Become a Cyber Forensic Investigator (Beginners Roadmap 2024)

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide for aspiring cyber forensic investigators, even without prior experience or a degree. It clarifies the varied roles of a cyber forensic investigator in both private and law enforcement sectors, emphasizing the job's technical demands and potential to confront distressing material. The script provides a step-by-step roadmap, including recommended courses and certifications from RIT University, Google, The Infosec Institute, INE, and SANS Institute, to build necessary skills. It also discusses the distinction between incident response and digital forensics, the importance of practical experience, and strategies for securing roles in both civilian and law enforcement domains.

Takeaways

• 🕵️‍♂️ Cyber forensic investigators can work in both private and public sectors, including banks, insurance companies, local police stations, and federal agencies.
• 💰 The role of a cyber forensic investigator is highly technical and well-paid, with demand in law enforcement and the broader industry.
• 🤔 The job title 'cyber forensic investigator' can be confusing due to the overlap with incident response roles and the lack of clear understanding even among cybersecurity professionals.
• 🔍 Cyber forensic investigators perform technical forensic analysis, which can include examining hard drives, memory, USB sticks, mobile phones, and even cloud servers.
• 📚 The speaker recommends starting with courses like RIT's 'Computer Forensics' and Google's 'Cyber Security First' to build necessary technical skills.
• 👮‍♂️ There is a distinction between cyber forensic investigation in law enforcement and the civilian world, with the former potentially involving exposure to distressing explicit material.
• 🚀 For those without a technical background, the Google Cyber Security First course is suggested as a prerequisite to the RIT University's computer forensics course.
• 🔗 The InfoSec Institute offers a 'Computer Forensics Specialization' course series that covers digital forensics concepts, legal considerations, and practical skills.
• 🎓 Certifications such as the Certified Digital Forensics Professional (CDFP) from INE and the GCFA from SANS Institute are valuable for advancing in the field.
• 👀 TryHackMe and Hack The Box offer practical, hands-on training modules in digital forensics, providing exposure to tools and lab practice.
• 🔎 When job searching, consider roles beyond just 'digital forensics' and look into keywords like 'cyber' and roles in security operation centers for opportunities to apply forensic skills.

Q & A

What is the primary role of a cyber forensic investigator?

A cyber forensic investigator conducts technical forensic analysis to investigate cyber incidents and crimes. They can work in various sectors, including private organizations like banks or insurance companies, and law enforcement at local or federal levels.

Why can the job of a cyber forensic investigator be considered both exciting and dark?

The job can be exciting due to the dynamic nature of cyber investigations and the challenge of solving complex cases. However, it can also be dark because it may involve examining illegal and explicit materials that can be distressing.

How does the script suggest someone can become a cyber forensic investigator without a degree or experience?

The script provides a step-by-step roadmap that includes taking specific courses and gaining practical skills, which can help build the necessary expertise to become a cyber forensic investigator even without a degree or prior experience.

What is the difference between incident response and digital forensics?

Incident response involves detecting, analyzing, and responding to cyber incidents following a specific methodology. Digital forensics, on the other hand, involves conducting a technical analysis as part of the incident response or as a separate role to investigate and collect evidence from digital devices.

Why might someone working in cybersecurity not have a clear understanding of what a cyber forensic investigator does?

Cybersecurity job titles can be confusing and inconsistent, leading to a lack of clarity about specific roles. For example, someone with the title of a cyber analyst might actually be performing cyber forensic investigations.

What is the importance of understanding the relationship between incident response and digital forensics?

Understanding the relationship is crucial because while they are distinct roles, they can also overlap. Knowing this helps in identifying the specific skills and knowledge required for each role and how they contribute to the overall process of managing cyber incidents.

What are some of the challenges a cyber forensic investigator might face when working within law enforcement?

Challenges include dealing with explicit and distressing materials as part of criminal investigations, which can be emotionally taxing and may require a certain level of mental fortitude.

How does the script suggest building the necessary technical skills for a career in cyber forensics?

The script recommends starting with courses like Google Cyber Security and RIT's Computer Forensics, followed by more in-depth courses like the InfoSec Institute's Computer Forensics Specialization and INE's Certified Digital Forensics Professional certification.

What is the role of a digital forensics investigator in a broader cybersecurity context?

A digital forensics investigator is a cybersecurity professional with specialized skills in investigating cyber incidents and crimes. Their role can be part of a larger cybersecurity strategy, including incident response and post-incident analysis.

How can someone without a background in cybersecurity or related fields get started in cyber forensics?

The script suggests starting with foundational courses like Google Cyber Security First to build essential skills and then progressing to more specialized courses in computer forensics and digital forensics.

What are some practical training platforms mentioned in the script for enhancing digital forensics skills?

The script mentions TryHackMe and Hack The Box as practical, hands-on training platforms that offer digital forensics upscaling modules and challenges to strengthen skills and provide practical experience.

How does the script differentiate between landing a cyber forensic role in law enforcement versus the civilian sector?

In law enforcement, one can start as a police officer and transfer to an electronic crimes unit, often with the agency covering training costs. In the civilian sector, the focus should be on gaining relevant training and certifications, and considering roles that may involve digital forensics as part of broader cybersecurity responsibilities.

What is the significance of the work-study program mentioned in the script for obtaining SANS certifications?

The SANS work-study program is an affordable way to obtain high-quality cyber forensics training and certifications. Participants assist with administrative work during the training, allowing them to access the training and certification at a reduced cost.