of the digital evidence. Any modification to the system, whether intentional or unintentional, can lead to the loss of important data that could clarify how the incident occurred, what vulnerabilities were exploited, or the extent of any damage.

Maintaining the state of the system ensures that investigators can perform thorough forensic analysis. This involves gathering logs, understanding network traffic, and analyzing file changes that occurred during the incident. If these states are changed, the original context is lost, which might hinder the investigation, misinform risk assessments, and impair any legal actions that might follow.

While other factors like resource requirements, network performance, and user experience are certainly relevant, they are secondary concerns compared to the paramount importance of preserving evidence. The integrity of the investigative process relies heavily on the ability to analyze systems in their original state, making it crucial to avoid any alterations.