accessing original data are competent and can explain their actions, creating and preserving an audit trail of all processes applied to digital evidence and ensuring that the person in charge of the investigation upholds the Evidence law and these principles. When dealing with networked systems, it's essential to understand the topology and sources of digital evidence across various locations. The process of copying electronic evidence should aim to produce an exact replica without altering the original data. Hashing processes are used to verify the authenticity of copied files. Maintaining the quality of copied digital files is crucial, as highlighted in legal cases like The Gates Rubber Company v Bando Chemical Industries Limited12, where the mishandling of evidence led to its loss of probative value in court. Digital evidence professionals must sometimes make decisions based on principles of good practice, especially in unique situations like live banking systems. Examining the surrounding area of the scene can also yield relevant materials for disclosure or criminal investigations, complementing the digital evidence gathered. This example illustrates that a loss of evidence dependability can lead to significant challenges for the concerned party, which may not always be adequately addressed in every situation. 2.5 Preserving Electronic Evidence Electronic evidence must undergo validation to ensure its probative value. Digital evidence professionals routinely copy data from various disks or storage devices, necessitating measures to prove the integrity of the duplicated evidence. Electronic fingerprinting, a cryptographic technique, associates a unique identifier with each file or storage device, enabling verification of data integrity at the time of collection. The continuity of custody is crucial in preserving electronic evidence, requiring meticulous documentation of its collection, storage, and handling to demonstrate integrity and prevent tampering. When transporting and storing hardware and digital evidences, precautions must be taken to protect against damage or data corruption, which may be caused by factors like temperature, humidity, and magnetic effects. The emergence of cloud computing presents complex challenges for digital forensics, as evidence stored in the cloud is distributed across multiple servers and managed automatically. Retrieving such evidence may require cooperation from service providers, raising jurisdictional issues. Forensic triage 12 United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 9 F.3d 823 (10th Cir. 1993) 11