FOR500: Windows Forensics Analysis Class

What You Will Learn

Master Windows Forensics - "You Can't Protect the Unknown."

All organizations must prepare for cybercrime occurring on computer systems and within corporate networks. Demand has never been greater for analysts who can investigate crimes such as fraud, insider threats, industrial espionage, employee misuse, and computer intrusions. Corporations, governments, and law enforcement agencies increasingly require trained forensics specialists to perform investigations, recover vital intelligence from Windows systems, and ultimately get to the root cause of the crime. To help solve these cases, SANS is training a new cadre of the world's best digital forensic professionals, incident responders, and media exploitation experts capable of piecing together what happened on computer systems second by second.

FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis focuses on building in-depth digital forensics knowledge of Microsoft Windows operating systems. You can't protect what you don't know about, and understanding forensic capabilities and available artifacts is a core component of information security. You will learn how to recover, analyze, and authenticate forensic data on Windows systems, track individual user activity on your network, and organize findings for use in incident response, internal investigations, intellectual property theft inquiries, and civil or criminal litigation. You'll be able to validate security tools, enhance vulnerability assessments, identify insider threats, track hackers, and improve security policies. Whether you know it or not, Windows is silently recording an unbelievable amount of data about you and your users. FOR500 teaches you how to mine this mountain of data and use it to your advantage.

Proper analysis requires real data for students to examine. This continually updated course trains digital forensic analysts through a series of hands-on laboratory exercises incorporating evidence found on the latest technologies, including Microsoft Windows versions 10 and 11, Office and Microsoft 365, Google Workspace (G Suite), cloud storage providers, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, and Outlook. Students will leave the course armed with the latest tools and techniques and prepared to investigate even the most complicated systems they might encounter. Nothing is left out - attendees learn to analyze everything from legacy Windows 7 systems to just-discovered Windows 11 artifacts.

FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis will teach you to:

Conduct in-depth forensic analysis of Windows operating systems and media exploitation on Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server products.
Identify artifact and evidence locations to answer crucial questions, including application execution, file access, data theft, external device usage, cloud services, device geolocation, file transfers, anti-forensics, and detailed system and user activity.
Become tool-agnostic by focusing your capabilities on analysis instead of how to use a particular tool.
Extract critical findings and build an in-house forensic capability via a variety of free, open-source, and commercial tools provided within the SANS Windows SIFT Workstation.

FOR500 starts with an intellectual property theft and corporate espionage case taking over six months to create. You work in the real world, so your training should include real-world practice data. Our instructor course development team used incidents from their own investigations and experiences to create an incredibly rich and detailed scenario designed to immerse students in an actual investigation. The case demonstrates the latest artifacts and technologies an investigator might encounter while analyzing Windows systems in the enterprise. The detailed workbook teaches the tools and techniques that every investigator should employ step by step to solve a forensic case. The tools provided form a complete forensic lab that can be used after the end of class.

Please note that this is an analysis-focused course; FOR500 does not cover the basics of evidentiary handling, the "chain of custody," or introductory drive acquisition. The course authors update FOR500 aggressively to stay current with the latest artifacts and techniques discovered. This course is perfect for you if you are interested in in-depth and current Microsoft Windows Operating System forensics and analysis for any incident that occurs. If you have not updated your Windows forensic analysis skills in the past three years or more, this course is essential.

Business Benefits

Build an in-house digital forensic capability that can rapidly answer important business questions and investigate crimes such as fraud, insider threats, industrial espionage, employee misuse, and computer intrusions.
Enable more capable analysts, threat hunters, and incident response team members who can use deep-dive digital forensics to help solve Windows data breach cases, perform damage assessments, and develop indicators of compromise.
Understand the wealth of telemetry available in the Windows Enterprise, at the endpoint and in cloud resources like Microsoft 365, Exchange, Unified Audit Logs, cloud storage, and chat clients
Identify forensic artifact and evidence locations to answer crucial questions, including application execution, file access, data theft, external device usage, cloud services, device geolocation, file tranfers, anti-forensics, and detailed system and user activity
Receive a pre-built forensic lab setup via a variety of free, open-source, and commercial tools provided within the SANS Windows SIFT Workstation
Build tool-agnostic investigative capabilities by focusing on analysis techniques instead of how to use a particular tool. Deeper understanding of concepts, core forensic artifacts, and stronger analysis skills make any available tool more effective for attendees.

