Media that is the target of an investigation should be copied on to:

'New media' is not specific enough; new media might still contain manufacturing data or simply not be specifically prepared for forensic purposes, potentially introducing contamination.

Forensically sterile media is critical because it ensures that the destination media contains no pre-existing data that could potentially alter, contaminate, or be confused with the evidence being copied from the original source. This practice maintains the integrity and authenticity of the acquired evidence, which is paramount for legal admissibility.

'Reformatted and portioned media' doesn't guarantee forensic sterility, as reformatting doesn't necessarily wipe all data in a forensically sound manner, and portioning is irrelevant to sterility.

'Controlled and protected media' describes the handling of media *after* it's been prepared, but doesn't address the initial sterility requirement for receiving forensic copies.