What Is a Computer Forensics Analyst and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As a computer forensics analyst, your duties focus on investigating electronic data and digital devices for law enforcement purposes. Your responsibilities include obtaining, accessing, and analyzing data from hard drives, emails, smartphones, and tablets. In this career, you may investigate cyber crimes (which take place on the internet) or gather digital evidence for other types of criminal investigations. In addition to collecting information, you retrieve data that someone destroyed, deleted, or obscured to hide evidence of a crime. Computer forensic analysts work for law enforcement agencies, private contractors, lawyers, or corporations. Some computer experts work on a freelance basis.

The qualifications to become a computer forensics analyst include investigative and computer skills, a relevant degree or equivalent experience, and professional certification. Employers require applicants for this job to have a degree in computer science, information security, cybersecurity, or forensics. Some computer forensics specialists undergo training while working for a law enforcement agency in another capacity. The Information Assurance Certification Review Board (IACRB) offers accreditations such as Certified Computer Forensics Examiner (CCFE) and Certified Mobile Forensics Examiner (CMFE). The InfoSec Institute provides training for these certification exams.