You Will Be Able To

Perform in-depth Windows forensic analysis by applying peer-reviewed techniques focusing on Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server products
Use state-of-the-art forensic tools and analysis methods to detail nearly every action a suspect accomplished on a Windows system, including who placed an artifact on the system and how, program execution, file/folder opening, geolocation, browser history, profile USB device usage, cloud storage usage, and more
Perform “fast forensics” to rapidly assess and triage systems to provide quick answers and facilitate informed business decisions
Uncover the exact time that a specific user last executed a program through Registry and Windows artifact analysis, and understand how this information can be used to prove intent in cases such as intellectual property theft, hacker-breached systems, and traditional crimes
Determine the number of times files have been opened by a suspect through browser forensics, shortcut file analysis (LNK), email analysis, and Windows Registry parsing
Audit cloud storage usage, including detailed user activity, identifying deleted files, signs of data exfiltration, and even uncovering detailed information on files available only in the cloud
Identify items searched by a specific user on a Windows system to pinpoint the data and information that the suspect was interested in finding, and accomplish detailed damage assessments
Use Windows Shell Bag analysis tools to articulate every folder and directory a user or attacker interacted with while accessing local, removable, and network drives
Determine each time a unique and specific USB device was attached to the Windows system, the files and folders accessed on it, and what user plugged it in by parsing Windows artifacts such as Registry hives and Event Log files
Learn Event Log analysis techniques and use them to determine when and how users logged into a Windows system, whether via a remote session, at the keyboard, or simply by unlocking a screensaver
Mine the Windows Search Database to uncover a massive collection of file metadata and even file content from local drives, removable media, and applications like Microsoft Outlook, OneNote, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
Determine where a crime was committed using Registry data and pinpoint the geolocation of a system by examining connected networks and wireless access points
Use browser forensic tools to perform detailed web browser analysis, parse raw SQLite and ESE databases, and leverage session recovery artifacts to identify web activity, even if privacy cleaners and in-private browsing software are used
Parse Electron Application databases allowing the investigation of hundreds of third-party applications including most chat clients
Specifically determine how individuals used a system, who they communicated with, and files that were downloaded, modified, and deleted

Windows Forensics Course Topics

The Course Is Fully Updated to Include the Latest Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 and Server 2008/2012/2016/2019/2022 Artifacts, Tools, and Techniques

Windows Operating Systems Focus: Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11, Server 2008/2012/2016/2019/2022
Windows File Systems (NTFS, FAT, exFAT)
Advanced Evidence Acquisition Tools and Techniques
Registry Forensics
Shell Item Forensics
- Shortcut Files (LNK) - Evidence of File Opening
- ShellBags - Evidence of Folder Opening
- JumpLists - Evidence of File Opening and Program Execution
Windows Artifact Analysis
- Browser and Webmail Analysis
- Microsoft Office Document Analysis
- System Resource Usage Database
- Windows Search Index Forensics
- Windows Recycle Bin Analysis
- File and Picture Metadata Tracking and Examination
- Myriad Application Execution Artifacts, including Several New to Windows 10 and 11
Cloud Storage File and Metadata Examinations
- OneDrive and OneDrive for Business, Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Workspace, and Box
Email Forensics (Host, Server, Web), including Microsoft 365 and G Workspace (G Suite)
Microsoft Unified Audit Logging
Event Log Analysis
Chrome, Edge, Internet Explorer, and Firefox Browser Forensics
Chat clients, including Microsoft Teams and Skype, based on the Electron framework.
Microsoft 365 SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Email
Google Workspace (G Suite) Applications and Logging
Deleted Registry Key and File Recovery
Recovering Missing Data from Registry and ESE Database .log Files
Data Recovery, String Searching and File Carving
Examination of Cases Involving Windows 7 through Windows 11
Media Analysis and Exploitation to:
- Track User Communications Using a Windows Device (Email, Chat, Webmail)
- Identify Files Transferred to or from a Device
- Determine the Exact Time and Number of Times a Suspect Executed a Program
- Show When Any File Was First and Last Opened by a Suspect
- Prove How Long an Application was Running and How Much Network Data was Sent and Received
- Determine If a Suspect Had Knowledge of a Specific File
- Show the Exact Physical Location of the System
- Track and Analyze Removable Media and USB Mass Storage Class Devices
- Show How the Suspect Logged on to the Machine via the Console, RDP, or Network
- Recover and Examine Browser Artifacts, including Those from Private Browsing Mode
- Extract Chat Messages from A Variety of Chat Clients
- Recover Email from Servers, Cloud Instances, and Endpoint Residue Like Local Archives and the Windows Search Database
- Discover the Use of Anti-Forensics, including File Wiping, Time Manipulation, and Application Removal

Hands-on Labs

SANS labs provide hands-on experience that reinforces course concepts and learning objectives. This course includes lab instructions with a step-by-step electronic workbook that's directly tied to the material to develop skills in an hands-on environment.

lab 1.1 - Mounting Disk Images
lab 1.2 - Triage Imaging with KAPE
lab 1.3 - Mounting Triage VHDX Evidence
lab 1.4 - Memory Carving and MFT Parsing
lab 2.1 - User Account Profiling
lab 2.2 - System Profiling
lab 2.3 - User Activity Profiling via NTUSER.DAT
lab 2.4 - Application Execution Analysis
lab 2.5 - Cloud Storage Forensics - OneDrive
lab 2.6 - Cloud Storage Forensics - Google Drive
lab 3.2 - LNK Shell Item Analysis
lab 3.3 - Jump List and ShellBags Shell Item Analysis
lab 3.4 - USB Profiling and Analysis
lab 4.1 - Email and Unified Audit Log Forensics
lab 4.2 - Windows Search Database and Recycle Bin Analysis
lab 4.3 - System Resource Database (SRUM) Analysis
lab 4.4 - Event Log Analysis
lab 5.1 - Automating Artifact Processing with KAPE
lab 5.2 - Chrome Browser Forensics
lab 5.3 - Edge and Internet Explorer Analysis
lab 5.4 - Firefox and Electron Application Forensics
lab 6.1 - FOR500 Forensic Challenge

What You Will Receive

Windows 10 Enterprise version of the SIFT Workstation Virtual Machine with over 200 commercial, open-source, and freeware Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) tools prebuilt into the environment
Trial licenses for the following commercial tool suites:
ISO images filled with real-world cases and artifacts to examine during and after the course
FOR500 exercise workbook with 550 pages of detailed step-by-step instructions
MP3 audio files of the complete course lecture

Syllabus (36 CPEs)

