12 Best Digital Forensics Courses and Certifications 

Best Digital Forensics Course (Advance)

Course 1: Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI) Program:

About the C|HFI Program: EC-Council’s C|HFI program is a lab-based program that equips cyber security professionals with knowledge and skills to help their organizations reach a state of forensic readiness. This intense 5-day program immerses students in learning ground-breaking digital forensics technologies and trains them through 50+ forensic labs to give them hands-on experience. Students get trained in establishing the forensics processes, lab, and evidence handling procedures, as well as the various forensic investigation procedures.

Key Benefits and Features of C|HFI

1. Detailed Methodological Learning ApproachThe C|HFI presents a methodological approach to computer forensics including searching and seizing, chain-of-custody, acquisition, preservation, analysis, and reporting of digital evidence.
2. Dark Web & IoT ForensicsThe first certification program to offer you Dark Web and IoT Forensics modules.
3. Extensive Coverage on Malware ForensicsForensic Methodologies for Cloud Infrastructure (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure Cloud, and Google Cloud Platform)
4. In-depth focus on volatile and non-volatile data acquisition and the examination process (RAM Forensics, Tor Forensics, etc.
5. New techniques such as the Defeating Anti-Forensic Technique, Windows ShellBags including analyzing LNK files, and Jump Lists
6. 50 GB of Crafted Evidence Files
7. 50+ Complex Labs
8. Latest Forensics tools
9. ANSI 17024 Accredited Certification Program
10. Mapped to the NICE 2.0 Framework
11. Recognized by the DoD under Directive 8140

Training Options

•  Training Options: iLearn (Self-Study) / iWeek (Live Online) / Master Class / Training Partner (in person)

Examination Format

Number of Questions: 150

Test Duration: 4 Hours

Test Format: Multiple Choice

For more information, visit https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/computer-hacking-forensic-investigator-chfi/

Course 2: Digital Forensics Essentials (Best Digital Forensics Course FREE Course for Beginners)

DFE Course Overview: This course will introduce learners to Computer Forensics Fundamentals as well as the Computer Forensics Investigation Process. Plan to learn about Dark Web, Windows, Linux, Malware Forensics, and so much more! The interactive labs component of this course ensures that learners receive the hands-on, practical experience required for a future in digital forensics.

Gain the skills to be eligible for increased responsibilities and better opportunities in digital forensics.

• Course Link – Digital Forensics Essentials | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Beginner
• Duration – 11 hours
• No. of Videos – 12
• No. of Assessments – 40
• What You Will Learn –
  • Computer forensics investigation process and its phases
  • Types of disk drives, their characteristics, logical structure, and various OS booting processes
  • Data acquisition concepts, types, format, and methodology.

Best Digital Forensic Course for Core Skill Development

Course 3: Recover Lost Data by Hacking Windows

• Course Overview Recover your data in Windows by hacking into the system.
• Course Link – Recover Lost Data by Hacking Windows | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Beginner
• Duration – 6 hours
• No. of Videos – 22
• No. of Assessments – 30
• What You Will Learn –
  • • The importance of backup as a preventive measure to avoid data loss.
    • How to recover data for directly attached or removable drives
    • Data Recovery Software Tools for NTFS, Fat32 and exFAT data recovery.

Course 4: Linux Forensics

• Course Overview – Gain the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to administer and support your Linux OS.
• Course Link – Linux Forensics | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Beginner
• Duration – 2 hours
• No. of Videos – 15
• No. of Assessments – 10
• What You Will Learn –
  • Administer and support Linux in your environment.
  • Manage and automate GNU open-source tools.
  • Create, edit, and search files and directories.

Course 5: Hands-on Network Forensics

• Course Overview – How to detect network attacks with open sources and free tools, analyzing network traffic in a forensically manner.
• Course Link – Hands-on Network Forensics | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Beginner
• Duration – 4 hours
• No. of Videos – 6
• No. of Assessments – 10
• What You Will Learn –
  • Learn different scan forms and how to detect them.
  • Learn the fundamentals of network design, network forensics tools and best practice, and how to perform analysis on a variety of data.
  • Get acquainted with the strategies to identify cobalt strike attacks using network forensics.

Course 6: Black Hat Python: Python For Pentesters

• • Course Overview – Learn how to write python scripts in order to perform pentesting on Windows and Linux Machines
  • Course Link – Black Hat Python: Python For Pentesters | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 5 hours
  • No. of Videos – 29
  • No. of Assessments – 35
  • What You Will Learn –
    • Understanding Web Applications Pentesting Library and Tool kits.
    • Interact with web apps using Python and request library.
    • Perform end point penetration on victim machines.

Course 7: Hands-on Drone Forensics

• Course Overview – Learn how to extract forensic evidence from a drone to discover the attacks by a predator drone during a criminal investigation.
• Course Link – Hands-on Drone Forensics | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Advanced
• Duration – 4 hours
• No. of Videos – 29
• No. of Assessments – 35
• What You Will Learn –
  • Understand about the Open-source and commercial tools, technologies and methodologies used in drone forensic investigations.
  • Explore reverse engineering to learn the various components of a drone.
  • Familiarize with UAV Kill Chain and STRIDE threat models to drone forensic investigations.

