As newer technologies develop daily, it’s more crucial than ever to have the skills and knowledge necessary to keep up to date. A competitive certification such as the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI) digital forensics online course can help you stay ahead of the curve. This certification is essential for anyone who wants to work in digital forensics. Read on to take a closer look at what you can expect from C|HFI and why you need to take this online course.

Why is Digital Forensics in High Demand?

The significance of digital evidence in civil and criminal legal proceedings is one of the main factors contributing to the increased demand for digital forensics. In the past, people committed many crimes without any digital evidence, but as our world becomes more digitized, more crimes are being committed with some digital component. This means there is a growing need for experts to analyze this evidence and provide insights that can help solve crimes (Goodison et al., 2015).

Increasing complexity is another factor. As technology advances, so do criminals, who use sophisticated tactics to perpetrate crime and leave no trace. This requires investigators to keep up with these advances and have the skills and knowledge to deal with complex digital evidence (Reedy, 2020).

Finally, the rise of data breaches has also led to a demand for digital forensics experts. When a company suffers a breach, they need to hire someone to investigate how it occurred and help prevent it from happening again. This complex process requires expert knowledge of digital evidence (Storey, 2022).

Digital forensics is a growing field with a lot of demand for qualified experts. If you have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform this type of analysis, you can expect to find plenty of work in the coming years.

What is the Role of a Forensic Analyst?

Forensic analysts play a vital role in investigating cybercrime and identifying the perpetrators. They use their skills in digital forensics to examine electronic evidence and track down the criminals responsible.

The job of a forensic analyst is to help organizations and law enforcement agencies understand how cybercriminals operate and to identify the tools and techniques they use. Organizations can better defend themselves against future attacks by understanding the methods used by attackers.

Forensic analysts use a variety of tools and techniques to examine electronic evidence. For example, they may use data recovery tools to recover deleted files or analyze network traffic to identify suspicious activity. In some cases, they may need to work with law enforcement agencies to obtain court orders for access to electronic evidence.

Cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving field, and forensic analysts must constantly update their skills to keep up with the latest threats. They need to be well-versed in computer science and have a strong understanding of how computers work. In addition, they must have excellent problem-solving skills and be able to think creatively to solve complex problems.

Salary and Career Prospects

The job of a forensic analyst is both challenging and rewarding. It requires a high level of education and training but also offers a competitive salary and an opportunity to make a difference in the world. Here is information about salary and job prospects for those contemplating a career as a forensic analyst.

The median salary for a forensic analyst is $69,940 per year (Salary, 2022). However, salaries can vary depending on experience, education, and location. For example, analysts who work in large cities or for the federal government tend to earn more than those who work in smaller towns or private companies.

Forensic computer analysts with a bachelor’s degree will range from about $40,000 to $82,000 per year. However, those with a master’s degree or higher can earn significantly more. An analyst working for the federal executive branch can earn an annual salary of around $120,790 (Learn, nd).

The job outlook for forensic analysts is particularly good. The field is expected to grow by 11% over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).  This growth is driven by the increasing popularity of forensic science shows on television and the desire of law enforcement agencies to solve more crimes (Fedorek, 2013).

Where Do Forensic Analysts Work?

Most digital forensic analysts will work in one of three main settings: law enforcement, private labs, or corporations.

Digital forensics analysts in law enforcement often investigate crimes committed using computers or other digital devices. For example, they may be asked to examine a computer used to commit identity theft or track down child pornography. In some cases, digital forensic analysts may even be called upon to testify in court about their findings.

Private labs are usually run by companies offering clients digital forensics services. These clients may be individuals, businesses, or other law enforcement agencies. Private labs typically have a wide range of clients; as such, the work of digital forensic analysts in private labs can be quite varied. For example, a digital forensic analyst working in a private lab may be asked to recover data from a damaged computer, analyze a cell phone used to commit a crime, or review security footage from a business.

Many corporations have their digital forensics teams, which are responsible for investigating any incidents that occur within the company’s network. For example, if there is suspicion that an employee has been stealing company secrets or if there is evidence that someone has been accessing company computers without authorization, the digital forensics team will be called in to investigate.

Why C|HFI?

EC-Council’s Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (C|HFI) course is a comprehensive digital forensics online training program that covers all the fundamental aspects of the field. The course starts with an introduction to digital forensics and then dives into more specific topics such as detailed methodological learning approaches, dark web & IoT forensics, and extensive coverage of malware forensics.

One of the main benefits of taking this course is that it gives students a thorough understanding of digital forensics methodology. The course covers all the major concepts and technologies involved in the field and teaches students how to apply them in real-world scenarios.

C|HFI is the perfect digital forensics online course for those looking to start a career in computer forensics or take their existing skills to the next level.

Sources

Fedorek, B. (2013, July 23). The Impact of Crime-Related Television Programs on Students’ Perceptions of the Criminal Justice System. Semantic Scholar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/d2fd885e0224bc153ef385711b73d799898b943d

Goodison, S. E., Davis, R. C., & Jackson, B. A. (2015). Digital Evidence and the U.S. Criminal Justice System. The RAND Corporation. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248770.pdf

Learn.org. (2022, December) What’s the Salary for a Recent Graduate in Computer Forensics. https://learn.org/articles/What_is_the_Average_Salary_for_a_Recent_Graduate_in_Computer_Forensics.html

Reedy, P. (2020). Interpol review of digital evidence 2016 – 2019. Forensic Science International. Synergy, 2, 489–520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.015

Salary. (2022, November 23). Forensic Scientist Salary. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/forensic-scientist-salary

Storey, P. (2022, May 6). The growing need for digital forensic investigators. OpenText. https://blogs.opentext.com/the-growing-need-for-digital-forensic-investigators/

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, September 8). Forensic Science Technicians. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-science-technicians.htm

About the Author

Ryan Clancy is a writer and blogger. With 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience, he’s passionate about all things engineering and tech. He also loves bringing engineering (especially mechanical) down to a level that everyone can understand. Ryan lives in New York City and writes about everything engineering and tech.