In unforeseen circumstances like the current situation, people across the globe are falling prey to scams and cybercrimes every day. COVID-19 has made the ever-growing cybersecurity industry, expand more. The increasing number of cyberattacks globally has increased the need for cyber professionals as COVID-19 surged. Every organization that has a working computer system required qualified digital forensics analysts.
EC-Council University offers multiple courses under its Master of Science in Cyber Security degree for digital forensics aspirants.
What are digital forensics?
A branch of forensic science that is aimed towards the investigation and recovery of materials related to cybercrime found in digital devices. It can also be explained as the process of uncovering and interpreting digital evidence by identifying, preserving, analyzing, and documenting the data.
In any business setting, digital forensics is used as part of the incident response protocol. It is used to identify the ‘how, who, where, and what’ about an incident of cybercrime.
There are five steps of digital forensics –
- Identification
- Preservation
- Analysis
- Documentation
- Presentation
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The difference between digital forensics and computer forensics
The term digital forensics is often interchangeably used with computer forensics. However, both topics are different from each other. While in digital forensics, digital tools are used for identifying, extracting, preserving, and documenting computer evidence to later produce as evidence in the court of law. On the other hand, computer forensics is the process of using computer investigations and computer analysis techniques to find a shred of probable legal evidence.
It should be noted that both digital forensics and computer forensics are aimed to determine if a tool has been applied towards any unlawful activity.
Role of a Digital Forensics Investigator
The role of a digital forensics’ investigator in case of a crime that has been committed virtually involves gaining maximum information about the attacker. They are required to determine how an attacker gained access to the network, what they did, where they traversed the network, whether they took the information, or planted malware. There is a huge demand for candidates with a digital forensics cybersecurity degree in sectors such as digital forensics and incidence response.
It also includes –
- Tracing attacks
- Writing and reviewing investigation reports
- Recovering data from erased and damaged hard drives
- Working closely with police officers and detectives during investigations
- Gathering and maintaining evidence
How to get a degree in digital forensics?
Cybersecurity aspirants who want to pursue a career in digital forensics can opt for a degree in cybersecurity with a specialization in forensics. EC-Council University (ECCU) offers both Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security as well as a Master of Science in Cyber Security. The MSCS degree of the university provides a specialization in Digital Forensics. This field includes aspects like mobile forensics along with investigating Network Intrusions. The benefit of this master’s degree is that candidates who are a part of the program will receive industry-ready certifications like – Certified Network Defender (CND), Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (CHFI), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) at the end of the program.
ECCU’s Master of Science in Cyber Security specialization in Digital Forensics includes the following courses –
- Advanced Mobile Forensics and Security
- Investigating Network Intrusions and Computer Forensics
- Cyber Law
To know more about the topics, read more.
What to do with a degree in digital forensics?
Once a candidate successfully gets a degree in digital forensics, they can then apply for relevant roles in organizations. Their jobs start as soon as cyberattack alarms are raised inside an organization. They then have to investigate data breaches and security incidents. They are required to collate evidence that is available at the scene and prepare a legal case.
Career options for candidates with a degree in digital forensics include –
- Cyber Defence Forensics Analyst
- Information Security Officer
- Incident Responder
- Forensic Analyst
- Chief Information Security Officer.
The average salary of a digital forensics specialist ranges between $50,000 and $118,000, according to PayScale.