Course 8: Computer Forensics Best Practices

Course Overview – There are five main components to computer forensics these being: identification; collection; preservation; analysis and presentation; of computer forensic evidence and each one of these components is important on its own. The underlying concept in computer forensics is to ensure limited or no handling of the original evidence and to make certain all the steps are followed to satisfy the evidence presented before the court will stand the test of the law. This course will introduce many of these tools and how and when to use them. If you want to get into the industry and do well and obtain a job in this area or just improve your skillset, then this is the course for you.

• Course Link – Computer Forensics Best Practices | EC-Council Learning
• Course Level – Intermediate
• Duration – 4 hours
• No. of Videos – 13
• No. of Assessments – 6 Quizzes & Assessments
• What You Will Learn –
  • Learn how to identify what digital artifacts will be present during an investigation.
  • Learn how to collect both conventional evidence and digital evidence.
  • Learn about the best industry procedures and tools to preserve evidence.

Best Digital Forensic Courses to Get Started: Beginner Level

Course 9: Introduction to Cybersecurity

• Course Overview – A comprehensive dive into the world of cybersecurity for beginners and intermediate learners
• Course Link – Introduction to Cybersecurity | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Beginner
• Duration – 4 hours
• No. of Videos – 46
• No. of Assessments – 50
• What You Will Learn –
  • How malicious hackers can turn your social media against you.
  • How to identify phishing emails, bad links, etc.
  • How to prevent and recover from virus and ransomware attacks.

Course 10: Practical Hardware Pentesting

• Course Overview – Learn how to hack and exploit hardware from the foundations and become a great hardware pentesting expert.
• Course Link – Practical Hardware Pentesting | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Intermediate
• Duration – 4 hours
• No. of Videos – 21
• No. of Assessments – 35
• What You Will Learn –
  • An advanced practical skillset to defeat hardware security measures and exploit physical vulnerabilities.
  • The most useful and foundational concepts to understand every hardware attack.
  • How to identify weak spots in any kind of hardware device or protocol.

Course 11: In the Trenches: Security Operations Center

• Course Overview – Learn about the ins and outs of a Security Operations Center and Enterprise Defense
• Course Link – In the Trenches: Security Operations Center | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Beginner
• Duration – 4 hours
• No. of Videos – 14
• No. of Assessments – 50
• What You Will Learn –
  • Enterprise Security Structure
  • Modern threat and attacker TTPs
  • A basic primer to Security Onion

Course 12: Mastering Pentesting using Kali Linux

• Course Overview – Learn Kali Linux tools to become a Professional in Penetration Testing
• Course Link – Mastering Pentesting using Kali Linux | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
• Course Level – Beginner
• Duration – 4 hours
• No. of Videos – 38
• No. of Assessments – 20
• What You Will Learn –
  • Learn and perform Wireless Attacks
  • Learn Forensics Analysis using Forensics Tools
  • Perform Exploitation and Post Exploitation Techniques

What is Digital Forensics?

Digital forensic science is a branch of forensic science that focuses on the recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices related to cybercrime. The term digital forensics was first used as a synonym for computer forensics. Since then, it has expanded to cover the investigation of any devices that can store digital data. Although the first computer crime was reported in 1978, followed by the Florida computers act, it wasn’t until the 1990s that it became a recognized term. It was only in the early 21st century that national policies on digital forensics emerged. Digital forensics is the process of identifying, preserving, analyzing, and documenting digital evidence. This is done in order to present evidence in a court of law when required.

Job Roles Mapped to Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator Course (C|HFI)

1. Cyber Defense Forensics Analyst: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
2. Forensic Analyst: Average Annual Salary in US $60,000 – $110,000
3. Cyber Crime Investigator: Average Annual Salary in US 70,000 – $120,000
4. Information Systems Security Professional: Average Annual Salary in US $80,000 – $140,000
5. Forensic Computer Analyst: Average Annual Salary in US $60,000 – $120,000
6. Information Security Analyst: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
7. Malware Analyst: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
8. Computer Forensics Examiner: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
9. SECURITY CONSULTANT: Average Annual Salary in US $80,000 – $150,000
10. Computer Forensics Technician: Average Annual Salary in US $50,000 – $100,000
11. Digital Crime Specialist: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
12. Information Technology Auditor: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
13. Mobile forensics Expert: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
14. Computer crime investigator: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
15. Cryptanalyst: Average Annual Salary in US $80,000 – $150,000
16. Cryptographer: Average Annual Salary in US $80,000 – $150,000
17. Disaster recovery Expert: Average Annual Salary in US $80,000 – $140,000
18. Intelligence Technology Analyst: Average Annual Salary in US $80,000 – $140,000
19. Computer Forensic Criminal Investigator: Average Annual Salary in US $70,000 – $120,000
20. Forensic Accountant: Average Annual Salary in US $60,000 – $120,000

Top Organizations That Employ Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator