Build and Operate a Digital Forensics Lab That Holds Up Under Scrutiny
Managing a digital forensics lab is not just a technical challenge—it is a professional, legal, and operational responsibility. Even strong forensic work can be undermined when lab operations, documentation, evidence handling, or quality controls fail to withstand administrative review, accreditation requirements, or cross-examination.
This course provides a practical, experience-driven guide to building, managing, and sustaining a defensible digital forensics laboratory. It goes beyond tools and techniques to focus on how forensic labs actually operate in environments where credibility, consistency, and judgment matter.
Participants gain a structured understanding of forensic lab capabilities, standards, policies, security considerations, evidence handling, reporting, and administrative oversight—grounded in real-world expectations and professional scrutiny.
This is not an introductory overview or a collection of best practices.
It is designed to help forensic professionals make informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and operate with confidence when their work is examined closely.
Listen to a podcast about this course here!
This course is designed for professionals responsible for building, managing, or overseeing digital forensics operations in environments where work must withstand legal, administrative, and professional scrutiny.
It is especially well suited for:
Digital forensics lab managers and supervisors
Law enforcement personnel responsible for forensic operations or evidence handling
Private-sector forensic practitioners and consultants
Cybersecurity and IT professionals supporting forensic environments
Managers and administrators overseeing forensic units or services
Professionals preparing for accreditation, audit, or expert testimony
This course assumes a foundational understanding of digital forensics or cybersecurity concepts and focuses on operational decision-making, lab management, and credibility—not entry-level technical instruction.
If you are responsible for ensuring that forensic work is consistent, defensible, and professionally sound, this course is designed for you.
This course is designed to strengthen how digital forensics labs are planned, operated, and defended—beyond individual cases or tools.
After completing the course, participants will be better equipped to:
Make informed decisions about forensic lab design, capabilities, and scope
Establish and maintain lab operations that are consistent, repeatable, and defensible
Align policies, procedures, and practices with accepted forensic and quality management standards
Confidently manage evidence handling, documentation, and reporting expectations
Understand how operational choices impact credibility during audits, accreditation, and testimony
Identify and address gaps before they become operational or professional issues
Rather than focusing on isolated tasks, the course emphasizes judgment, context, and operational maturity—so forensic work is supported by a lab environment that holds up under scrutiny.
The modules below outline the scope of the course so you can see exactly what you’re getting when you enroll.
This module sets the context for the course by framing digital forensics lab management as an operational and professional responsibility—not just a technical function. It outlines how lab decisions impact credibility, consistency, and defensibility throughout the forensic process.
This module focuses on establishing what your lab is responsible for—and just as importantly, what it is not. It explores how scope decisions affect staffing, tooling, policies, risk exposure, and credibility, and why unclear scope is a common source of operational problems.
This module examines the foundational capabilities every digital forensics lab must support. It connects technical services to operational requirements, helping you understand how capabilities drive infrastructure, documentation, and oversight needs.
This module addresses the security considerations unique to forensic lab environments. It explores how network design, access controls, and system isolation support evidence integrity, confidentiality, and defensibility.
This module examines the role of hardware write-blocking in preserving evidence integrity. It explains why write-blocking decisions matter operationally, how devices are selected and validated, and how improper handling can undermine forensic credibility.
This module focuses on validating forensic software to support repeatability and defensibility. It explores validation concepts, documentation expectations, and how software validation supports quality management and professional scrutiny without becoming an administrative burden.
This module addresses non-forensic-specific lab equipment and infrastructure that support daily operations. It highlights how seemingly routine equipment decisions can impact workflow efficiency, evidence handling, and overall lab reliability.
This module examines qualifications, training, and competency from a lab management perspective. It focuses on how documented skills, supervision, and ongoing development support consistent work quality and professional credibility.
This module explores lab layout, access controls, and facility considerations. It connects physical security decisions to evidence protection, chain of custody, and expectations during audits, reviews, or challenges.
This module addresses the administrative foundations of sustainable lab operations. Topics include budgeting, metrics, oversight, policies, and documentation practices that enable effective management without detracting from technical work.
This module focuses on reporting and supporting documentation from a clarity and credibility standpoint. It examines how reports are consumed by non-technical audiences and why structure, consistency, and plain language are critical.
Really great stuff, and I only wish I'd come across this sooner. As it happens, I'm preparing my DF team for an audit of our DF lab - which includes lab management procedures. In searching for ways to structure lab management, I came across your course. Glad I did. Thanks!
Assistant Vice President
I just finished the course and I really can't say enough about it. Thanks, and I certainly look forward to future offerings.
