By this point, you may have an idea of whether you might prefer to pursue a career in digital forensics or in cybersecurity. Before making a decision, however, it’s worth taking the time to explore some of the specific career paths and the typical education requirements of each of these specialties.
Becoming a Digital Forensics Specialist
If you’re interested in becoming a digital forensics professional, earning a bachelor’s degree is a good start. It’s ideal to earn a cybersecurity-specific bachelor’s degree or at least a general computer science degree. While in college, look for relevant internships or part-time jobs involving cyber forensics, as work experience is important for your career trajectory.4
It can also be helpful to earn one or more professional certifications. Some options in cyber forensics include the following:4
- GIAC Advanced Smartphone Forensics (GASF)
- GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA)
- Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE)
- IACIS Certified Mobile Device Examiner (ICMDE)
There are a few specific careers within the digital forensics niche that you might want to consider pursuing. These include:5
- Information security analyst
- Detective investigator
- Criminal investigator
- Computer occupations
- Special forces
- First-line supervisor of protective service workers
- First-line supervisor of police and detectives
Becoming a Cybersecurity Professional
The job of a digital forensic professional, such as a malware analyst, can be exciting because you'll have the opportunity to investigate black hat hackers and other digital threats. However, if you have more of a proactive mindset, you may be more interested in reducing the risk of cybercrimes before they occur.
The career pathway for a cybersecurity expert is similar to that of a cyber forensic expert, as these two careers are closely related. For instance, you can start out by earning a bachelor's in cybersecurity. A bachelor’s degree in information technology or computer science would also work.6
Similar to digital forensics professionals, future cybersecurity specialists can also benefit from gaining work experience while in college.6 Look for relevant internships to help substantiate your resume and build a professional network.
After college, consider earning one or more professional certifications. Some options include the following:6
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Certified Information Security Manager
- EC-Council Network Security Administrator
- Cisco Certified Network Associate - Routing and Switching
You might start out in one or more entry-level roles, such as information security analyst, information security specialist or risk analyst.7 After that, some examples of cybersecurity careers you might want to pursue include the following:6,7
- Computer and information systems manager
- Computer systems analyst
- Computer and information research scientist
- Computer network architect
- Database administrator
- Database architect
- Network and computer systems administrator
- Software quality assurance analyst and tester