Download PDF

FOR500.1: Digital Forensics and Advanced Data Triage
Overview
The Windows Forensic Analysis course starts with an examination of digital forensics in today's interconnected environments and discusses challenges associated with mobile devices, tablets, cloud storage, and modern Windows operating systems. Hard drive and digital media sizes are increasingly difficult and time-consuming to handle appropriately in digital cases. Being able to acquire data in an efficient and forensically sound manner is crucial to every investigator today. In this course section, we review the core techniques while introducing new triage-based acquisition and extraction capabilities that will increase the speed and efficiency of the acquisition process. We demonstrate how to acquire memory, the NTFS MFT, Windows logs, Registry, and critical files in minutes instead of the hours or days currently spent on acquisition.
We also begin processing our collected evidence using stream-based and file-carving-based extraction capabilities employing both commercial and open-source tools and techniques. Students come away with the knowledge necessary to target the specific data needed to rapidly answer fundamental questions in their cases.
Exercises
- Install the Windows SIFT Workstation and get oriented with its capabilities
- Undertake advanced triage-based acquisition and imaging resulting in rapid acquisition
- Mount acquired disk images and evidence
- Carve important files from free space
- Recover critical user data from the pagefile, hibernation file, memory images, and unallocated space
- Recover chat sessions, web-based email, social networking, and private browsing artifacts
- Parse the wealth of metadata information available in the NTFS Master File Table
Topics
- Windows Operating System Components
  Key Differences in Modern Windows Operating Systems
- Core Forensic Principles
- Live Response and Triage-Based Acquisition Techniques
- Windows Image Mounting and Examination
- NTFS File System Overview
- Document and File Metadata
- Volume Shadow Copies
- File and Stream Carving
- Memory, Pagefile, and Unallocated Space Analysis
FOR500.2: Registry Analysis, Application Execution, and Cloud Storage Forensics
Overview
Our journey continues with the Windows Registry, where the digital forensic investigator will learn how to discover critical user and system information pertinent to almost any investigation. You'll learn how to navigate and analyze the Registry to obtain user profile and system data. During this course section, we will demonstrate investigative methods to prove that a specific user performed keyword searches, executed specific programs, opened and saved files, perused folders, and used removable devices.
Data is moving rapidly to the cloud, constituting a significant challenge and risk to the modern enterprise. Cloud storage applications are nearly ubiquitous on both consumer and business systems, causing interesting security and forensic challenges. In a world where some of the most important data is only present on third-party systems, how do we effectively accomplish our investigations? In this section we will dissect OneDrive and OneDrive for Business, Google Drive, Google Workspace (G Suite), Dropbox, and Box applications, deriving artifacts present in application logs and left behind on the endpoint. We'll demonstrate how to discover detailed user activity, the history of deleted files, content in the cloud, and content cached locally. Solutions to the very real challenges of forensic acquisition and proper logging are all discussed. Understanding what can be gained through analysis of these popular applications will also make investigations of less common cloud storage solutions easier.
Throughout this course section, students will use their skills in a real hands-on case, exploring and analyzing a rich set of evidence.
Exercises
- Profile a computer system using evidence found in the Windows Registry
- Conduct a detailed profile of user activity using Registry evidence
- Examine which applications a user executed by examining Registry-based UserAssist, Prefetch, Capability/AccessManager, FeatureUsage, Background Activity Monitor data, and others
- Determine which files and folders a user opened and interacted with via multiple Registry keys tracking user interactions
- Examine recently opened Microsoft 365 and SharePoint files and determine first and last open times
- Identify critical folders accessed by a user via the Common Dialog and Open/Save keys in the Registry
- Perform cloud storage forensics, recovering information on local files, cloud-only files, and deleted items available in logs, application metadata databases, and host-based artifacts.
Topics
- Registry Forensics In-Depth
- Registry Core
- Profile Users and Groups
- Core System Information
- User Forensic Data
- Cloud Storage Forensics
FOR500.3: Shell Items and Removable Device Profiling
Overview
Being able to show the first and last time a file or folder was opened is a critical analysis skill. Shell item analysis, including shortcut (LNK), Jump List, and ShellBag artifacts, allows investigators to quickly pinpoint the times of file and folder usage per user. The knowledge obtained by examining shell items is crucial to perform damage assessments, track user activity in intellectual property theft cases, and track where hackers spent time in the network.
Removable storage device investigations are an essential part of performing digital forensics. In this course section, students will learn how to perform in-depth USB device examinations on all modern Windows versions. You will learn how to determine when a storage device was first and last plugged in, its vendor/make/model, drive capacity, and even the unique serial number of the device used.
Exercises
- Understand the difference between mass storage class (MSC), human interface devices (HID), and media transfer protocol (MTP) devices
- Track USB devices and BYOD devices connected to the system using the Registry, event logs, and file system artifacts.
- Determine first and last connected times of USB devices
- Determine last removal time of USB devices
- Explore the new removable device auditing features introduced in Windows 8 and Windows 10
- Use shortcut (LNK) file analysis to determine first/last times a file was opened, and track files and folders present on removable media and across network shares
- Use Shell Bag Registry Key Analysis to audit accessed folders
- Use Jump List examination to determine when files were accessed by specific programs.
Topics
- Shell Item Forensics
- USB and BYOD Forensic Examinations
FOR500.4: Email Analysis, Windows Search, SRUM, and Event Logs
Overview
Depending on the type of investigation and authorization, a wealth of evidence can be unearthed through the analysis of email files. Recovered email can bring excellent corroborating information to an investigation, and its informality often provides very incriminating evidence. Finding and collecting email is often one of our biggest challenges as it is common for users to have email existing simultaneously on their workstation, on the company email server, on a mobile device, and in multiple cloud or webmail accounts.
The Windows Search Index can index up to a million items on the file system, including file content, email, and over 600 kinds of metadata per file. It is an under-utilized resource providing profound forensic capabilities. Similarly, the System Resource Usage Monitor (SRUM), one of our most exciting digital artifacts, can help determine many important user actions, including network usage per application and historical VPN and wireless network usage. Imagine the ability to audit network usage by cloud storage and identify excessive usage by remote access tools even after execution of counter-forensic programs
