Career Spotlight: Digital Forensics Analyst
If you enjoy the intellectual challenge of solving puzzles and seek a career where you can have a positive impact on society while serving justice, consider a career as a digital forensics analyst. You will find diverse career paths, job security in a high-demand field, and competitive salaries. Given the always-evolving nature of cybercrime and threats that continue to explode in number and variety, this career choice will keep you engaged and well rewarded throughout your career.
What Is Computer Forensics?
The field of computer forensics deals with the recovery, analysis, documentation, and safeguarding of cybercrime evidence on computers, networks, and other data storage devices.
Computer forensics involves investigating how a cybercrime was committed, as well as the extent of the exploit; analyzing malware and other types of analysis; calculating losses incurred; helping with an effective incident response; assessing threats; and, ideally, finding out who conducted the incursion.
Corporate investigators, regulators, and law enforcement may be involved. It’s possible the evidence you recover will be used in criminal and civil court, requiring you to also understand chain-of-custody issues. Your findings will further inform improvements to cyber defense measures.
What Does a Digital Forensics Analyst Do?
Your role as a digital forensics analyst will generally be to discover, analyze, and investigate digital security breaches. You’ll support corporate and law enforcement investigations and will contribute to mitigating vulnerabilities in the future.
When it comes to your core tasks as a digital forensics analyst, the details vary depending on your industry and seniority. Typical work responsibilities in computer forensics include:
- Checking log files and analyzing data for evidence of the intrusion, methods used, and the identity of the cybercriminals
- Using dynamic analysis, diving deep into the intrusion to chase down new information
- Performing file signature analysis, file system forensic analysis, volatile data analysis, bit-level and binary analysis, and malware analysis
- Reporting findings required by the applicable cybersecurity frameworks and regulations
- Recovering data and restoring data integrity whenever possible
- Discovering the clues that intruders leave in source code, malware, system configurations, and more
- Supporting incidence response teams
- Strengthening your organization’s cybersecurity protections against future attacks
- Conducting threat assessment audits for known risks
How Much Do Digital Forensics Analysts Make?
Given the high demand for people with the skills to work as a digital forensics analyst, you can command a salary ranging from $62,720 as the lowest advertised salary to $161,536 in the 90th percentile of earners. The median annual advertised salary is $104,192, according to Lightcast in October 2024.
What Skills Will You Need?
You’ll need to develop competencies in computer forensics, network defense, compliance with security frameworks, system administration testing and evaluation, and threat analysis.
It’s vital to have knowledge of software, operating systems, network technologies, forensic tools, and the tactics, techniques, and procedures of threat actors, including obfuscation techniques.
Once you have evidence, you’ll need to know how to analyze it while preserving evidence integrity.
Skill in reporting data and implications to internal teams, cybersecurity frameworks, and regulators will help prevent future losses and may save your organization from hefty fines.
How Can You Start Your Career in Computer Forensics?
Your career as a digital forensics analyst in the field of computer forensics starts with education. We invite you to explore the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program at Excelsior University.
Most positions require a bachelor’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or digital forensics. Higher-paying positions and leadership roles typically require a master’s degree. Because the field of cybercrime is evolving so fast, you may wish to continue your education with cybersecurity certifications such as Certified Computer Examiner, Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Ethical Hacker, and others.
Gaining practical experience in law enforcement, at private firms specializing in cybersecurity, with digital forensics labs, and on in-house corporate cybersecurity teams will help you build skills. With a commitment to formal and informal learning, you can build a rewarding career as a digital forensics analyst.
