As a private investigator with a specialization in computer forensics, one of your first concerns is your forensics lab.  This is an essential facility in your job because you will be spending much of your private investigation work here.  Here’s how to setup your own computer forensics laboratory:

Find an area or office you can use.
Of course, you can work from home if you prefer, as long as you have the proper permits.  A separate office will be more convenient but if you want to cut down on rent, find an area where you can work in peace, where data will be protected from damage. 

Build a reliable forensics lab.
Your main concern as a computer forensic P.I. is to protect your data from compromise, so make sure your lab and equipment are up to this task.  You also have to show your clients that the area where you will be working is reliable and safe from break-ins, theft and of course, the elements.

Some must-haves: sufficient power (preferably electrical), an alarm system, windows and door locks, network cables, internet services and phone lines.  You should also have enough furniture for research and storage.  Get storage cabinets with locks because these are where your precious data will go.

Get the appropriate hardware and software.
Your computer is the heart and soul of your operation.  If you must spend a lot, spend for this equipment.  Get a new computer or at least, a very reliable one with a big capacity memory.  A fast computer is a must because some computer forensic cases involve large volumes of data.

Use a reliable operating system to work with.  Buy software that will be helpful to your computer forensics work.  Try programs like Norton Ghost, DriveSpy, PDBlock, EnCase, PDWipe, Nero or some other authoring software you can work with.  You’ll need programs to help you retrieve, recover and duplicate data, especially the ones which are the most difficult to obtain.

Accessories such as digital cameras, extra hard drives and cables should also be on hand.

Get a good backup and equipment maintenance system.  In case something happens to your computer, you’ll have something to fall back on.  You should also spend for maintenance to keep your computer updated and prevent any problems.

Get equipment for communication.
You’ll need a phone, a printer and a fax machine to communicate with your clients.

Stock on office supplies.
You’ll need CD-ROMs or CDRs, floppy disks, pens, pencils, paper, the works.  You might also want to invest in a good shredder to get rid of very sensitive information.  Your clients appreciate discretion so if you need to throw away some documents, make sure no one else reads them.

A logbook is also an excellent addition for your recordkeeping as a private investigator, just to make sure you know who goes in and out of your computer forensics lab.

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