Digital forensics professionals have never been more sought after.
In fact…
With cybercrime continuing to skyrocket, literally every company out there is on the lookout to hire someone qualified to handle their digital investigations. And those who have cultivated the right skill set stand out from the crowd.
But it’s not enough to just be “tech savvy.”
Employers are looking for applicants with specific digital forensics skills. Master them? You’ll be putting offers on the table. Don’t? Forget about hearing “we want you!” on the next phone call.
Below you’ll find exactly what they’re looking for, plus how to learn it faster than anyone else.
Table of Contents
- Why Digital Forensics Skills Are in Demand
- Technical Skills Employers Want
- Soft Skills Employers Want
- How You Can Develop Those Skills Quickly
Why Digital Forensics Skills Are in Demand
Cybercrime is becoming a bigger issue every year.
Companies in every industry experience data breaches, ransomware attacks, or insider threats. Each one of these incidents has to be investigated. Digital forensic professionals are the ones who conduct those investigations. But right now, demand is far outpacing supply. If you learn the skills employers need today, you’ll have your pick of jobs.
Technical Skills Employers Want
Now let’s dig into the actual skills employers want.
Digital Evidence Recovery
This should come as no surprise. Any decent job in digital forensics is going to require knowledge of how to properly acquire digital data.
Employers need people who can collect and preserve data from computer hard drives, mobile devices, or the cloud without contaminating or damaging that data.
Candidates who earn a cybercrime investigation degree online will have had practical experience with digital evidence recovery during their studies. Coursework typically includes instruction on file carving, recovering deleted files, and maintaining chain of custody — all of which employers value.
This skill really can’t be overstated. Digital evidence that isn’t collected correctly is useless. If evidence is rendered useless, cases can be lost. That’s not something employers are willing to risk. Cybersecurity jobs (which includes information security analysts) are expected to grow 29% from 2024–2034 — more than nine times faster than the average of all occupations. And there are only 85 qualified professionals for every 100 cybersecurity positions.
Put those two stats together and it becomes clear that learning digital forensics skills isn’t just important — it’s critical.
Familiarity with Forensic Tools
OK, but theory is one thing. Familiarity with technology is another.
Employers will frequently ask about experience with:
- EnCase
- FTK
- Autopsy
- Cellebrite
- Wireshark
…and more. These tools show up again and again in job postings. Experience with as many as possible will only help a resume.
Networking and System Knowledge
Picture this…
A company gets hit by malware — but it didn’t originate from somewhere on the local network. Now the digital forensics professional has to go back through days, weeks, or months of internet activity to find where it came from.
Cybercrime isn’t always cut-and-dry. Professionals should understand networking protocols, how operating systems function, and what “normal” looks like on a variety of devices. Candidates who know their way around TCP/IP, Windows/Linux/macOS filesystems, log files, and cloud storage platforms are going to be more desirable.
This knowledge also contributes to effective digital evidence recovery.
Programming and Scripting Ability
Wait… there’s more!
It’s surprising how many candidates overlook this one.
Digital forensics isn’t all fun and games. There are tons of repetitive tasks professionals would love to automate. Python is the language of choice for a lot of digital forensics professionals. Having the ability to parse large data sets, automate repetitive tasks, and write custom programs is a huge bonus.
Soft Skills Employers Want
Technical skills may get a foot in the door, but soft skills will land the job.
Attention to Detail
Missing a single file during an investigation can ruin an entire case.
Digital forensics is a field where attention to detail is absolutely essential. Employers know that. Look for opportunities that require precision. The better a professional becomes at paying attention to detail, the higher the salary potential will be. The median annual wage for forensic science technicians is $67,440 per BLS 2024 data, but top wage earners make $110,030 or more. Skills that support those numbers don’t go untested during the interview process.
Written and Verbal Communication
Here’s the hard truth…
A digital forensics professional can be the best in the world, but without the ability to relay findings to a courtroom, lawyer, or non-tech savvy executive, that expertise might as well be average.
Employers need people who can translate tech into actionable insights. They look for candidates who can clearly communicate their conclusions both in writing and verbally. Skills every digital forensics professional should list on a resume — but many don’t.
Critical Thinking
Investigations can be unpredictable.
New evidence could come to light. Computer systems may not cooperate. Deadlines can shift unexpectedly. Digital forensic professionals need to think on their feet. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who demonstrate this type of critical thinking during the interview process.
Knowledge of Legal Standards
Expect questions about this one…
Digital forensics is a job that requires knowledge of the law. Forensic professionals should understand laws around digital evidence, privacy, and search and seizure. Professionals should also be ready to testify in court. Make a mistake because proper protocol wasn’t followed and a case could be lost. Employers want digital forensic professionals who know the rules and follow them.
How You Can Develop Those Skills Quickly
Here’s what can be done today to go after the skills employers are looking for:
- Earn a degree — This isn’t something to skip. Degrees provide students with foundational knowledge in digital evidence recovery, network forensics, legal issues, and more.
- Become certified — Certifications in forensic toolkits like GCFA, EnCE, and CFCE signal proficiency to hiring managers.
- Get hands-on experience — Participate in Capture the Flag competitions, take on internships, and practice in a lab environment.
- Stay up to date on tools — The tech covered during a degree will evolve. Staying current is non-negotiable.
Digital forensics jobs are waiting. Employers need digital forensic professionals who can handle digital evidence from start to finish. The right skills make all the difference.
Conclusion
Are you ready to become a digital forensics professional?
Jobs are out there and employers are actively searching for qualified professionals to fill them. Take the time to learn the skills employers want. Work on the soft skills too. And most importantly, know that in digital forensics, attention to detail can be the difference between a salary of $67,000 and $110,000+. You’ve got this.
