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Computer forensics is the process of using the latest knowledge of science and technology with computer sciences to collect, analyze and present proofs to the criminal or civil courts. Network administrator and security staff administer and manage networks and information systems should have complete knowledge of computer forensics. The meaning of the word “forensics” is “to bring to the court”. Forensics is the process which deals in finding evidence and recovering the data. The evidence includes many forms such as finger prints, DNA test or complete files on computer hard drives etc. The consistency and standardization of computer forensics across courts is not recognized strongly because it is new discipline.

It is necessary for network administrator and security staff of networked organizations to practice computer forensics and should have knowledge of laws because rate of cyber crimes is increasing greatly. It is very interesting for mangers and personnel who want to know how computer forensics can become a strategic element of their organization security. Personnel, security staff and network administrator should know all the issues related to computer forensics. Computer experts use advanced tools and techniques to recover deleted, damaged or corrupt data and evidence against attacks and intrusions.

These evidences are collected to follow cases in criminal and civil courts against those culprits who committed computer crimes. The survivability and integrity of network infrastructure of any organization depends on the application of computer forensics. In the current situations computer forensics should be taken as the basic element of computer and network security. It would be a great advantage for your company if you know all the technical and legal aspects of computer forensics. If your network is attacked and intruder is caught then good knowledge about computer forensics will help to provide evidence and prosecute the case in the court.

There are many risks if you practice computer forensics badly. If you don’t take it in account then vital evidence might be destroyed. New laws are being developed to protect customers’ data; but if certain kind of data is not properly protected then many liabilities can be assigned to the organization. New rules can bring organizations in criminal or civil courts if the organizations fail to protect customer data. Organization money can also be saved by applying computer forensics. Some mangers and personnel spent a large portion of their IT budget for network and computer security. It is reported by International Data Corporation (IDC) that software for vulnerability assessment and intrusion detection will approach .45 billion in 2006.

As organizations are increasing in number and the risk of hackers and contractors is also increase so they have developed their own security systems. Organizations have developed security devices for their network like intrusions detection systems (IDS), proxies, firewalls which report on the security status of network of an organization. So technically the major goal of computer forensics is to recognize, gather, protect and examine data in such a way that protects the integrity of the collected evidence to use it efficiently and effectively in a case.

Investigation of computer forensics has some typical aspects. In first area computer experts who investigate computers should know the type of evidence they are looking for to make their search effective. Computer crimes are wide in range such as child pornography, theft of personal data and destruction of data or computer.

Second, computer experts or investigators should use suitable tools. The investigators should have good knowledge of software, latest techniques and methods to recover the deleted, encrypted or damaged files and prevent further damage in the process of recovery.

In computer forensics two kinds of data are collected. Persistent data is stored on local disk drives or on other media and is protected when the computer is powered off or turned off. Volatile data is stored in random access memory and is lost when the computer is turned off or loses power. Volatile data is located in caches, random access memory (RAM) and registers. Computer expert or investigator should know trusted ways to capture volatile data. Security staff and network administrators should have knowledge about network and computer administration task effects on computer forensics process and the ability to recover data lost in a security incident.

Until a few years back, crime was associated with things such as burglaries, car theft, and so on but with the new age of computers and internet technology, crime has evolved. In fact, the issue of crime pertaining to computers has become such a serious problem, many colleges and universities now offer special computer forensics training.

With computer crime reaching all-time highs, working as a specialist in this field is a great career option. If this were something you find interesting, you would discover that you could look at any number of colleges and universities and find that computer forensics training is a part of the standard curriculum.

These programs are designed to provide you with all the expertise needed so you could perform in-depth research and capture data to find computer hackers and other criminals. With this, these individuals could be successfully prosecuted. Computers play vital roles in businesses around the world and of every size and industry so learning how to protect companies, along with personal computers is vital. Computer forensics training is challenging but also exciting.

Once you earn your certification or degree, you would have the qualifications and skills to detect data hidden deep on hard drives, and even locate files that were deleted or encrypted. Best of all, all you would need to do your job is know the subtle hints to look for, little things left behind on the computer?s hard drive.

Using appropriate software programs and tools, your computer forensics training would take you far in a career that would be highly beneficial to companies in recovering vital information. When looking at the various colleges and universities offering computer forensics training, you would find they are much the same although slight differences exist. The completion time for earning your certification or degree would also vary, depending on the school of choice.

Regardless, once you begin your new career, you would find it to be rewarding. Yes, this type of career does require you to gain special knowledge and going through school is a commitment of time, but with computer crimes being such a serious issue, you can be sure your abilities would be needed. Depending on the level for which the computer forensics training is performed, requirements may differ greatly. While for some cases, knowledge of the Windows Operating System is enough, for others, very professional computer training is required.

Thus, only applicants with a BA in computer science may be accepted for computer forensics training. Some levels of training are less demanding, and knowledge of security systems and Windows administration experience may be enough. Some computer forensics training programs even provide toolkits at the completion of the courses for those who get certification.

Without doubt, career opportunities are varied and in excess so after going through computer forensics training, you would have your choice of where to work. In addition, the earning potential for such careers is exceptional. You would even have a choice of computer crime types. With your certificate and/or degree, you could work on a national or international level, protecting any number of corporations that need help with security problems specific to the computer and proprietary information.

Remember, building a career with your computer forensics training is exciting and you would have multiple avenues to consider. As you enter the world and begin to put your skills to work, you would feel gratified knowing you are doing something good. Just remember that while computer forensics is adventurous and a career that does make a difference in fighting crime, it typically involves long hours of work.

Having the opportunity to protect companies while putting criminals in jail, makes the time and money spent going through computer forensics training worth it.

Computer forensics may sound like a concept for the next TV drama series to follow CSI and Law & Order, but it’s an everyday reality in today’s technology-driven world, albeit a lesser-known reality far behind custom software development and network hosting services.

Computer forensic examiners are like modern-day private investigators in the computer world. They often work with confidential information in a private, secure setting. There’s no physical crime scene, but a hard drive can host a virtual crime scene that examiners can’t wait to crack open.

Computer forensics is still a relatively new – and way cool – concept. So what exactly is it all about?

Investigative computer forensics serves business and legal purposes in many industries, basically any sector that relies on electronic data. Law firms, government agencies, corporations, organizations and educational institutions enlist the help of computer forensic consultants in both civil and criminal lawsuits. Computer forensic examiners are highly trained to understand the complexity of restoring electronic data that seems to have been deleted. Or has it?

That’s what Senior Implementation Specialist and Computer Forensic Examiner Mike Nelson works to find out every day at Miles Technologies, a leading IT Company in southern New Jersey. Mike oversees many forensic projects from start to finish and brings an enormous wealth of expertise to the Miles Technologies computer forensic team. He answered the following questions to shed some light on this mysterious subject.

Based on your experience in computer forensics, what is the biggest challenge you face in your line of work?

The biggest challenge is making each step of a forensics case clear and concise. We want to make sure our clients know what a forensic case entails and how complex it could be. Even the most basic examination can be lengthy and complicated. Many steps need to be taken to properly document, image, and analyze the computer equipment in order to maintain the chain of custody and follow the best practices. Our goal at Miles Technologies is to keep our customers happy and well informed.

How long would you say an average computer forensic case takes from start to finish?

Well, when it comes to computer forensics there really is no “average” case. Each case has its own unique twist or spin and presents different challenges and requests. For example, one case could involve exporting emails or recovering deleted items. Another case could involve network intrusions and undesired access to data. Each case is unique and each case is treated with the utmost importance.

Miles Technologies strives for a 10 business day turnaround, but that depends on multiple factors. Some of those factors could include the size and number of machines or drivers involved in the case.

What seems to be the usual response from customers after you complete their forensic investigation?

The response is generally enthusiastic, but it depends on what we find. If the results show their client was lying or it didn’t happen “just one time,” then usually they are grateful for the truth, but know they have a whole other matter to deal with.

Of the forensic services you offer, what makes up the majority of your work?

In general, forensic investigations and data recovery are what I usually work on, but lately email investigations and data recovery have been the hot topics. Each case is unique, complex, and challenging, and that’s what makes this job so interesting. Everyone at Miles Technologies, including myself, is very proud that our experienced, highly trained and well-certified computer forensic team can tackle the most complex forensic cases.

For more information about computer forensics and other IT services from Miles Technologies, please visit http://www.milestechnologies.com.