Courses

The Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI) program is the industry’s leading
ANSI-accredited, lab-based digital forensics course. It provides a vendor-neutral and
comprehensive framework for identifying, investigating, and analyzing cyber incidents across
multiple environments — including Dark Web, IoT, and Cloud Forensics.

Students will gain hands-on experience using cutting-edge forensic tools and technologies to
conduct digital investigations, gather and preserve evidence, and document findings that
support both corporate and legal proceedings. The course is designed to align with global
digital forensics standards and critical forensic job roles in cybersecurity, law enforcement,
and enterprise response teams.

What You’ll Learn

• Digital forensics fundamentals and investigation methodologies
• Data acquisition, evidence preservation, and chain of custody management
• File system and operating system forensics (Windows, Linux, macOS)
• Network and email forensics analysis
• Dark Web and Deep Web forensic investigation techniques
• Cloud and IoT forensics: capturing data from remote and connected systems
• Incident documentation, reporting, and presentation of findings

Topics Covered

• Computer and mobile device forensics workflows
• Memory and malware analysis
• Steganography and data concealment detection
• Log analysis, registry examination, and timeline reconstruction
• Forensic imaging tools (EnCase, FTK, Autopsy, Magnet Axiom, etc.)
• Reporting standards and documentation best practices
• Legal and ethical considerations in digital forensics

Format & Materials

• Instructor-led lectures combined with guided forensic lab exercises
• Real-world case simulations involving compromised systems and data recovery
• Downloadable forensic reports, checklists, and investigation templates

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of cybersecurity, networking, or IT systems
• Completion of Cybersecurity Fundamentals (CIS 101) recommended

Outcomes & Next Steps

• Perform professional digital investigations and forensic analysis
• Identify and mitigate post-incident vulnerabilities in networks and systems
• Prepare and submit reports suitable for legal or organizational use
• Earn the Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI) credential
• Advance toward roles such as Forensic Analyst, Incident Responder, or Cybercrime Investigator