Cyber forensics, also known as digital forensics or computer forensics, involves the use of both technology and investigative techniques to investigate legal and illegal digital activity or cybercrime. These cybercrimes might involve illegal hacking, ransomware attacks, malware infections or other illicit digital activities.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

If you have a passion for technology and an interest in working in the digital security space, you might consider pursuing a digital forensics career path. What is a cyber forensics career like? First, consider the multiple uses of cyber forensics and the skills required and then take a look at the various career opportunities.

What is digital forensics in cybersecurity like? Often, it focuses on investigating cybercrimes that have already happened, such as denial of service (DoS) incidents, criminal activities, malware and data breaches. Forensics cybersecurity professionals investigate how the attack occurred and what sort of damage resulted. They also collect and preserve digital evidence along the way and identify strategies for preventing the same thing from happening again.^{(See disclaimer 1)} Forensic investigators support crime fighting by gathering forensic evidence and testifying in a court of law.

Cyber forensics is not entirely reactionary, however. Cybersecurity professionals can also take a proactive stance by testing the existing IT infrastructure for potential vulnerabilities. They can then provide recommendations to the organization regarding ways to strengthen the security of the network and its devices in order to reduce the risk of a cyberattack.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

In short, some of the most common uses of digital forensics include:^{(See disclaimer 1)}

• Detecting, identifying and investigating cybercrime
• Assessing and controlling digital damage
• Protecting sensitive information, such as customer data or proprietary information
• Ensuring organizational legal compliance
• Supporting the prosecution of cybercriminals through digital evidence collection
• Improving organizational cybersecurity to reduce the risk of future attacks

Digital forensics professionals may investigate a variety of digital crimes. Along with cyberattacks, these cybersecurity experts may investigate financial fraud (such as cryptocurrency crimes, insurance frauds), intellectual property theft, various social networks and cloud storage for crimes and whistleblower complaints.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

To investigate cybercrimes properly and ensure that digital evidence will withstand the legal scrutiny of a courtroom, cyber forensics professionals follow an established, structured process. The five main stages of a digital investigation comprise the foundation of cyber forensics.

These stages are:^{(See disclaimer 2)}

1. Identification: Professionals first identify that an attack or breach has occurred, and they identify all of the digital networks and devices that might offer investigative clues. They implement strict access control and isolate those devices to prevent data tampering.
2. Extraction and preservation: In this stage, professionals work to extract important information from the devices by creating a forensic image, which is an exact copy of the data. Professionals then secure the original and work from the copy to preserve evidence.
3. Analysis: Once the digital data has been secured, it is analyzed using techniques such as reverse steganography, which involves uncovering hidden data.
4. Documentation: Investigators record the details of their findings, reconstructing the series of events and creating documentation that can be used in criminal court cases.
5. Presentation: Lastly, digital forensics investigators present their findings, such as to the board of the company and/or to a court of law.

If you’re eager to pursue a computer forensics career, you should take a look at some of the top skills that are helpful in this niche. You’ll need fundamental technical skills, such as an understanding of how different operating systems and file systems work. You should also learn a few computer programming languages. For digital forensics professionals, some of the most helpful languages to learn include Python, PowerShell, Bash/Shell, C/C++, Assembly and Java.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Other important technical skills include the following:^{(See disclaimer 3)}

• The use of digital forensics tools such as Autopsy, Volatility, Paraben, Cellebrite, ADF Solutions and Forensic Toolkit
• An understanding of cryptography, including encryption and decryption techniques
• Ability to detect and analyze malware
• An understanding of network protocols
• Techniques for extracting and analyzing data from smartphones
• Investigation of data on various cloud platforms, including AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud
• Investigation of various social networks from Instagram, TikTok, Discord and all others that require data extraction

If you earn a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with an Emphasis in Cybersecurity degree at Grand Canyon University, you’ll take a close look at digital forensics skills. These include skills in information assurance, networking, cloud computing, platform technologies and many more.

Cyber forensics and cybersecurity are quite similar, as both focus on preventing and responding to cyberattacks. However, cybersecurity is a broader concept that predominantly involves strengthening the security of technology infrastructure in order to prevent cybercrimes like data breaches. 

Cyber forensics is like a subfield of cybersecurity. What is digital forensics in cybersecurity? While cyber forensics professionals also work to prevent cybercrimes, their primary focus is on investigating cybercrimes and data breaches that have already occurred. In short, while cyber forensics can indeed be proactive, the main difference between digital forensics vs. cybersecurity is that the former is largely reactionary, whereas the latter is predominantly proactive.

If the idea of investigating digital crimes appeals to you, you might consider pursuing various career opportunities within the computer forensics subfield. There are plenty of exciting possibilities to consider, such as the role of a computer systems analyst.

Computer Systems Analyst

Computer systems analysts evaluate an organization’s current IT infrastructure and identify means of improving it. They may:

• Research different technologies to identify options that streamline the organization’s IT systems
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses to determine which upgrades to choose
• Configure hardware and software to design new systems
• Test systems to ensure proper operations
• Develop instructional documentation and train users

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for computer systems analysts was $103,790 as of May 2024.^{(See disclaimer 4)(See disclaimer )}There is a need for these professionals within a range of organizations. According to the BLS, the projected job growth rate will be 9% from 2024 through 2034, much faster than average for all professions, indicating a need for about 45,500 new professionals.^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Information Security Analyst

These digital forensics professionals are charged with monitoring their organization’s networks and devices for cyberattacks and security breaches. They implement and maintain protective software, such as firewalls, and check for vulnerabilities. They also investigate attacks that have occurred, document their findings and recommend security improvements.

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for information security analysts was $124,910 as of May 2024.^{(See disclaimer 6)} The projected job growth rate is 29% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, accounting for an estimated 52,100 new jobs.^{(See disclaimer 7)}

Database Administrator and Architect

Within the cybersecurity field, database administrators and architects focus narrowly on the creation, organization and security of systems used to store data. This data can be sensitive, including customer data and financial information, so security is essential. These professionals perform tasks such as designing and building new databases, ensuring data security, backing up and restoring data and ensuring efficient, error-free operations.

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for database administrators and architects was $123,100 as of May 2024.^{(See disclaimer 8)} The projected job growth rate is 4% from 2024 through 2034, as fast as average, indicating a need for about 5,300 new professionals.^{(See disclaimer 9)}

At Grand Canyon University, the College of Engineering and Technology offers a wide range of tech-focused degree programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) with an Emphasis in Cybersecurity degree. BSIT students explore the applications of IT and cybersecurity competencies toward improving organizational security and streamlining enterprise systems operations. The degree’s blend of didactic coursework and experiential learning opportunities covers modern areas of interest to organizations — from cloud computing and platform technologies to IT security and management.