Digital Forensics & Incident Response: Mastering Cyber Incident Investigations

Introduction:

In the face of increasing cyberattacks, organizations must be prepared to investigate and respond effectively. This course on Digital Forensics & Incident Response equips participants with the specialized knowledge and skills to conduct thorough cyber incident investigations and forensic analyses. Participants will learn how to identify, contain, and eradicate threats, as well as collect and analyze digital evidence. This course bridges the gap between reactive incident handling and proactive forensic investigation, empowering professionals to minimize damage and restore security.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for IT and security professionals seeking to enhance their incident response and digital forensics skills, including:

• Incident Responders
• Forensic Analysts
• Security Analysts
• Network Administrators
• System Administrators
• Anyone responsible for investigating and responding to cyber incidents

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this Digital Forensics & Incident Response course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and methodologies of digital forensics and incident response.
• Conduct thorough incident investigations and forensic analyses.
• Collect and preserve digital evidence using forensic best practices.
• Utilize forensic tools and techniques for data analysis.
• Develop and implement incident response plans.
• Understand the legal and ethical considerations of digital forensics.
• Analyze malware and identify adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• Develop strategies for incident containment and eradication.
• Understand the importance of post-incident analysis and lessons learned.
• Utilize security information and event management (SIEM) systems for incident response.
• Enhance their ability to effectively respond to and investigate cyber incidents.
• Improve their organization's incident response capabilities.
• Contribute to improved cybersecurity posture and resilience within their organization.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in digital forensics and incident response.
• Become a more knowledgeable and effective incident responder and forensic analyst.
• Understand ethical considerations in digital forensics and incident response.
• Learn how to use digital forensics tools and incident response frameworks effectively.

DURATION

10 Days

COURSE CONTENT

Module 1: Introduction to Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR)

• Understanding the concepts and importance of DFIR.
• The DFIR process and methodologies.
• Legal and ethical considerations in DFIR.
• Incident response frameworks (e.g., NIST, SANS).
• Setting up a forensic workstation and lab environment.

Module 2: Incident Response Planning and Preparation

• Developing incident response plans and procedures.
• Establishing an incident response team and roles.
• Creating communication plans and escalation procedures.
• Understanding the importance of preparation and proactive measures.
• Developing playbooks for common incident scenarios.

Module 3: Incident Detection and Analysis

• Identifying and analyzing security incidents.
• Utilizing security information and event management (SIEM) systems for incident detection.
• Analyzing network traffic and log data for suspicious activity.
• Understanding common attack vectors and indicators of compromise (IOCs).
• Prioritizing and classifying incidents.

Module 4: Incident Containment and Eradication

• Developing containment strategies to limit the impact of incidents.
• Isolating affected systems and networks.
• Implementing eradication techniques to remove malware and threats.
• Utilizing security tools and technologies for containment and eradication.
• Understanding the importance of minimizing downtime and disruption.

Module 5: Evidence Collection and Preservation

• Understanding the principles of digital evidence.
• Developing forensic imaging and acquisition techniques.
• Maintaining chain of custody and ensuring evidence integrity.
• Utilizing forensic tools for data acquisition (e.g., FTK Imager, dd).
• Collecting volatile data and memory dumps.

Module 6: Hard Drive and File System Forensics

• Understanding file system structures (e.g., NTFS, FAT, EXT).
• Analyzing hard drive images and data remnants.
• Recovering deleted files and data.
• Utilizing forensic tools for file system analysis (e.g., Autopsy, Sleuth Kit).
• Timeline analysis and artifact recovery.

Module 7: Memory Forensics

• Understanding memory structures and volatile data.
• Acquiring and analyzing memory dumps.
• Utilizing memory forensics tools (e.g., Volatility).
• Identifying malware and malicious processes in memory.
• Analyzing network connections and open files in memory.

Module 8: Network Forensics

• Analyzing network traffic and packet captures.
• Utilizing network forensics tools (e.g., Wireshark, tcpdump).
• Identifying network intrusions and anomalies.
• Analyzing network protocols and communication patterns.
• Reconstructing network sessions and data flows.

Module 9: Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering

• Static and dynamic malware analysis techniques.
• Utilizing malware analysis tools (e.g., IDA Pro, Ghidra, Cuckoo Sandbox).
• Analyzing malware behavior and capabilities.
• Extracting IOCs from malware samples.
• Understanding malware families and trends.

Module 10: Log Analysis and Correlation

• Understanding log formats and sources.
• Utilizing log analysis tools and techniques.
• Correlating log data from multiple sources.
• Identifying suspicious activity and anomalies in log data.
• Utilizing log management and SIEM systems for log analysis.

Module 11: Mobile Device Forensics

• Understanding mobile operating system security (iOS, Android).
• Acquiring and analyzing data from mobile devices.
• Utilizing mobile forensics tools.
• Analyzing mobile applications and data.
• Understanding mobile device security best practices.

Module 12: Cloud Forensics

• Understanding cloud security concepts (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Acquiring and analyzing data from cloud environments.
• Utilizing cloud forensics tools and techniques.
• Understanding cloud compliance and security best practices.
• Serverless forensics.

Module 13: Legal and Ethical Considerations in DFIR

• Understanding legal and regulatory requirements for DFIR.
• Maintaining chain of custody and ensuring evidence admissibility.
• Understanding privacy laws and data protection regulations.
• Ethical considerations in forensic investigations.
• Reporting and testifying in court.

Module 14: Post-Incident Analysis and Lessons Learned

• Conducting post-incident reviews and assessments.
• Identifying root causes and contributing factors.
• Developing lessons learned and recommendations.
• Improving incident response plans and procedures.
• Communicating incident findings and lessons learned to stakeholders.

Module 15: Advanced DFIR Techniques and Emerging Trends

• Advanced malware analysis and reverse engineering.
• Threat hunting and proactive threat detection.
• Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning in DFIR.
• Understanding emerging threats and technologies.
• Continuous learning and professional development in DFIR.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 5 working days before commencement of the training.