Let's Do Digital Forensics

So, the news is out. TP is the first poly offering the Diploma in Digital Forensics in respond to the rapidly increasing needs to train professionals to fight cyber crimes, frauds, data theft. And yes, that includes crimes which have been committed leaving digital clues found in computers and digital devices. The diploma is also called DFS in short, Defnitely First in Singapore !

We, the ones with the curious minds will lead you to follow the digital traces and uncover more about DFS. What better way to do this than, well, searching for digital clues in the Internet.

Exhibit 1: The Letters That Follow.....

- GIAC GCFA, GREM, GCIH, RHCE, CISSP, CISA, MCSE, CCNP, Ence, CCNA Security……

Clues: We searched the profiles of the lecturers, their facebooks, blogs, diploma website and noticed that they have a list of letters just like the above or logos like these following their names. What are these?



Analyse: Google and we found that these are industry’s recognition of the competencies demonstrated by a professional in a particular field. So, GIAC is Global Information Assurance Certification, GCFA is GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst, GREM is GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware. CISA is Certified Information System Auditor, and so the list goes on…

Conclusion: Be therefore assured that students will be trained by highly qualified and experienced lectures….and, students too have the opportunity to pursue some of the certifications! And some are sponsored! Great!

Exhibit 2: Papers Published like a Pro.....

Clues: We continued our search….the School of IIT website shows a photo about a lecturer – receiving an award from Spring Singapore. But wait, isn’t this the same lecturer who appeared in some other publications?




Examine: Oh…yes, found two @ http://www.itsc.org.sg/pdf/synthesis09/Two_Face_Biometric.pdf
 http://lk.sun.com/sunnews/events/2009/openjive/photos/CDSTrio/gallery.jsp?page=2&image=24#gallery

Mr Lim Eyung, currently also in the Diploma in DFS, is also a Biometric expert (e.g. face, fingerprint identification and recognition) and wow, the diploma students under him too had a chance to be involved in research and had published paper, and won many competitions (heard that the team went on to win competitions at national and international level like APICTA!)

Conclusion: Excellent !! So students will get more than a diploma and be recognised in the industry even before they graduated.

Exhibit 3: News Article 1: What has IT, Psychology and Criminal Procedure got to do with one another?

Found. A digital news paper article which briefly talked about the course structure – IT, Psychology of Deviant Behaviour and Criminal Procedures.
























Analyse: Yes! Psychology is taught too to understand the motivation of criminals committing crimes, and Criminal Procedure for court of law purpose.

Successful digital forensic analysts are highly skilled IT professionals. They are passionate about IT as the bits and bytes help them to unravel the truth...

Here s why:

• They know how the files are stored so that they can retrieve deleted data
• They know where, who and when data is transferred through the network by analysing the network traffic
• They know what malware is lurking in the systems, securely encrypt, decrypt, writing programmes to help them search and scan registries, files, logs etc to uncover the truth, and in case somehow hacked into the system, they will trace the source and work to close the security loophole.

But wait, does that mean you must have good IT foundation to join this diploma? Absolutely not, check their website as IT foundation will be taught during the first year, just like any of their existing IT courses.

Conclusion: So, you learn about IT, security, forensics, psychology and criminal procedures. Comprehensive !

Exhibit 4: Listen to What Industries said....

Found ! - More online news and articles.




No doubt about it -
Conclusion:
Clear demand for Digital Forensic Professionals!
Looking Forward!