Which method is simplest for duplicating a disk drive during forensic analysis?

The method recognized as the simplest for duplicating a disk drive during forensic analysis is creating a disk-to-image copy. This approach involves making a bit-by-bit copy of the entire disk and saving it as an image file. This method preserves all data exactly as it exists on the original disk, including deleted files, unallocated space, and file system structures, which is critical in forensic investigations.

Disk-to-image copying provides a comprehensive snapshot of the original disk, ensuring that the integrity of the data is maintained and facilitating further analysis without the risk of altering the original evidence. It is widely accepted in the forensic community as it adheres to the principles of evidence integrity by allowing examiners to work with a duplicate rather than the original media.

While cloning software can also create duplicates, it may not always ensure the same level of detail as an image file in terms of capturing all parts of the disk. File-copying applications typically do not copy the disk structure or unallocated space, potentially missing important evidence. Cloud backup systems focus more on storage and recovery rather than detailed forensic analysis and evidence preservation. Hence, disk-to-image copying stands out as the simplest and most effective method in forensic scenarios.