EVALUATING COMPUTER FORENSICS FOR CYBERCRIME INVESTIGATIONS IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS

The increased digitization of critical infrastructure has compounded the threat of cybercrime in entrepreneurial enterprises handling high-value assets and sensitive information. Despite the abundance of literature on digital forensics, the unique application and value of these methods in critical infrastructure investigations remain largely unexplored. This study bridges this gap by evaluating the real-world efficacy of computer forensic techniques to detect and investigate crime in large industries, including finance, retail, and technology. A mixed-methods approach combined digital forensic analysis, statistical modeling, and expert interviews with 50 real-world cases. The findings reveal high rates of success in the use of forensic tools in uncovering evidence within complex business crimes, with data recovery and statistical analysis being most effective. Different from past studies, this research integrates empirical evidence and expert insights in assessing the real challenges and contributions of digital forensics in practice. This study contributes to the literature by developing a sectoral forensic framework, ascertaining legal and procedural limitations, and proposing paths for the uptake of AI-driven tools within forensic activities. These findings have practical implications in improving investigative accuracy, resource allocation, and interagency collaboration in cybercrime law enforcement.