Thanks to advanced technologies, hackers have become adept at infiltrating networks. However, even cybercriminals leave traces behind. Digital forensics unmasks criminals by gathering and analyzing digital evidence. In this article, we explore the importance of digital forensics and explain why it is the best option if you are interested in pursuing a digital forensics career.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2021 organizations experienced 50 percent more cyber attacks per week than in 2020 according to checkpoint research. This alarming figure shows that no matter how strong your defense systems are, you are still at risk of cyber attacks in today’s world. Organizations that are targets of cyber crime need cyber security experts to gather and analyze digital evidence to be used in a court of law. Failure to do so could result in attackers retaining unfettered access to organization’s network causing further damage to the business and possible legal repercussions. The practice of investigating recording and reporting cyber crimes to prevent future attacks is called Digital Forensics also known as Computer Forensics.
Computer forensics began more than 30 YEARS AGO when law enforcement and military investigators noticed that criminals were becoming more advanced.
The rise of financial crime using computers in the 1980s gave rise to the field of digital forensics that we know today.
DUE TO THE UBIQUITY OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, CYBERCRIMINALS HAVE BECOME ADEPT AT EXPLORING ANY CYBER VULNERABILITY.
Equipped with the latest tools, digital forensics experts gather vital clues that can be used by law enforcement personnel to pursue and convict malicious actors.
- Computer-based Human Exploitation
- CYBERTERRORISM
- CYBERSTALKING
- DATA BREACHES
- THEFT OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.
IN OTHER WORDS, DIGITAL FORENSICS EXPERTS ARE THE DETECTIVES OF THE DIGITAL AGE. WITHOUT DIGITAL FORENSICS, THE EVIDENCE OF A BREACH MAY GO UNNOTICED OR BECOME COMPROMISED, WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUTURE ATTACKS ON AN ORGANIZATION.
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND DIGITAL FORENSICS, LET’S LOOK AT ITS THREE DISTINCT BRANCHES,
- Computer forensics involves collecting and preserving data from computers, laptops, & storage devices to be presented as evidence incourt.
- Network forensics is the process of monitoring and analyzing network traffic to gatherevidence.
- Mobile forensics refers to the practice of retrieving data from mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
With the increasing incidence of cyber attacks the demand for digital forensics experts will continue to grow. Analysts at expert market research predict that the digital forensics market will attain a value of USD 20.29 billion by 2027. There has never been a better time to enter this field. Pay scale reports that as of march 2022, the average base salary for a digital forensic investigator in the UNITED STATES IS USD 65,352.
If you have impeccable technical and analytical skills, a great command of cyber security concepts and a passion for criminal justice that a career in digital forensics might be the right path for you to build a successful digital forensics career.
-When hackers are smart, investigators need to be smarter.
