Today, I continue my interview with Rob Fried, a computer forensic analyst in New York who has his dream job!  Just in case you missed it, check out Part I of the interview before you read on. 

Alex: What challenges have you faced in your career so far?

Rob: There was the issue of my age.  At 24, I was teaching computer forensics to local, state and federal law enforcement agents.  At times, I felt it necessary to work harder then my colleagues (many of whom had former law enforcement, military or forensic lab experience) to gain the trust of the students.  However, after each class I would receive feedback from the students via course evaluations.  I soon realized that my passion and knowledge of the subject matter shined through during my lectures. 

As time progressed, I would often get students coming up to me during classroom breaks, after class, even calling me back at the office, asking me questions or advice on how to deal with a particular case or scenario.  Amazingly, I never once felt intimated while standing in front of a room of cops.  My goal was to simply share my knowledge with them and ensure that when they left the week worth of training that they at least developed some kind of appreciation for what they learned.   

Alex: What post-college training do you think is necessary to be successful in your field?

Rob: Many of the vendors of computer forensics software and hardware have training courses catering to individuals in both the private and public sectors.  Vendors such as Guidance and AccessData offer certification for particular software, organizations such as the National White Collar Crime Center and the SEARCH Group provide computer forensic courses and other high technology crime related courses to law enforcement personnel, and groups such as The International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) and the High Technology Crime Investigation Association offer courses at their annual conferences. 

Alex: What advice would you give to people who want to get into computer forensics?

Rob: Computer forensics is a very young field, and the number of opportunities is continuously growing.  On the law enforcement end, many local police departments are faced with backlogs when it comes to examining digital evidence.  As a result, these departments are bringing on civilians to assist in these efforts.  Such civilians typically perform computer forensic examinations under the supervision or guidance of sworn personnel.  In the private sector, there has been enormous growth in litigation consulting and electronic discovery firms offering computer forensic services. 

Both the public (law enforcement) and private sectors have a lot to offer, but regardless of what path you choose, you need a high level of dedication and commitment to succeed as a computer forensic analyst.

Thanks, Rob!