One of the first things that people think about when they hear the word forensics is law enforcement. Thanks to the television shows based around different types of forensics, from Bones to CSI—and even Dexter, to an extent—forensics has seemingly become synonymous with the police and other law enforcement agencies. However, they are not the only ones who will be able to make use of these specialists. In the realm of computer forensics, more and more large and small companies are using these specialists to help counter a number of problems they are having.
Because more people are using technology for their criminal enterprises, it means that businesses are more at risk. Using digital forensics investigators and having them on staff is becoming the norm. While a company may have a great IT department that they believe will help them with their security issues, nothing replaces a qualified forensics expert. They are able to find computer misuse, theft, fraud, espionage, hacks, and more.
These are all problems that companies today face regularly. With the number of cyber attacks and thefts on the rise, it only makes sense to have these highly trained specialists as a part of a corporate team. Some companies choose to outsource their forensics needs, while others bring a specialist into the fold so they will be there whenever they need them. Outsourcing may be a more cost effective option though, and that’s likely the reason that so many companies are choosing it.
Because of the increase in attacks on large corporations, it’s easy to see that the future of those who are in the field of digital forensics is a bright one. In the coming years, there will likely be a number of new positions to fill, and getting a degree in this field now is a smart move.