Understanding The Field Of Computer Forensics Investigation

By Sharon Wallace


Digital forensics or computer forensics is one of the most recent fields. This field has emerged as a solution to curb increasing cyber-attacks happening presently. Over past few years, cyber threats have increased more than three times in number. This has led to the need to have counter measures or strategies to tackle the situation. As a response, more studies are done in the field of digital forensics. Moreover, new courses are being launched and taught at colleges and universities to handle threats to cyber installations.

Individuals specializing in the field of digital forensic investigation are referred to by many names including computer forensic specialists, analysts, and examiners. Most of their work revolves around recovering and reporting on data stored on digital artifact. To add on this, computer forensics investigation professionals also give detailed description about the condition of such digital devices. Storage devices, electronic documents and files, electronic devices like hard drives, DCs and computing systems are some of the examples under digital artifacts.

This field is growing at a very fast rate and it includes many branches that are related to networks, databases, mobile devices, and firewalls among many others. Being a specialist in this field can land one work with a wide range of employers, including local, state, and federal governments. One can also find work with banks, law firms, software development companies, accounting firms, and learning institutions among others.

Most importantly, every organization dealing with computing systems or anything close to this must make sure its systems are protected. Additionally, such organizations usually want to understand the repercussions of incidents like cyber-attack. This means that organizations dealing in computing systems to a level of significance are best if they employ a digital forensic expert of their own for safety reasons.

Digital forensic investigators may choose to work on a full-time basis with an employer, or they may choose to work as contractors. Working on a full-time basis with an employer means that one cannot work with other clients except the employer. On the other hand, contractors are free to contract as many clients as they can manage. Investigators usually have a choice to make between these two options.

For investigators, they tackle a variety of duties. Depending on digital data collected, investigators offer numerous services. A client is given the data collected and may use it for filing a law suit or other uses. A client is also given detailed information on means used by hacker to access computing systems and prevention mechanisms to related occurrences forthcoming.

The other duties entail recovery of inaccessible files from storage devices that are in good condition or damaged. Encryption and accidental or intentional deletion of files is what leads to inaccessibility of data on storage media. To add on this, investigators do analysis of data and report what they find out.

This field being a relatively new one is encouraging. With persistent cyber threats or attacks, the field is appealing to learners and people with interest in it. Before one can join the field, one must meet specific academic and professional conditions.




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