top of page
Search

Pre-Deployment Validation for Forensic Workstations: A 5-Part Field Series



Before you trust a workstation with live evidence, it needs to earn that trust — in your lab, under your workload, with your team.

In digital forensics, your tools are an extension of your testimony. If your workstation mishandles data, slows down under pressure, or introduces write-back risks — it’s not just a technical failure, it’s a legal one.

At Ordertek, we build systems to forensic standards — but we also believe in transparency and field readiness. That’s why we’re launching this 5-part series: to help you validate any forensic workstation before it ever touches a live case.

Whether you’re using a custom build, a vendor solution, or something in between, this guide will walk you through what matters — and how to test it.

✅ What This Series Covers

Each part will focus on a mission-critical area of validation, with actionable tests you can run immediately — no guesswork, no fluff:

🔐 Part 1: Why Write Blockers Aren’t Optional — And How to Confirm Yours Actually Works

  • How to test hardware-level write protection

  • What “pass” and “fail” results look like

  • Tools you can use (free + commercial)

🔥 Part 2: Thermal Throttling and Performance Drop-Off — The Silent Killer of Imaging Jobs

  • How to stress test your system

  • Monitoring CPU, SSD, and GPU temps

  • Signs your build can’t sustain long cases

🔒 Part 3: Chain of Custody Starts at Boot — Locking Down BIOS Access

  • Why BIOS security matters in court

  • How to restrict boot options, secure firmware, and prevent tampering

  • Tips for documenting your boot environment

🧪 Part 4: The Imaging Benchmark Test — Can Your Workstation Handle Real-World Workloads?

  • A simple but effective drive imaging benchmark you can run today

  • Hash comparisons and performance baselining

  • How to avoid slowdowns mid-case

📁 Part 5: Building a Validation Report That Holds Up in Court

  • What to document from each test

  • Creating a station-specific validation log

  • What auditors, lawyers, and opposing experts may ask

🎯 Who This Is For

  • Law enforcement digital forensics units

  • Private labs validating third-party builds

  • Internal IT teams supporting forensic staff

  • Investigators tired of workstations that "should work on paper"

🛠️ Ready to Validate? Let’s Begin.


Need help with budgeting? Contact us for a free workstation Quote!


 
 
bottom of page