How to Get Started in Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR)

The New to DFIR Field Manual 3.0: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started in Digital Forensics & Incident Response, published by SANS Institute, is a career guide developed by SANS DFIR faculty with an introduction from Heather Mahalik, SANS DFIR Curriculum Lead. The guide is organized into 10 sections covering what makes someone suited to DFIR work, career paths, free learning resources, skill-building exercises, mentorship, community involvement, scholarships, and formal training and certification options.

Key facts and figures:

• Of the 20 coolest careers in cybersecurity identified by SANS, 10 fall within digital forensics and incident response, including threat hunter, malware analyst, and incident response team member
• SANS identifies problem solving, critical thinking, thoroughness and attention to detail, communication, teamwork, and ownership as the qualities hiring managers look for in entry-level DFIR candidates, ranking these above technical ability
• SANS has awarded more than 600 scholarships through its CyberTalent Immersion Academy, and 90% of graduates are employed within six months of graduating
• More than half of students in SANS's Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity program received their first cybersecurity job offer before finishing the program
• SANS faculty have created more than 150 free, open-source digital forensics tools available to the public
• Attending all SANS Summits in a given year can earn more than 100 continuing professional education (CPE) credits at no cost
• The guide recommends FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis as the foundational course for those starting in DFIR, alongside FOR498: Digital Acquisition and Rapid Triage for evidence collection fundamentals
• Free entry points into the field identified in the guide include SANS webcasts, YouTube channels such as 13Cubed and DFIR Science, podcasts including the Digital Forensic Survival Podcast, and community programs like NetWars DFIR
• According to Heather Mahalik, a background in IT or computer science is not required to succeed in DFIR; curiosity, a tolerance for puzzles, and a hunger for knowledge matter more than prior technical training
• The SANS Technology Institute admissions process includes a quiz designed to test a candidate's natural aptitude for DFIR work, independent of prior technical background

The guide's central message is that DFIR is a field with multiple viable entry points rather than one prescribed path: formal education, hands-on practice with test data sets and CTF challenges, mentorship, and community engagement are presented as equally legitimate on-ramps. It repeatedly emphasizes that the DFIR community is unusually supportive of newcomers, and that consistent self-directed learning, not a specific credential, is what separates people who succeed in the field long-term.

This is a career and training resource compiled by SANS DFIR faculty, drawing on advice from Heather Mahalik and testimonials from practitioners and students at organizations including PepsiCo, Availity, BB&T, Discover Financial, and CNO Financial Group.