Why exactly would it be important for a digital forensic analyst or network administrator to have training/experience under the Leadership category?

Obviously, leadership is key to leaders, but what exactly is so important about leadership? Leadership is different from management. If management is about designating tasks, leadership is about influencing another individual, such as an employee or student, into performing beyond their capacities. It is about understanding unique individuals of different backgrounds and learning how to motivate them into excelling at their work. There are certain aspects, such as emotional intelligence, that can better inform leaders on how to “act” better as a leader. There are also certain traits, such as creativity, empathy, openness, integrity, and self-awareness, that “good” leaders bear.

To a digital forensic analyst or network administrator, both of whom may spend hours on end either sitting behind a computer screen or examining a device’s functionality, leadership may seem like a waste of time. They are not handling team members or customers. It’s ineffective, even useless. I will tell you, this is not the case.

If, as an analyst, I think creatively, I can approach a stalemate of an analysis in a different way; I may have to retrace my steps and examine what went wrong. If I show empathy, I can better communicate my findings in a relatable way to a diverse jury while I act as an expert witness.

Point is, leadership does not mean one must be a leader. Instead, think of it this way. The traits of a “good” leader can serve as the traits of a “good” follower. In this case, the “good” digital forensic analyst bears soft skills and traits of “good” leaders, such as integrity and self-awareness, which inform how they conduct themselves. It may not seem as in-depth as hard skills, but soft skills act as invisible guiding hands.

What is Cybersecurity Ethics about?

Under the Leadership category, I took Cybersecurity Ethics (PHIL 355E). This course dealt with learning how to argue for certain topics (e.g., data privacy) while using ethical reasoning tools, such as the philosophy of utilitarianism. Mainly, this course gauged my critical thinking skills and my capacity to argue for topics I am unfamiliar with.

Cybersecurity Ethics featured certain goals within its syllabus, such as applying ethical reasoning to a range of cybersecurity challenges. There were also objectives, such as applying ethical theories to case studies and complex cyber dilemmas. I learned many new topics/concepts, such as moral relativism, deontology, informational friction, corporate social responsibility, cyberconflict, and information warfare.

In this course, I engaged in virtual class discussions, where I read an article on a controversial topic related to cybersecurity, then debated with my classmates on the ethicality of my arguments. Additionally, I drafted essays for seven modules around a topic of importance, such as the previously mentioned corporate social responsibility and cyberconflict. Regardless of my stance, I had to argue for what I believed was ethical while using the provided ethical tools (e.g., virtue ethics).

How does this course relate to my development as a professional?

Personally, I learned that one must consider the context of a scenario before proceeding with any action. As analysts, we do not always have the facts; therefore, we do not always understand the bigger picture. For someone pursuing digital forensics, this would mean remaining diligent/meticulous when delivering reports on their conclusions based upon the evidence they have examined. It is crucial to be cautious, because these reports can absolve or condemn defendants.

There were many challenging moments, such as the need to balance this writing-intensive coursework with also equally writing-intensive coursework from other classes. Given a limited time frame and a necessity to balance my life, internship, and university, I had to plan my writing. As a result, I designated certain days of the week to target certain parts of the essay, such as the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, to ensure I am not too overwhelmed by the need to satisfy the minimum word count. I learned to pace myself, and in a research-heavy course, pacing is essential/beneficial. A slower pace means more time to deliberate on my diction, content, and research sources. This is also applicable to digital forensic analysts since much of their time is spent reporting how they conducted their digital investigation in a case.