Cybersecurity and digital forensics are indispensable components of protecting information stored on computers, mobile phones, servers and other electronic devices. This data may be utilized for business or social purposes alike - from conducting transactions online to communicating with friends and family.
Cyber security professionals work tirelessly to safeguard their employer's data against theft or breaches by hackers or criminals, with preventative measures including setting user permissions, changing secure passwords and monitoring overall system security among other things.
Digital Forensics professionals are employed to retrieve and analyze data retrieved from computers or electronic devices during an incident, in order to assess its cause, the parties involved, and what happened. They're charged with discovering what caused it all and who is at fault.
Scientific investigatory techniques allow them to collect, examine, and preserve evidence which could prove valuable in court proceedings. Their goal is to give courts an accurate depiction of what transpired and who was at fault.
Digital forensics refers to the study and investigation of computer files, emails, documents and other digital information found on computers, laptops, servers and other digital devices. This activity encompasses various activities including recovering data from hard drives or storage media devices; recovering deleted or lost files; locating them again when deleted; uncovering clues identifying criminals - just to name a few!
Digital forensics professionals use specialized software programs and tools such as Autopsy, DumpZilla, and others to collect, store, and analyze the data they gather.
As a digital forensics professional, you may work in law enforcement or private investigations. Some of the world's biggest corporations and organizations rely heavily on digital forensics experts for investigations of data breaches, identity theft and other cyber crimes.
Digital forensics jobs can be gained by earning both an undergraduate degree in computer science or another related discipline and completing graduate-level programs in cybersecurity or digital forensics. You could also take an optional certification course for added training and qualification.
As of 2020, the average salary of a computer forensics expert in the US stands at approximately $57,775 annually; however, this may increase depending on your industry of choice and experience level. As such, some computer forensics professionals opt to specialize in digital forensics as they believe this career path offers higher returns quicker than traditional jobs in traditional forensics.
