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Chain of Custody

What is Chain of Custody?

The documented process of maintaining and tracking evidence from collection through presentation. In digital forensics, chain of custody ensures that evidence is admissible and has not been tampered with.

Information Security

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as chain of custody. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on chain of custody

Requirements naming chain of custody across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

NIST SP 800-885 controls

Maintain media inventory and tracking per NIST SP 800-88 Rev 1 Chapter 3 (Information Sanitization Process) + Chapter 4 (Decision Flow).

NISTSP88-5 · Media Inventory, Tracking, Chain of Custody, and Sanitization Records →

The DEFR can account for all data and devices acquired while they are in the DEFR's custody. A chain of custody record, one or several related documents started at collection or acquisition, traces each item's movement and handling from when the team identifie...

iso-iec-27037-2012::6.1 · 6.1 Chain of custody →

Keeping an unbroken record of who held each item of potential digital evidence, when, where and for what purpose, from collection to return or destruction, so that tampering can be ruled out; required by the definition of digital investigation (3.6).

iso-iec-27043-2015::11.5 · 11.5 Preserving chain of custody process →

The supply-chain control and transparency system shall be supported by documentation providing at least a description of the raw material including trade name and type;

eu-batteries-regulation-regulation-eu-2023-1542::Art 49(2) · Chain-of-custody documentation for each raw material →

Depending on the matter, it can be important to trace or establish the creation, change history, handling, ownership and other provenance or lineage of ESI;

iso-iec-27050-1-2019::9.2 · Chain of custody and provenance →

Where a claim is made about a traded product, for example about its provenance, its chain of custody, or its assured or identity-preserved status, information backing the claim must be obtainable, from the supplier or from an independent source, so that it can...

brcgs-global-standard-for-food-safety-issue-9::9.4.3 · 9.4.3 Supporting information for provenance, chain of custody and assured status claims →

Questions people ask about chain of custody

What is Chain of Custody?
The documented process of maintaining and tracking evidence from collection through presentation. In digital forensics, chain of custody ensures that evidence is admissible and has not been tampered with.
Why is Chain of Custody important for compliance?
Chain of Custody is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding chain of custody helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Chain of Custody?
Chain of Custody appears in the requirement text of NIST SP 800-88, ISO/IEC 27037:2012, ISO/IEC 27043:2015, EU Batteries Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542), ISO/IEC 27050-1:2019. Across these standards we have identified 16 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Chain of Custody?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how chain of custody applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 1,016 frameworks.

See how Chain of Custody applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.