Computer forensics and information security: Prevent all kinds of theft (December 2009 issue)

Hospital security can mean different things, but when people think of security, most think of protecting patients and staff members from harm. But there is an entire world in which staff members can be assaulted and patient valuables— in the form of personal information—can be stolen.

Imagine this scenario: Prescription drugs keep disappearing from the pharmacy, but despite best efforts, security can’t find out who is stealing them. The cameras aren’t catching anything clear, but inventory isn’t accurate, or hospital equipment keeps vanishing. It seems as though there is no evidence, but all the evidence you need to catch the culprit might be in an e-mail. In the case of assault, you may be able to find proof in a threatening e-mail.