Federated Testing: Shared Test Materials from the Computer Forensics Tool Testing Program (CFTT) at NIST for Digital Forensics Tool Validation and Shared Test Reports

Published

February 19, 2015

Author(s)

Benjamin R. Livelsberger

Abstract

Federated Testing is an expansion of the Computer Forensics Tool Testing (CFTT) program to provide forensic investigators with test materials for testing digital forensics tools. The test materials take the form of a live Linux DVD .iso file. Investigators can use the test materials to test the tools that they use in their labs and auto generate test reports in a common format. The test reports can then be shared with the digital forensics community. Because test reports produced using the Federated Testing materials use a common format, it is easy for labs receiving an externally produced test report to determine if the test results applicable for use in their own lab. This benefits the community in that if a lab or agency has already tested a tool and shared the results, other labs and agencies using the same tool don't have to retest it. Federated Testing also benefits the community in that labs can use CFTT's rigorous test methodologies to test their tools and save the time of developing their own.

Pub Type

Talks

Keywords

CFTT, Federated Testing, Forensics

Citation

Livelsberger, B. (2015), Federated Testing: Shared Test Materials from the Computer Forensics Tool Testing Program (CFTT) at NIST for Digital Forensics Tool Validation and Shared Test Reports (Accessed October 15, 2025)