Securing evidence without risk: the Sinabis write blocker for forensically sound data acquisition
A single mouse click, an automatic write by the operating system or a timestamp file updated unnoticed: when securing digital evidence, a fraction of a second is enough to put the integrity of a drive at risk. For internal audits, compliance investigations or court proceedings, the consequences can be serious – up to relevant documents becoming inadmissible.
Sinabis Analytics, , 2 min read
The Sinabis write blocker is the reliable bridge between the raw storage device and the analysis: write-protected in hardware and at protocol level, tamper-proof and ready to use right away.
What is a write blocker – and why isn’t standard software enough?
As soon as a storage medium – be it an NVMe SSD, a SATA hard drive or a USB drive – is connected to an ordinary operating system, the system starts communicating with it in the background. It creates index files, updates access times or writes metadata. Even if no file is deliberately changed, the drive is technically no longer in its original state.
The Sinabis write blocker sits physically between the original drive and your reading device. Write commands from the host system are consistently blocked at hardware level, while pure read access is passed through at full bandwidth. The result: an original that remains entirely unchanged, readable bit for bit for forensic copies and 1:1 images.
The key features at a glance
- Hardware write protection at protocol level: Write access is not just ignored but strictly rejected at hardware level. No unwanted OS artefacts, no modified metadata. Both models, SATA and USB, were tested in NIST’s CFTT programme: see the test reports.
- Maximum data integrity for audits: Create forensic images (for example RAW/DD, E01 or AD1 containers) with proof of complete authenticity.
- High transfer rates: A modern bus and interface design means that even large multi-terabyte drives are acquired without artificial bottlenecks.
- Plug & play in everyday investigations: Quick to connect in a law firm or company setting – compact enough for on-site work during audits or inventories.
- Seamless pipeline integration: The images can be fed straight into Sinabis Inspector or the Sinacluster and analysed without delay.
Typical use cases
- Internal audits & whistleblower cases: When devices from accounting or management need to be secured without disrupting operations or the chain of evidence.
- Law firms & legal advice: Forensically sound preservation of evidence for courts, supervisory authorities or experts.
- IT forensics & incident response: Analysis of compromised systems after security incidents, without overwriting traces on the original drive.
Ready for your next investigation?
Don’t rely on software write-protection modes for critical data. Secure your chain of evidence completely from the very first second.
Discover it in the shop now: Find the technical specifications and interfaces of our write blocker on our product page, or order the device easily from our shop.
