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Digital Forensics Analyst

This expert applies digital forensic skills to a plethora of media that encompass an investigation. The practice of being a digital forensic examiner requires several skill sets, including evidence collection, computer, smartphone, cloud, and network forensics, and an investigative mindset. These experts analyze compromised systems or digital media involved in an investigation that can be used to determine what really happened. Digital media contain footprints that physical forensic data and the crime scene may not include.

Jump to:

Uncover hidden digital evidence from complex sources, reconstruct timelines of cyber incidents, and deliver critical insights for legal and security teams to effectively respond to threats.

What You'll Do

Evidence Preservation Integrity

Extract and preserve digital evidence from diverse devices and platforms, ensuring integrity and admissibility in legal proceedings.

System Artifact Analysis

Conduct detailed forensic analyses of compromised systems to reconstruct events, identify perpetrators, and uncover hidden digital artifacts.

Incident Response Collaboration

Collaborate with incident response teams to rapidly investigate breaches, mitigate threats, and provide actionable intelligence.

Similar Roles

Threat Hunter

Digital Forensics and Incident Response

This expert applies new threat intelligence against existing evidence to identify attackers that have slipped through real-time detection mechanisms. The practice of threat hunting requires several skill sets, including threat intelligence, system and network forensics, and investigative development processes. This role transitions incident response from a purely reactive investigative process to a proactive one, uncovering adversaries or their footprints based on developing intelligence.

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Malware Analyst

Digital Forensics and Incident Response

Malware analysts face attackers’ capabilities head-on, ensuring the fastest and most effective response to and containment of a cyber-attack. You look deep inside malicious software to understand the nature of the threat – how it got in, what flaw it exploited, and what it has done, is trying to do, or has the potential to achieve.

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Military Operations / Law Enforcement Agents

Digital Forensics and Incident Response

Execute digital forensic operations under demanding conditions, rapidly extracting critical intelligence from diverse devices. Leverage advanced threat hunting and malware analysis skills to neutralize sophisticated cyber adversaries.

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Intrusion Detection/SOC Analysts

Digital Forensics and Incident Response

Analyze network and endpoint data to swiftly detect threats, conduct forensic investigations, and proactively hunt adversaries across diverse platforms including cloud, mobile, and enterprise systems.

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Incident Response Team Member

Digital Forensics and Incident Response

This dynamic and fast-paced role involves identifying, mitigating, and eradicating attackers while their operations are still unfolding.

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Need more guidance about cyber roles?

There are numerous different roles in cybersecurity and where you fit depends on your interest level. SANS New to Cyber offers courses, certifications, and free resources for anyone interested in getting started in cybersecurity.

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