Introduction

Cloud-based storage has transformed how law enforcement agencies manage digital evidence. Body-Worn Camera (BWC) footage, in-car video, photographs, interview recordings, surveillance footage, and other digital files can be stored in centralized environments that provide scalable capacity and controlled access for authorized personnel.

While cloud technology can provide significant operational advantages, moving evidence to the cloud does not eliminate cybersecurity responsibilities. Digital evidence may contain sensitive investigative information, personally identifiable information, Criminal Justice Information (CJI), and materials that could become important in legal proceedings. Protecting that information requires a comprehensive security strategy.

Secure cloud-based evidence storage combines encryption, Identity and Access Management (IAM), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), audit logging, backups, monitoring, and strong evidence governance. Modern Digital Evidence Management Systems (DEMS) can bring these protections together while helping agencies securely manage evidence throughout its lifecycle.

Why Cloud Evidence Security Matters

As agencies deploy more Body-Worn Cameras and other recording technologies, digital evidence repositories can grow rapidly.

Cloud platforms can help agencies manage this growth, but evidence stored in the cloud may face risks such as:

• Unauthorized access
• Compromised credentials
• Phishing attacks
• Misconfigured permissions
• Insider threats
• Malware and ransomware
• Data loss

A security incident could affect investigations, privacy, agency operations, and confidence in an evidence management program.

For this reason, cloud security should be considered from the earliest stages of technology planning and procurement.

Keywords: cloud evidence security, digital evidence storage, cybersecurity, body-worn cameras, DEMS, law enforcement technology

Understand the Shared Responsibility Model

One important concept in cloud security is the shared responsibility model.

Cloud providers typically secure portions of the underlying infrastructure, while customers remain responsible for other aspects of security. Exact responsibilities vary depending on the service and deployment model.

Agency responsibilities may include:

• User account management
• Access permissions
• Security policies
• Device security
• Data governance
• User training

Technology provider responsibilities may include areas such as:

• Physical infrastructure
• Platform availability
• Infrastructure maintenance
• Certain network protections

Agencies should clearly understand which security responsibilities belong to each party before deploying a cloud evidence platform.

Keywords: shared responsibility model, cloud security, evidence management, public safety cloud, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure

Encrypt Evidence at Rest

Evidence should be protected while stored within the cloud environment.

Encryption at rest converts stored information into a protected form that generally cannot be read without the appropriate cryptographic key.

Agencies should evaluate encryption for:

• Body-Worn Camera footage
• Photographs
• Audio recordings
• Case files
• Evidence metadata
• Backups

Encryption at rest provides an important layer of protection if storage infrastructure is accessed without authorization.

However, agencies should evaluate the complete security architecture rather than relying on encryption alone.

Keywords: encryption at rest, cloud evidence encryption, secure cloud storage, digital evidence protection, evidence security, DEMS

Protect Evidence in Transit

Evidence must also remain protected while moving between devices, systems, and authorized users.

Encryption in transit is important when:

• Body cameras upload recordings
• Users access evidence remotely
• Evidence is shared with prosecutors
• Systems exchange information
• Files move between authorized platforms

Secure communication protocols can help protect information from interception during transmission.

Both encryption at rest and encryption in transit should be considered when evaluating a cloud evidence platform.

Keywords: encryption in transit, secure evidence transfer, cloud security, evidence sharing, body camera uploads, cybersecurity

Implement Multi-Factor Authentication

Passwords alone can create a significant security weakness.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requires additional identity verification before users can access an evidence system.

Authentication methods may include:

• Passwords
• Authentication applications
• Security tokens
• Hardware credentials
• Biometrics

If a password is compromised through phishing or another attack, MFA can provide an additional barrier against unauthorized access.

Accounts with administrative privileges deserve particularly strong protection.

Keywords: multi-factor authentication, MFA, secure cloud access, identity security, evidence security, cybersecurity

Use Role-Based Access Control

Not every user needs access to every piece of digital evidence.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) allows agencies to provide permissions based on responsibilities.

Roles might include:

• Patrol officers
• Detectives
• Supervisors
• Evidence technicians
• Prosecutors
• System administrators

Agencies should also follow the principle of least privilege, giving users only the access required to perform their duties.

