North Carolina
Licensed investigations
Research, surveillance and public digital evidence for attorneys, insurers, businesses and private clients.
Explore investigations →About DarkWater Associates LLC
Investigations, cyber intelligence and education
A North Carolina private business providing documented findings for legal, business and personal decisions.
Our services
Remote · Nationwide
Business cyber intelligence
Assessments and monitoring of public and approved-source exposure, with prioritized findings.
Explore cyber services →In person or virtual
Speaking and education
Cybersecurity talks and workshops for businesses, schools and other organizations.
Explore speaking →NC PI License No. 769469Official state verification
Cybersecurity since 2013Professional experience
Principal-level work since 2017Cyber threat hunting
U.S. Air Force veteranIraq War combat service
Professional background
Douglas Peters
DarkWater’s founder is a licensed North Carolina private investigator, U.S. Air Force Iraq War combat veteran and principal-level cyber threat hunter.
His professional cybersecurity career began in 2013 with digital forensics and technical e-discovery. Since 2017, principal-level work has included threat hunting, detection strategy, ransomware defense, incident response, malware analysis, OSINT and evidence preservation in Fortune 100, energy, nuclear-generation and critical-infrastructure environments.
Hands-on computer exploration began in childhood; it is separate from professional experience.
How the work is handled
- Written scope, lawful purpose and authorization
- Only the information needed for the assignment
- Observations distinguished from intelligence leads and analysis
- Confidence, limitations and unknowns stated
- Protected delivery to approved recipients
- Work accepted within competence and jurisdiction
Findings are limited to the scope, available lawful sources and time reviewed.
Professional coordination and independence
Past private-sector experience includes participation in the U.S. Secret Service-led Maryland Electronic Crimes Task Force and InfraGard through the InfraGard Maryland Members Alliance.
Employer-authorized roles have included incident reporting, technical coordination, information sharing and briefings involving FBI Cyber personnel, Department of Defense stakeholders, ODNI, CISA and E-ISAC.
These references describe professional background only. They imply no government employment or authority, current affiliation, sponsorship, approval or endorsement by those organizations or former employers.
DarkWater operates independently. Government or employer seals, systems, data, confidential information, tools, subscriptions, intellectual property and work time are not used in its engagements.