What is the primary goal of file system analysis?

The primary goal of file system analysis is to understand how files are stored, accessed, and deleted within a storage medium. This understanding is crucial for digital forensics as it allows examiners to piece together how data was created, modified, and potentially removed. By analyzing the file system, forensic professionals can uncover invaluable evidence related to user activity, file integrity, and timelines of events.

File system analysis goes beyond just recovering deleted files, as it involves investigating the structure of the file system itself—such as directories, file attributes, and metadata—giving insight into both current and historical data states. This broader understanding aids in identifying patterns of usage and can assist in confirming or refuting claims made during investigations.

While creating backups of files or optimizing storage performance may be tasks associated with system administrators or IT professionals, these activities do not align with the core objectives of file system analysis that focuses on evidence collection for forensic purposes.