Lab Director
I have looked everywhere for something like this course and couldn't find it, except here. I am just starting my digital forensics lab and this will help me so much. The course and materials were awesome - thank you!
Police Sergeant
Read Recent Course Feedback
The video lectures were clear, detailed, and easy to follow. They were some of the best instructional videos I’ve had in an online course
Evaluation Feedback
The lessons were informative and well thought out, and the instructor’s depth of experience showed throughout the course.
Evaluation Feedback
Overall, this was a well-designed course taught by someone with genuine expertise in the field.
Evaluation Feedback
Comprehensive Curriculum: From hardware writeblocking devices and software validation to forensic report writing and lab cybersecurity we've covered every topic in detail
Real-World Scenarios: Learn from real-life examples, case studies, and practical resources that cover challenges faced in actual forensic labs
Expert Guidance: Benefit from insights and lessons drawn from real-world experiences, ensuring you're always a step ahead of your lab management journey
Interactive Learning: Engage with interactive modules, videos, and quizzes to solidify your understanding and skills
Continuing Education: Earn a certificate for this course, which includes tested training and can be used for continuing education toward cybersecurity and digital forensic certifications
Meet Your Instructor
MS, CAWFE, CEH, CFCE, CHFI, CISSP, CNDA, DFCP, GCFA, GCFR, GCIA, GIME, GSEC
Josh Moulin is a cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience protecting critical systems and advising organizations worldwide. He began his career in law enforcement, where he led a cybercrimes task force and a digital forensics lab, pioneering efforts to combat cyber crime. Later, Josh served as a CIO and CISO in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex and as Senior Vice President of Operations at the Center for Internet Security (CIS), where he collaborated with DHS and CISA to secure U.S. state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) organizations through the MS-ISAC. He also served as an Executive Partner at Gartner, advising federal and military leaders on strategic cybersecurity initiatives.
In addition to founding Natsar, LLC, a cybersecurity consulting firm, Josh is adjunct faculty teaching university courses on cybersecurity and digital forensics. With a Master’s in Information Security and Assurance and numerous certifications, Josh’s highly rated courses draw from real-world expertise to equip learners with the tools to navigate today’s complex cybersecurity landscape.
Yes. A detailed written syllabus is available above in the introduction section as a downloadable PDF and outlines the full scope, structure, and learning objectives of the course. The syllabus reflects the depth of the material and is designed to clearly communicate expectations, coverage, and outcomes for participants considering the course.
When you purchase a course from Natsar, you have access to it for the lifetime of the course. Come back and review it as often as you like and even get access to free updates as they occur within the course.
Once you purchase the course, you will receive an instant email with instructions on how to access the course. You can also access it from within your account on natsar.com immediately. There is no waiting involved!
The course contains approximately 8 hours of instructional content. Most participants complete it over multiple sessions rather than in a single sitting, allowing time to reflect on how the material applies to their own lab environment. The course is designed to be practical and reusable, not rushed.
No. You can move through the course in the order that best fits your needs. The course is structured for a logical progression, but many participants return to specific modules as reference based on their current lab priorities.
Refund requests are considered within the refund window stated in this policy. Because this is a digital course with immediate access, refunds may be limited once substantial course content has been accessed or completed. If you believe you purchased in error or have a specific issue, contact us and we’ll review your request based on the policy terms listed here.
This course is designed for professionals building, managing, or overseeing digital forensics operations where credibility and consistency matter—law enforcement labs, private forensic firms, consultants, and supporting cybersecurity/IT leaders. It emphasizes operational decision-making, standards, and lab management—not entry-level technical instruction.
Yes. This course assumes a foundational understanding of digital forensics, cybersecurity, or related IT concepts. It is not designed as an introductory technical course. Instead, it focuses on lab management, operational decision-making, standards, and professional considerations that build on existing experience.
Yes, upon successful completion of the course and its assessments, participants will receive a certificate of completion indicating that this course included tested training.
Our platform offers email support where participants can raise questions and get clarifications from our expert instructor.
Most digital forensics courses focus on tools, techniques, and case-level execution. This course focuses on how to build and manage the lab environment that supports credible forensic work—policies, procedures, standards, evidence handling, reporting expectations, security considerations, and administrative oversight. It is designed to be tool-agnostic and applicable across common lab environments.
Yes. We offer group and organization pricing for teams, agencies, and corporate training programs. Contact [email protected] to discuss your goals, expected number of learners, and the most appropriate option for your environment.
The digital forensics field is ever-evolving. We regularly update our course content to reflect the latest trends, tools, and best practices in the industry.