Introduction to Digital Forensics Online Training

Digital forensics is the process of investigating digital devices and the data that's on them to find evidence that can be used for legal purposes. Digital forensics (sometimes also called computer forensics) involves gathering, preserving, analyzing and presenting digital information in a way that maintains its integrity so that it can be used in court or other legal proceedings. Digital forensics can eventually include many tools, services, and advanced techniques.

Someone involved in computer forensics is trained in performing systematic collection, preservation, analysis and presentation of digital evidence related to crimes or wrongdoing. Digital forensics professionals aren't necessarily employed by law enforcement, organizations with large networks and sensitive data employ them to facilitate their own investigations and keep their own networks safe. Job roles and responsibilities vary greatly, but digital forensics includes everything from physically obtaining devices to documenting attacks.

The skills and knowledge in this introductory digital forensics course can help professionals in many different fields. New and aspiring law enforcement officers, especially those involved with digital crimes, should consider a course like this to learn the basic skills of the trade. IT professionals, lawyers, auditors and corporate investigators can also benefit from the material on this course. Investigating cybercrimes and ensuring data security apply to many different careers.

Computer forensics can be a challenging and technically complex field thanks to constantly evolving technology, diversity of digital devices, and increasingly sophisticated attacks. As this course helps reveal, there are tools and techniques for analyzing large amounts of data while maintaining its integrity, but it still requires specialized skills, knowledge and experience. Digital forensics is a challenging field, but there is a clear roadmap paved with excellent learning opportunities.

Digital forensics is fundamentally centered on two things: the preservation of evidence and the reconstruction of events. Law enforcement officials and corporate interests tend to be interested in the preservation of evidence: with sufficient evidence, wrongdoers can be held accountable – and the chain of evidence must be maintained. On the other hand, cybersecurity professionals emphasize understanding how attacks are carried out, revealing weaknesses in networks and devices to prevent future attacks.