Limiting unnecessary permissions reduces exposure if an account is compromised or misused.

Keywords: role-based access control, RBAC, least privilege, evidence permissions, cloud evidence security, access management

Strengthen Identity and Access Management

Cloud security depends heavily on knowing who is accessing the system and whether that access remains appropriate.

An effective Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategy should address:

• User provisioning
• Authentication
• Role assignments
• Permission changes
• Privileged accounts
• Account deactivation
• Regular access reviews

When personnel change roles or leave an organization, access should be updated or removed promptly.

Strong identity management helps prevent forgotten or unnecessary accounts from becoming security vulnerabilities.

Keywords: identity and access management, IAM, user provisioning, access control, evidence systems, digital evidence security

Maintain Comprehensive Audit Trails

Agencies should maintain visibility into how evidence is accessed and handled.

Audit trails can document activities such as:

• User logins
• Evidence views
• Downloads
• Evidence sharing
• Permission changes
• Administrative actions
• Other significant system events

These records support accountability and can help agencies investigate suspicious activity.

Audit trails may also contribute to chain-of-custody documentation by providing a history of interactions with digital evidence.

Keywords: audit trails, chain of custody, evidence tracking, audit logging, digital evidence integrity, DEMS

Protect Evidence Backups

Cloud storage does not eliminate the need for backup and recovery planning.

Agencies should evaluate:

• Backup frequency
• Encryption of backups
• Access controls
• Recovery procedures
• Geographic or logical separation
• Restoration testing

Backup environments should be protected so that a security incident affecting primary systems does not automatically compromise recovery resources.

Regular restoration testing helps verify that evidence can actually be recovered when needed.

Keywords: evidence backups, disaster recovery, cloud backup, cyber resilience, evidence storage, business continuity

Prepare for Ransomware and Cyber Incidents

Ransomware and other cyberattacks can disrupt critical public safety systems.

A resilient cloud evidence strategy may include:

• Multi-Factor Authentication
• Endpoint protection
• Secure backups
• Network segmentation where appropriate
• Security monitoring
• Incident response procedures
• Recovery testing

Agencies should develop an incident response plan before an emergency occurs.

Clearly defined responsibilities help personnel respond more effectively if evidence systems are affected by a cybersecurity incident.

Keywords: ransomware protection, incident response, cyber resilience, digital evidence security, disaster recovery, law enforcement cybersecurity

Continuously Monitor Cloud Activity

Cybersecurity should be continuous.

Monitoring can help agencies identify unusual behavior such as:

• Repeated failed login attempts
• Unexpected evidence downloads
• Unusual administrative activity
• Permission changes
• Access from unexpected locations
• Suspicious account behavior

Security alerts and audit data can provide valuable early warning signals.

Detecting suspicious activity quickly may reduce the potential impact of an incident.

Keywords: cloud security monitoring, threat detection, evidence monitoring, cybersecurity analytics, audit logs, digital evidence security

Secure Evidence Sharing

Cloud platforms can simplify collaboration with prosecutors, courts, investigators, and authorized partner agencies.

However, evidence-sharing workflows should maintain strong security controls.

These may include:

• Permission-based sharing
• User authentication
• Expiration controls
• Download restrictions
• Activity logging
• Case-specific access

Controlled cloud sharing can reduce reliance on physical media and uncontrolled file copies while maintaining greater visibility into evidence access.

Keywords: secure evidence sharing, cloud evidence sharing, prosecutor evidence access, multi-agency collaboration, evidence security, DEMS

Protect System Integrations and APIs

Modern Digital Evidence Management Systems may connect with other public safety platforms.

These can include:

• Records Management Systems (RMS)
• Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)
• In-car video systems
• Body-Worn Camera platforms
• Prosecutor systems
• Authorized third-party applications

Every integration creates another connection that should be secured.

Agencies should evaluate authentication, encryption, permissions, logging, and data handling for integrations and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Keywords: API security, RMS integration, CAD integration, system integration, evidence security, public safety technology

Maintain Strong Evidence Governance

Technology alone cannot secure cloud evidence.

