Cyber Security Professional Career Paper: Digital Forensics Analyst

 

Student Name: Daniel Schoeman

School of Cyber Security: Old Dominion University

CYSE 201S: Cyber Security and the Social Sciences

Instructor Name: Diwakar Yalpi

Date: November 18, 2025

This paper explains how the career of a digital forensics analyst connects to social science ideas, course concepts, and the relationship between society, technology, and marginalized groups.

Introduction

Digital forensics is one of the more interesting paths in the field of cyber security because it mixes technical investigation with the study of human behavior. A digital forensics analyst works with digital evidence, but the job also involves understanding why people do what they do online and how they move through digital spaces. The purpose of this paper is to explain how social science principles support this career and how the concepts from class, such as culture, norms, influence, and risk, show up in the daily routine of a digital forensics analyst.

Social Science Principles in Digital Forensics

Social science research helps me understand the human side of online activity. Many people think digital forensics is all about devices and data, but a large part of it involves studying motives, patterns, and communication. For example, Module 9 talked about culture and subcultures in cyber security. This is important because a digital forensics analyst often has to understand the values and behaviors of certain online communities, especially when looking at groups involved in hacking or other digital crimes. Social science gives me a better sense of how people think, how they justify actions, and how social environments shape online choices.

Norms also play a big role in digital forensics. The course explained that social norms guide how people behave, and many incidents begin when someone ignores or misunderstands these norms. When I investigate a case, understanding why a person shared information, clicked a link, or interacted with someone online helps me avoid blaming the victim and instead focus on what happened. Human decisions usually open the door to cyber incidents, so knowing the social side helps me approach the work with empathy.

Application of Key Concepts from the Course

There are several course concepts that connect directly to the work of digital forensics. One is the idea of subcultures. The class explained how hacker groups often value secrecy, knowledge, and reputation. This helps me understand how attackers behave and why they leave certain traces behind. It also helps me piece together timelines when looking through logs or messages.

Another concept is the study of information maneuvers from Module 10. Social cyber security focuses on how people use influence, deception, and manipulation online. In digital forensics, this shows up when I investigate phishing cases, fake profiles, or attempts to mislead victims. Knowing how influence spreads helps me follow the path of an attack. Carley (2020) described how ideas move across networks, and this helps me understand how harmful content or scams spread from person to person.

Module 11 focused on the economic side of cyber security. Digital forensics analysts often work on cases where organizations need to know how much damage was done or how far an attack reached. Concepts like risk and cost help guide the decisions I make when sorting evidence and deciding what to prioritize. The course gave me a clearer understanding of how digital crime affects companies, individuals, and society.

Digital Forensics and Marginalized Groups

This career interacts with marginalized groups in several important ways. Some individuals are more vulnerable to online scams, harassment, or exploitation because they have fewer resources or less digital literacy. A digital forensics analyst needs to approach these cases with care and avoid blaming the victim. Social science helps me understand how inequality affects exposure to digital risks.

There is also the issue of bias. People from marginalized groups may be unfairly targeted or misunderstood during investigations if analysts rely on assumptions instead of evidence. Being aware of social and structural factors allows me to treat each case fairly. Digital forensics work should protect people, not reinforce existing inequalities.

Career Connection to Society

Digital forensics analysts play a key role in helping society respond to digital incidents. When hospitals, schools, banks, or government agencies experience an attack, digital forensics helps explain what happened and how to prevent it in the future. Society relies on accurate digital investigations for legal cases, workplace disputes, and criminal justice. At the same time, public concerns about privacy and digital rights shape how this career operates. The role requires staying aware of new laws and social expectations so the work remains ethical and responsible.

Conclusion

Digital forensics is not just a technical career. It involves understanding people, motives, and the social forces that shape online behavior. Social science principles give me the tools to approach digital investigations with fairness and awareness. The concepts from this course, such as culture, subcultures, norms, influence, and risk, connect directly to the work I would do as a digital forensics analyst. This career plays an important part in protecting society, and understanding the human side of cyber activity is what makes the work effective.

 

References

Carley, K. (2020). Social cyber security: An emerging science. Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory.

Casey, E. (2019). Digital Evidence and Computer Crime. Academic Press.

Holt, T., & Bossler, A. (2021). Cybercrime and Digital Forensics. Routledge.

Rogers, M., & Seigfried Spellar, K. (2018). The psychology of digital crime. Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law.