Finally, Windows event log analysis has solved more cases than possibly any other type of analysis. Windows 11 now includes over 300 logs, and understanding the locations and content of the available log files is crucial to the success of any investigator. Many researchers overlook these records because they do not have adequate knowledge or tools to get the job done efficiently. This section arms investigators with the core knowledge and capability to maintain and build upon this crucial skill for many years to come.
Exercises
- Employ best-of-breed forensic tools to search for relevant email and file attachments in large data sets
- Analyze message headers and gauge email authenticity using SPF and DKIM
- Understand how Extended MAPI Headers can be used in an investigation
- Effectively collect evidence from Exchange, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace (G Suite)
- Learn the latest on Unified Audit Logs in Microsoft 365
- Search for webmail and mobile email remnants
- Use forensic software to recover deleted objects from email archives
- Gain experience with a commercial email forensics and e-discovery suite
- Extract and review document metadata present in email archives
- Understand the tools and logs necessary to respond to business email compromise events
- Analyze the various versions of the Windows Recycle Bin
- Use the System Resource Usage Monitor (SRUM) to answer questions with data never before available in Windows forensics
- Track cloud storage usage hour by hour on a target system
- Parse the Windows Search Index and take advantage of extended metadata collection
- Merge event logs and perform advanced filtering to easily get through millions of events
- Profile account usage and determine logon session length
- Identify evidence of time manipulation on a system
- Supplement registry analysis with BYOD device auditing
- Analyze historical records of wireless network associations and geolocate a device
Topics
- Email Forensics
- Forensicating Additional Windows OS Artifacts
- Windows Event Log Analysis
FOR500.5: Web Browser Forensics
Overview
With the increasing use of the web and the shift toward web-based applications and cloud computing, browser forensic analysis is a critical skill. During this section, students will comprehensively explore web browser evidence created during the use of Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Google Chrome. The hands-on skills taught here, such as SQLite and ESE database parsing, allow investigators to extend these methods to nearly any browser they encounter. Students will learn how to examine every significant artifact stored by the browser, including cookies, visit and download history, Internet cache files, browser extensions, and form data. We will show you how to find these records and identify the common mistakes investigators make when interpreting browser artifacts. You will also learn how to analyze some of the more obscure (and powerful) browser artifacts, such as session restore, HTML5 web storage, zoom levels, predictive site prefetching, and private browsing remnants. Browser synchronization is explained, providing investigative artifacts derived from other devices in use by the subject of the investigation. Finally, skills to investigate Chromium-based Electron Applications are introduced, opening capabilities to investigate hundreds of third-party Windows applications using this framework, including chat clients like Discord, Signal, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Slack, WhatsApp, Yammer, Asana, and more.
Throughout the section, students will use their skills in real hands-on cases, exploring evidence created by Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer correlated with other Windows operating system artifacts.
Exercises
- Learn to manually parse SQLite databases from Firefox, Chrome, and Microsoft Edge
- Explore the similarities and differences between Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge
- Track a suspect's activity in browser history and cache files and identify local file access
- Analyze artifacts found within the Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) database format
- Examine which files a suspect downloaded
- Determine URLs that suspects typed, clicked on, bookmarked, or were merely re-directed to while web browsing
- Parse automatic crash recovery files to reconstruct multiple previous browser sessions
- Identify anti-forensics activity and re-construct private browsing sessions
- Investigate browser auto-complete and form data, bringing the investigation closer to a "hands-on keyboard"
- Learn how each browser synchronizes data with other devices and how to leverage synchronized data to audit activity occurring on previously unknown user devices like mobile phones, tablets, and other workstations.
- Recover Microsoft Teams chats via local Electron Application databases
Topics
- Browser Forensics
  History
  Cache
  Searches
  Downloads
  Understanding Browser Timestamps
  Chrome
  Chrome File Locations
  Correlating URLs and Visits Tables for Historical Context
  History and Page Transition Types
  Chrome Preferences File
  Web Data, Shortcuts, and Network Action Predictor Databases
  Chrome Timestamps
  Cache Examinations
  Download History
  Media History
  Web Storage, IndexDB, and the HTML5 File System
  Chrome Session Recovery
  Chrome Profiles Feature
  Chromium Snapshots folder
  Identifying Cross-Device Chrome Synchronization
  Edge
  Chromium Edge vs. Google Chrome
  History, Cache, Cookies, Download History, and Session Recovery
  Microsoft Edge Collections
  Edge Internet Explorer Mode
  Chrome and Edge Extensions
  Edge Artifact Synchronization and Tracking Multiple Profiles
  Edge HTML and the Spartan.edb Database
  Reading List, WebNotes, Top Sites, and SweptTabs
  Internet Explorer
  Internet Explorer Essentials and the Browser That Will Not Die
  WebCache.dat Database Examination
  Internet Explorer and Local File Access
  Electron Applications and Chat Client Forensics
  Electron Application Structure
  Electron Chromium Cache
  LevelDB Structure and Tools
  Manual Parsing of LevelDB
  Specialized LevelDB parsers
  Firefox
  Firefox Artifact Locations
  SQLite Files and Firefox Quantum Updates
  Download History
  Firefox Cache2 Examinations
  Detailed Visit Type Data
  Form History
  Session Recovery
  Firefox Extensions
  Firefox Cross-Device Synchronization
  Private Browsing and Browser Artifact Recovery
  Chrome, Edge, and Firefox Private Browsing
  Investigating the Tor Browser
  Identifying Selective Database Deletion
  SQLite and ESE Database Carving and Examination of Additional Browser Artifacts
  DOM and Web Storage Objects
  Rebuilding Cached Web Pages
  Browser Ancestry
  Capturing Stored Browser Credentials
FOR500.6: Windows Forensics Challenge
Overview
Nothing will prepare you more as an investigator than a full hands-on challenge that requires you to use the skills and knowledge presented throughout the course. With the option to work individually or in teams, students will be provided new evidence to analyze, and the exercise will step them through the entire case flow, including proper acquisition, analysis, and reporting of investigative findings. Fast forensics techniques will be used in order to rapidly profile computer usage and discover the most critical pieces of evidence to answer investigative questions.
This complex case involves an investigation into one of the most recent versions of the Windows operating system. The evidence is from real devices and provides the most realistic training opportunity currently available. Solving the case requires students to use all of the skills gained from each of the previous course sections.
The section concludes with a mock trial involving presentations of the evidence collected. The team with the best in-class presentation and documentation wins the challenge - and solves the case!
Exercises
- Full-length Windows 10 forensic challenge
- Bonus: One additional complete take home exercise to continue honing your skills!
Topics
- Digital Forensics Capstone

GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner

The GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE) certification validates a practitioner’s knowledge of computer forensic analysis, with an emphasis on core skills required to collect and analyze data from Windows computer systems. GCFE certification holders have the knowledge, skills, and ability to conduct typical incident investigations including e-Discovery, forensic analysis and reporting, evidence acquisition, browser forensics and tracing user and application activities on Windows systems.

Windows Forensics and Data Triage
Windows Registry Forensics, USB Devices, Shell Items, Email Forensics and Log Analysis
Advanced Web Browser Forensics (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)

More Certification Details

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisite courses required to take this course. The artifacts and tool-agnostic techniques you will learn will lead to the successful analysis of any cyber incident and crime involving a Windows Operating System.

Laptop Requirements

Important! Bring your own system configured according to these instructions.

A properly configured system is required to fully participate in this course. If you do not carefully read and follow these instructions, you will not be able to fully participate in hands-on exercises in your course. Therefore, please arrive with a system meeting all of the specified requirements.

Back up your system before class. Better yet, use a system without any sensitive/critical data. SANS is not responsible for your system or data.

MANDATORY FOR500 SYSTEM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

CPU: 64-bit Intel i5/i7 (8th generation or newer), or AMD equivalent. A x64 bit, 2.0+ GHz or newer processor is mandatory for this class.
CRITICAL: Apple systems using the M1/M2 processor line cannot perform the necessary virtualization functionality and therefore cannot in any way be used for this course.
BIOS settings must be set to enable virtualization technology, such as "Intel-VTx" or "AMD-V" extensions. Be absolutely certain you can access your BIOS if it is password protected, in case changes are necessary.
16GB of RAM or more is required.
300GB of free storage space or more is required.
At least one available USB 3.0 Type-A port. A Type-C to Type-A adapter may be necessary for newer laptops. Some endpoint protection software prevents the use of USB devices, so test your system with a USB drive before class.
Wireless networking (802.11 standard) is required. There is no wired Internet access in the classroom.

Additional optional components for this course:

A USB storage device is necessary to complete one optional exercise in the course. The storage size of the USB media should be larger than the amount of RAM in the laptop.

