If you are looking for a new career, there are many options in the field of technology. Two ways that you could go are cyber security or computer forensics. However, while they are similar, they have some unique differences. Here is what you need to know about these two paths:
Computer Forensics
Computer forensics is used in government, business, and society as a whole. It involves looking into computer data and understanding what a certain breach means. Every time a hacker gets into a system, they leave traces.
Looking at these traces and discovering how it can lead them to the attacker is paramount in forensics. Just as a crime lab looks at physical evidence and forensics, someone in this field looks at the evidence of computers and digital data. It allows them to build a framework of protection in the future against similar attacks.
Cyber Security
Cyber security is a field that deals with preventing these kinds of attacks before they even begin. Often, a cyber security expert will work with companies to build protection plans. This is different than simply analyzing the breach after it happens. In involves looking at attack vectors from a bigger picture view.
Network monitoring is one example of cyber security. It looks at the data being sent to and from different devices. From here, companies can catch attackers before they have a chance to strike.
Another example of cyber security is looking at phishing schemes and training their employees on the proper way to handle requests from outsiders. This keeps people from gaining access to their systems and disrupting the company’s infrastructure.
The Importance of These Fields
Both forensics and security are becoming more important with each passing day. Long gone are the days when you didn’t have to worry about digital hacking. Today, the tools are so advanced that someone sitting half way across the world can gain access to your machines. For that reason, these are both career paths that are not going away.
When it comes to computers today, they are more advanced than ever before. Therefore, people often get the different areas confused. Luckily, either way you can have a great career in computer science. But understanding the differences above will help you understand which path is best for you.
