Many mobile devices come with the ability to back up their contents into the cloud. Depending on the platform, cloud backups may contain as much as the full content of the device complete with the call histories and messages (Apple iOS 7.x through 9.x, Windows RT, and Windows 8/8.1/10); as little as a list of installed applications and a few random settings (Android 4.4 and Android 5.x); or something in between (Windows Phone 8 and Android 6.0).
For some devices, cloud forensics may be the only acquisition method available due to full-disk encryption and hardware lock. For example, cloud forensics is the only viable process for locked 64-bit iPhones running iOS 8+ and some Windows Phone 8 and Windows 10 Mobile devices.
Compared to other acquisition methods in general, cloud backups tend to contain the least amount of information.
For cloud acquisition to work, the expert will have to possess the user's authentication credentials. While a login and password are the most...