MANDATORY FOR500 HOST CONFIGURATION AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Your host operating system must be the latest version of Windows 10, Windows 11, or macOS 10.15.x or newer.
Fully update your host operating system prior to the class to ensure you have the right drivers and patches installed.
Linux hosts are not supported in the classroom due to their numerous variations. If you choose to use Linux as your host, you are solely responsible for configuring it to work with the course materials and/or VMs.
Local Administrator Access is required. (Yes, this is absolutely required. Don't let your IT team tell you otherwise.) If your company will not permit this access for the duration of the course, then you should make arrangements to bring a different laptop.
You should ensure that antivirus or endpoint protection software is disabled, fully removed, or that you have the administrative privileges to do so. Many of our courses require full administrative access to the operating system and these products can prevent you from accomplishing the labs.
Any filtering of egress traffic may prevent accomplishing the labs in your course. Firewalls should be disabled or you must have the administrative privileges to disable it.
Microsoft Office (any version) or OpenOffice installed on your host. Note that you can download Office Trial Software online (free for 30 days).
Download and install VMware Workstation Pro 16.2.X+ or VMware Player 16.2.X+ (for Windows 10 hosts), VMware Workstation Pro 17.0.0+ or VMware Player 17.0.0+ (for Windows 11 hosts), or VMWare Fusion Pro 12.2+ or VMware Fusion Player 11.5+ (for macOS hosts) prior to class beginning. If you do not own a licensed copy of VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Fusion Pro, you can download a free 30-day trial copy from VMware. VMware will send you a time-limited serial number if you register for the trial at their website. Also note that VMware Workstation Player offers fewer features than VMware Workstation Pro. For those with Windows host systems, Workstation Pro is recommended for a more seamless student experience.
On Windows hosts, VMware products might not coexist with the Hyper-V hypervisor. For the best experience, ensure VMware can boot a virtual machine. This may require disabling Hyper-V. Instructions for disabling Hyper-V, Device Guard, and Credential Guard are contained in the setup documentation that accompanies your course materials.
Download and install 7-Zip (for Windows Hosts) or Keka (for macOS hosts). These tools are also included in your downloaded course materials.

Your course media is delivered via download. The media files for class can be large. Many are in the 40-50GB range, with some over 100GB. You need to allow plenty of time for the download to complete. Internet connections and speed vary greatly and are dependent on many different factors. Therefore, it is not possible to give an estimate of the length of time it will take to download your materials. Please start your course media downloads as soon as you get the link. You will need your course media immediately on the first day of class. Do not wait until the night before class to start downloading these files.

Your course materials include a "Setup Instructions" document that details important steps you must take before you travel to a live class event or start an online class. It may take 30 minutes or more to complete these instructions.

Your class uses an electronic workbook for its lab instructions. In this new environment, a second monitor and/or a tablet device can be useful for keeping class materials visible while you are working on your course's labs.

If you have additional questions about the laptop specifications, please contact laptop_prep@sans.org

Author Statement

"After 30 years in law enforcement, three capabilities immediately rise to the top of my list when I think of what makes a great digital forensic analyst: superior technical skill, sound investigative methodology, and the ability to overcome obstacles. This course was designed to impart these critical skills to students. Unlike many other training courses that focus on teaching a single tool, FOR500 provides training on many tools. While there are some exceptional tools available, forensic analysts need a variety of tools in their arsenal to be able to pick and choose the best one for each task. However, forensic analysts are not great because of the tools they use, but because they artfully apply the right investigative methodology to each analysis. A carpenter can be a master with all his tools and still not know how to build a house. FOR500 teaches analysts to apply digital forensic methodologies to a variety of case types and situations, enabling them to apply the right methodology to achieve the best outcome in the real world. Finally, the course presents the problem-solving skills necessary to be a truly successful forensic analyst. Almost immediately after starting your forensic career, you will learn that each forensic analysis presents its own unique challenges. A technique that worked flawlessly for previous examinations may not work for the next one. A good forensic analyst must be able to overcome obstacles through advanced troubleshooting and problem-solving. FOR500 gives students the foundation to solve future problems, overcome obstacles, and become great forensic analysts. No matter if you are new to the forensic community or have been doing forensics for years, FOR500 is a must-have course." - Ovie Carroll

