Learn to investigate security incidents methodically, preserve digital evidence defensibly, and coordinate a structured response using industry-standard frameworks. This course teaches the concepts, professional workflow, and disciplined documentation that define credible forensic and incident-response work, with hands-on practice performed only on systems and data you own. You will finish able to work an incident end to end and communicate findings to both technical and executive audiences.

Modules

Digital Evidence and Chain of Custody

Lessons

• Principles of Sound Digital Evidence Handling Preview
• Maintaining an Unbroken Chain of Custody
• Forensic Imaging and Write Protection

Disk and Memory Forensics

Lessons

• How File Systems Store and Hide Data
• Examining Disk Images with Analysis Platforms
• Memory Forensics and Volatile Evidence

Log Analysis and Timeline Reconstruction

Lessons

• Reading Logs as Investigative Evidence
• Building an Investigative Timeline
• Interpreting Findings and Avoiding Bias

Malware Triage and Behavioral Analysis

Lessons

• Safe Handling of Suspicious Files
• Static and Behavioral Analysis Concepts
• From Triage to Defensive Action

Incident Response Frameworks

Lessons

• The NIST Incident Response Lifecycle
• The SANS Approach and Comparing Frameworks
• Coordinating an Incident Response

Forensic Reporting and Communication

Lessons

• Documenting an Investigation Defensibly
• Writing the Technical Forensic Report
• Communicating Findings to Executives