How To Become A Computer Forensic Agent

By Patrick Campbell


A digital analyst normally collects information from all digital devices during legal investigations. For one to become a computer forensic agent, it is mandatory to have a degree in a relevant field like computer science and get the certificate. More so, you need to acquire some forensic skills to be able to recover information to digital and storage devices. Typically, these kinds of analysts assist law enforcement officers especially in cybercrime or other criminal cases.

Usually, this field is taken to be a security system for all important information, and it is related to both criminal justice as well as forensic science. Typically, these experts are employed by the law to help them in the retrieval of data like emails, documents or photos from flash discs, digital hard discs or zip that was deleted accidentally or intentionally, manipulated, destroyed or lost.

To add on that, these analysts examine gadgets that are suspected to have been used in cybercrime to trace illegal activities. In connection to that, the analysts protect digital devices form things like infiltration. They are also required to determine what caused the tools to break down and recover files that may have been accidentally lost.

The main duties of this analyst are to use the tools and other methods of investigation to find certain electronic data like internet history, images, word documents among other files. They usually use their technical skills to look for the lost files or information that is hidden, lost or deleted. They thus help detectives as well as other officials to analyze and evaluate the data that has been found and whether it is relevant to the case.

For you to become qualified as an analyst, it is necessary to have familiarity with the digital operating systems, hardware, security software, document creation, and networks just to mention. More so, one needs to be able to have hacking and intrusion skills as well as analytical skills to help the law find criminals and solve cases that would otherwise prove to be difficult.

It is also mandatory for one to have obtained a degree in either computer science or information technology and must have studied for at least four years. Criminal justice together with accounting is also relevant as they can equip one with more skills in the job. Upon the completion of studies, one should obtain some relevant experience before employment.

Upon completion of undergraduate studies and obtaining the relevant experience, one should attend further training in the field and pass the test so that they can be certified. This certification is given by the bodies governing this type of field. Without the certification, it might be challenging to obtain formal employment because most people need proof of qualification.

A qualified and certified analyst can then seek employment in related fields primarily criminal law. They then have to use all the skills they have learned to obtain any data that might be lost and which is crucial for investigation. More so, they can also extract any documents that have been hidden, assemble them and help law enforcement officers to analyze them.




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