Volume 7

14 pages 637 K bytes

Offering a Digital Forensics Course in Anchorage, Alaska Alpana M. Desai University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska 99508 USA David Fitzgerald University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska 99508 USA Bogdan Hoanca University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska 99508 USA

Abstract: Digital forensics (DF) has become important due to a sharp increase in computer crimes and an acute shortage of trained digital forensics personnel. Cyber crimes may involve crimes committed across several states or across international borders and require the cooperation and collaboration of various local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. Many times local and state, law enforcement agencies do not have investigators trained or skilled in investigating cyber crimes due to lack of IT skills. Alaska is one of only two non-contiguous states of U.S.A. Anchorage is the most populous city of Alaska with more than 50% of the state’s population. It has eight law enforcement agencies but a severe shortage of law enforcement officers with the necessary technical expertise to investigate computer crimes. In this paper, we present the planning and design of a digital forensics course that meets the needs of local law enforcement agencies, interested students, and members of the local community. The issues involved in offering such a course are presented. The infrastructure needed is explored with concluding observations.

Keywords: digital forensics, computer forensics, curriculum, security

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Recommended Citation: Desai, Fitzgerald, and Hoanca (2009). Offering a Digital Forensics Course in Anchorage, Alaska. Information Systems Education Journal, 7 (35). http://isedj.org/7/35/. ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2006: §5114. ISSN: 1542-7382.)