Digital Forensics
A specialized field that involves investigating digital evidence to uncover and analyze potential crimes or security breaches.
What is Digital Forensics?
Digital forensics is the process of collecting, analyzing, and preserving digital evidence to support investigations and legal proceedings. It plays a crucial role in uncovering cybercrimes and providing valuable insights for law enforcement agencies and private companies. Discover the exciting career opportunities in digital forensics and learn how you can become a part of this rapidly growing field.
Digital Forensics vs. Cyber Security: Understanding the Differences
Digital forensics and cyber security are two distinct fields that focus on different elements. Both aim to safeguard digital assets and collect information. However, cyber security deals with preventing and protecting against cyber threats, while digital forensics involves the investigation and analysis of digital evidence after a cyber threat has occurred.​
​Digital forensics analysts:
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Conduct in-depth analyses of digital evidence for legal proceedings.
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Identify, collect, preserve, analyze, and report digital evidence through forensic science methods and procedures.
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Recover deleted and/or encrypted data for investigative purposes.
Digital Forensics Analysts Careers
The increasing importance of digital environments in society means that nearly every investigation (criminal and non-criminal) involves digital evidence. As a result, the industry is expected to grow by 32% by 2028. Trained employees capable of collecting, processing, evaluating, and reporting on the information contained on mobile devices (e.g., text messages, emails, media files), cloud servers, computers, Internet of Things, etc. is a growing need that remains unmet.
In 2022, the median annual salary for digital forensics analysts was $99,730. Analysts can be found within a variety of employment sectors including:
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Private corporations (e.g., cybersecurity, technology, financial, retail, medical, education)
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Criminal justice agencies (e.g., local/state/federal police)
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Counter-intelligence (e.g., FBI, CIA, USSS)
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Cybersecurity firms (e.g., Fortinet, Strikeforce, Cisco)
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Government crime labs (e.g., Santa Clara County Crime Lab)​​
Obtain a Degree in Digital Forensics at SJSU
Strategically located in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose State University offers the only bachelor’s degree in digital forensic evidence within the California public education system. Thanks to an multi-disciplinary curriculum introduced in 2020, students are provided with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to thrive in any career in the public or private sector examining digital evidence.​​​
