Exploring Careers in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

155 Pages·2022·3.09 MB·English

by  Lucy K. Tsado, Robert Osgood

Exploring Careers in
Cybersecurity and
Digital Forensics

Exploring Careers in
Cybersecurity and
Digital Forensics
Lucy K. Tsado
Robert Osgood
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD
Lanham • Boulder • New York • London
Published by Rowman & Littlefield
An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
www.rowman.com
6 Tinworth Street, London, SE11 5AL, United Kingdom
Copyright © 2022 by The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems,
without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote
passages in a review.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Tsado, Lucy K., 1970– author. | Osgood, Robert, 1958– author.
Title: Exploring careers in cybersecurity and digital forensics / Lucy K.
Tsado, Robert Osgood.
Description: Lanham, Maryland : Rowman & Littlefield, [2022] | Includes
bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “Exploring Careers in
Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics serves as a career guide, providing
information about education, certifications, and tools to help those
making career decisions within the cybersecurity field”—Provided by
publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021023421 | ISBN 9781538140611 (cloth) | ISBN
9781538140628 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Computer security—Vocational guidance. | Digital forensic
science—Vocational guidance.
Classification: LCC QA76.9.A25 T763 2022 | DDC 005.8—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021023421
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
This book is dedicated to the students who are seeking career
opportunities that will enrich their lives. Your success is our success,
and we hope this book can help get you to where you want to be.

Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
1 What Is Cybersecurity? 1
Cybersecurity and the Criminal Justice Connection 3
The Evolution of Digital Forensics 4
2 The Cybersecurity Skills Gap: An Opportunity for
Criminal Justice Students 9
Criminal Justice Students and the Infusion of
Cyber Forensic Skills 10
Organizations and Law Enforcement Agencies Will
Need Cybersecurity Students 12
What Educators, Advisors, and Career Counselors Need
to Know 13
How Can a Student Attain a Successful Cybersecurity Career? 15
3 It’s All about Skills 17
Digital Forensics Swim Lanes 17
What Baseline Skills Do I Need to Bring? 24
Summary 43
4 Education and Certifications 45
Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Programs 45
Certificate Programs (Certs) 47
vii
viii CONTENTS
Formal (Academic) Education 49
Components of an Effective Digital Forensics Program 51
Online Programs 53
Cost 54
How to Pick an Institution 54
Conclusion 58
5 Cybersecurity Career Opportunities in the Field of
Criminal Justice 59
Current Opportunities and Jobs Needing Cybersecurity
in Criminal Justice 60
Jobs within the Federal Government (Public Sector) 60
Jobs within State and Local Governments (Public Sector) 61
Courts and Corrections 62
Jobs within the Private Sector 62
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE)
Cyberseek 62
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Workforce Framework 63
Other Important Roles 65
6 Planning Your Path into the Cybersecurity and
Digital Forensics Field 67
A Proposed Model for a Successful Cybersecurity
Education and Career 69
Other Activities That Are Important for Students’ Success 73
School Career Advancement Activities 74
The Role of Colleges and Their Community 76
7 Getting the Job and Entering the Digital Forensics Field 79
Setting Up a Home Digital Forensics Lab 80
Looking for the Job Posting 83
Persistent but Not Annoying 86
The Resume 87
Conclusion 92
CONTENTS ix
Conclusion: Career Advancement in Cybersecurity and
Digital Forensics 93
Recap of Previous Chapters 93
Questions Students Should Ask Themselves before They
Begin a Career/as They Progress through Their Career 94
Tips for Advancement in the Cybersecurity and
Digital Forensics Field 95
After a Cybersecurity Career, What Next? 97
Retirement: Was It All Worth It? 97
Appendixes
A Complete List of Feeder Roles, According to Cyberseek.org 99
B Cybersecurity Roles Suitable for Criminal Justice Students,
B Adapted from Cyberseek.org 103
C Cybersecurity Roles for Criminal Justice Students,
C Adapted from the NIST SP 800-181 105
Notes 115
Bibliography 125
Index 131
About the Authors 139