Digital forensic analyst
Investigate cyber crime to protect people from hackers, thieves and terrorists.
Also known as: forensic computer analyst, cyber security professional
About the job
A day in the life – Digital forensic analyst
What it's like
You would investigate cyber crime to protect people from hackers, thieves and terrorists. Your work would help to prevent others from becoming victims of similar crimes.
You could work for the police or security services, a bank or an IT firm.
You would use specialist computer programs to investigate crimes like:
hacking, online scams and fraud
Political, industrial and commercial spying
Terrorist communications
Possession of illegal content or images
Theft of confidential information
On a typical case you might:
Secure the system so it can’t be tampered with again
Find and copy data from disks that are hidden, encrypted or damaged
Unlock digital images that have been changed to hide the identity of a place or person
Use mobile phone records to trace devices
Uncover electronic links between individuals or groups
Keep records of your work
Present your findings to managers, law enforcement organisations and your clients
Appear in court as an expert witness
GIve general advice on cyber security
It would be important to have good knowledge of information security standards and laws. You would also need to keep up to date with technology, investigative tools and criminal methods.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- ethical
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- problem solving
- innovative
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Computing Science
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Hardware and Systems Support
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
To work as a digital forensic analyst you will usually need a background or qualification in IT or a related field.
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role but qualifications and experience that demonstrate expertise in ICT/Microsoft Windows operating systems, understanding and experience of the information security profession and the capacity to learn will be important.
Relevant qualifications such as a Computer Security & Forensics degree (SCQF Level 9/10) may be helpful especially if they involve a related work placement.
To enter a forensic computing degree (SCQF level 9/10) will require National 5 qualifications and at least four Highers at BBBC or above.
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