The most important skills you need for a career in Digital Forensics

Tech meets criminal justice in the field of digital forensics--a branch of forensic science dealing with recovering and analyzing information from data storage devices (including computers, phones, networks, and more). Digital forensics examiners help track down hackers, recover stolen data, follow computer attacks back to their source, and aid in other types of investigations involving computers.

Want to know what it takes to become a digital forensics examiner? Here are some key skills needed for the career…

Analytical talent: It stands to reason that anyone in an investigative role needs to have the analytical skills required to piece together information and solve the case. Cyber security expert, Ondrej Krehel says: “High speed of analytical thinking, and precise observation skills, which are often gained and tested at high tech military and intelligence cyber units are also important skills to have." The ability to find patterns and make correlations is crucial in the investigation process!

Computer science/tech skills: Since digital forensics is such a technical field, it helps to come from a background studying or working with computer science. An important quality of any great digital forensics investigator is a deep understanding of how technology really works. If you have experience with computer systems, programming, or other related fields, this will help you transition into digital forensics since you will already have a general knowledge of how technology and networks work, how digital systems interact with each other, and what is possible from a compromise perspective.

Understanding of cybersecurity: The field of digital forensics is all about solving cybercrimes--and who has a better knowledge of those than cybersecurity professionals? It's impossible to guard against data breaches without knowing the techniques being used to target systems, and this same knowledge that helps to prevent crimes also is useful in solving them. Many of the most talented forensics examiners will have had experience working on a cybersecurity team.

Organisation: You can have a messy desk and be a great digital forensics examiner--but mental organisation is a must, as is organised record-keeping. Being extremely organised and thorough is a must! Documentation of your findings is necessary as it is often required to present them to others such as attorneys and judges.

Communication skills: In relation to the above point, digital forensics doesn't exist in a vacuum. The team you work with and people you work for need to know what's going on, meaning that you need to communicate it to them. According to Ondrej Krehel, "Having both strong writing and speaking skills is extremely important to effectively communicate your findings to other team members and your clients."

Desire to learn: Cybercrime is constantly evolving, so it's a must to keep your knowledge up-to-date and always seek out ways to be better at your job. To be a digital forensics examiner, you must have great pride to be one of the best in what you do. Self-critique skills for constant improvement of your work is a very desired trait!

As for higher education, degrees are helpful in breaking into the digital forensics field, but what really establishes someone's credentials is the product of their work and the ability to conduct digital forensics in very detail-oriented manner!

At TCG Digital Forensics, we do all forms of Digital Forensics such as Cyber Forensics (Penetration Testing / Hacking Recovery / Cyber Investigations), Cellular Phone Analysis, Hard Drive Analysis, Device Acquisitions and Due Diligence Investigations.