Agencies should establish policies covering:

• Evidence classification
• Retention schedules
• Legal holds
• User permissions
• Evidence sharing
• Account management
• Evidence disposition

Clear governance helps ensure that security controls are applied consistently throughout the evidence lifecycle.

Policies should also be reviewed as laws, technology, and operational requirements change.

Keywords: evidence governance, evidence retention, digital evidence lifecycle, cloud evidence management, security policies, DEMS

Consider Applicable CJIS Security Requirements

Agencies handling Criminal Justice Information should evaluate cloud environments against the applicable FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy, along with relevant state, local, contractual, and organizational requirements.

Important areas may include:

• Authentication
• Encryption
• Access control
• Audit logging
• Security awareness
• Incident response
• System monitoring
• Data protection

Because requirements can evolve, agencies should consult the current CJIS Security Policy and appropriate legal, security, or compliance professionals when evaluating a cloud evidence platform.

A vendor's general claim of being "CJIS compliant" should not replace an agency's own due diligence.

Keywords: CJIS Security Policy, CJIS compliance, Criminal Justice Information, cloud evidence security, law enforcement cybersecurity, public safety cloud

Evaluate Cloud Evidence Vendors Carefully

Cybersecurity should be a major component of the procurement process.

Agencies should ask potential vendors:

• How is evidence encrypted?
• How are encryption keys protected?
• What authentication options are supported?
• How are user permissions managed?
• What audit logs are available?
• How are backups protected?
• What disaster recovery capabilities exist?
• How are vulnerabilities addressed?
• How are security incidents handled?
• What happens to agency data when a contract ends?

Clear answers can help agencies compare platforms based on long-term security rather than individual features alone.

Keywords: evidence vendor evaluation, cloud security vendor, body camera procurement, DEMS security, technology procurement, cybersecurity

Train Personnel on Cloud Security

Users remain an important part of any cybersecurity strategy.

Training should address:

• Password protection
• Multi-Factor Authentication
• Phishing awareness
• Secure remote access
• Evidence-sharing procedures
• Device security
• Reporting suspicious activity

Personnel should understand both how to use the evidence platform and how their actions can affect security.

Regular training helps reinforce good cybersecurity practices.

Keywords: cybersecurity training, cloud security awareness, phishing prevention, law enforcement training, evidence security, digital evidence management

Best Practices for Securing Cloud-Based Evidence Storage

Agencies can strengthen cloud evidence security by:

• Encrypting evidence at rest and in transit
• Requiring strong authentication and MFA
• Implementing Role-Based Access Control
• Following least-privilege principles
• Managing user identities throughout their lifecycle
• Maintaining comprehensive audit logs
• Protecting backups and testing recovery
• Monitoring suspicious activity
• Securing integrations and APIs
• Establishing clear evidence governance policies
• Training personnel regularly
• Evaluating vendor security practices
• Reviewing security controls as threats and requirements evolve

Cloud security is strongest when people, processes, and technology work together.

Conclusion

Cloud-based evidence storage can provide law enforcement agencies with the scalability, accessibility, and flexibility needed to manage rapidly growing digital evidence collections. However, protecting that evidence requires a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

Encryption, Multi-Factor Authentication, Role-Based Access Control, Identity and Access Management, secure backups, detailed audit trails, continuous monitoring, and strong evidence governance all contribute to a more secure cloud environment. Agencies must also understand their responsibilities, carefully evaluate technology providers, and prepare for potential cybersecurity incidents.

Cloud security is not a one-time configuration. It is an ongoing process that must evolve alongside emerging threats, technology, and operational requirements. By building security into every stage of the evidence lifecycle, agencies can take advantage of cloud technology while protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical digital evidence.

Learn More

Looking to modernize digital evidence storage while keeping security at the center of your strategy?

Modern Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) and Digital Evidence Management Systems (DEMS) can combine scalable cloud-based storage with encrypted data protection, configurable access controls, comprehensive audit trails, secure evidence-sharing workflows, and centralized evidence management.

Whether your agency is expanding a Body-Worn Camera program or transitioning from on-premises infrastructure, a secure cloud evidence platform can help simplify evidence management while supporting long-term growth.

Request a demo today to explore how modern digital evidence technology can help your agency securely store, manage, access, and share critical evidence.