"Former students have contacted me regularly about how they were able to use their digital forensic skills in very real situations that were part of the nightly news cycle. The skills you learn in this class are used directly to stop evil. Graduates of FOR500 are the front-line troops deployed when you need accurate digital forensic, incident response, and media exploitation analysis. From analyzing terrorist laptops and data breaches to investigating insider intellectual property theft and fraud, SANS digital forensic graduates are battling and winning the war on crime and terror. Graduates have directly contributed to solving some of the toughest cases out there because they have learned how to properly conduct analyses and run investigations. It brings me great comfort knowing that this course places the correct methodology and knowledge in the hands of responders who thwart the plans of criminals or foreign attacks. Graduates are doing just that on a daily basis. I am proud that FOR500 helped prepare them to solve cases and fight crime." - Rob Lee

"Digital forensics has never been more in demand than it is today. Zettabytes of data are created yearly, and forensic examiners will increasingly be called in to separate the wheat from the chaff. For better or worse, digital artifacts are recorded for almost every action, and the bar has been raised for investigators working to repel computer intrusions, stop intellectual property theft, and put bad actors in jail. We wrote this course as the forensics training we wish would have been available early in our careers. Keeping up with the cutting edge of forensics is daunting, but with frequent updates I am confident this course provides the most up-to-date training available, whether you are just starting out or are looking to add new skills to your forensic arsenal." - Chad Tilbury

"Ovie has been great as an instructor for this course. His knowledge and passion to share his insight with us has excited me in learning and reviewing the case materials again even after lessons. I stayed back to spend extra time to read and learn so that I could prepare in anticipation of what he is offering us the next morning. He conducts start-of-the-day recaps and end-of-the-day pop quizzes to tie in knowledge that would have otherwise been just 'another artifact' that was taught. He showed us how to think critically, to tell the story, and to always ask questions." - Yao Guang Tan

Ways to Learn

OnDemand

Cybersecurity learning – at YOUR pace! OnDemand provides unlimited access to your training wherever, whenever. All labs, exercises, and live support from SANS subject matter experts included.

Live Online

The full SANS experience live at home! Get the ultimate in virtual, interactive SANS courses with leading SANS instructors via live stream. Following class, plan to kick back and enjoy a keynote from the couch.

In Person (6 days)

Did someone say ALL-ACCESS? On-site immersion via in-classroom course sessions led by world-class SANS instructors fill your day, while bonus receptions and workshops fill your evenings.

Who Should Attend FOR500?

Information security professionals who want to learn the in-depth concepts of Windows digital forensics investigations
Incident response team members who need to use deep-dive digital forensics to help solve their Windows data breach and intrusion cases, perform damage assessments, and develop indicators of compromise.
Law enforcement officers, federal agents, and detectives who want to become deep subject-matter experts on digital forensics for Windows-based operating systems
Media exploitation analysts who need to master tactical exploitation and Document and Media Exploitation (DOMEX)
Anyone interested in a deep understanding of Windows forensics who has a background in information systems, information security, and computers

NICE Framework Work Roles

Cyber Crime Investigator (OPM 221)
Cyber Defense Forensics Analyst (OPM 212)
Law Enforcement/Counter Intelligence Forensics Analyst (OPM211)

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FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis

GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE)

Course Authors:

Chad Tilbury

Rob Lee

Ovie Carroll

What You Will Learn

Master Windows Forensics - "You Can't Protect the Unknown."

FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis will teach you to:

Business Benefits

You Will Be Able To

Windows Forensics Course Topics

Hands-on Labs

What You Will Receive

Syllabus (36 CPEs)

FOR500.1: Digital Forensics and Advanced Data Triage

Overview

Exercises

Topics

FOR500.2: Registry Analysis, Application Execution, and Cloud Storage Forensics

Overview

Exercises

Topics

FOR500.3: Shell Items and Removable Device Profiling

Overview

Exercises

Topics

FOR500.4: Email Analysis, Windows Search, SRUM, and Event Logs

Overview

Exercises

Topics

FOR500.5: Web Browser Forensics

Overview

Exercises

Topics

FOR500.6: Windows Forensics Challenge

Overview

Exercises

Topics

GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner

Prerequisites

Laptop Requirements

MANDATORY FOR500 SYSTEM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

MANDATORY FOR500 HOST CONFIGURATION AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Author Statement

Ways to Learn

Who Should Attend FOR500?

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