College of Arts and Sciences - Department of Computer Science and Statistics - Digital Forensics
CSC486 - Network Forensics
Sample Lecture
View our introductory lecture to CSC486. All of our lectures are pre-recorded and delivered to students as a downloadable or streaming .wmv file. Watch our CSC486 lecture that introduces you to what we mean when we use the term Network Forensic and what this course is about.
Course Description
CSC486 is the third course in the series for the Undergraduate Minor and the Professional Certificate Programs. This course is designed to build on the material learned in 485 and apply the concepts to a network environment. This course places a strong emphasis on digital forensic procedures, digital forensic tools, and legal issues relating to digital forensics all in a network environment. This course uses advanced forensic tools and hands on exercises to emphasize the procedures that students will use in the field as forensic investigators. This course also places a strong emphasis on learning and understanding the Net+ material. While this is not a course in Net+ test preparation, this course does use a Net+ test preparation text as part of its teaching material. We encourage our students to use this as a starting point and with a few extra hours of studying each week, students should be prepared to take and pass the Net+ examination. The Net+ certification is a useful certification to have in the industry, and it conveys to employers, clients, and juries that you understand the underlying principles and foundations of your network related investigations.
Semester Taught
CSC486 is taught in the Spring and Summer semesters.
Prerequisites
Approval by Dr. Fay-Wolfe to be enrolled in the undergraduate minor or current enrollment in the Professional Certificate Program. Successful completion of CSC485.
Course Format
CSC486 is taught entirely online. This course is composed of weekly modules that include an assigned reading, an online video lecture, a quiz, and a hands on assignment. Students will have access to all of the necessary material through an online classroom that is maintained by the University. Part of this online classroom is a discussion board that allows students to anonymously communicate with each other and the instructor. This discussion board is used to discuss current issues in the field as well as to trouble shoot problems that students may be having with homework assignments. The discussion board is unique in that it has been designed to function similarly to a professional list-serve that professionals use in the industry. Students can also have additional access to the instructors through an online meeting application that allows both student and instructor to share the contents of their desktops. This way instructors can see exactly what students are doing and provide help and assistance as necessary.
Course Topics
- Network Basics
- Network Concepts
- RAID
- RAID Rebuilding
- Windows Server Forensics
- Linux Server Forensics
- VMware to Reconstruct a Network
- Current Topics in Network Forensics
Required Materials
- Net+ Certification Text, Mike Meyers, Current Edition
- File System Forensic Analysis, Brian Carrier
- Windows XP Machine or later with 5 Gigs of free space, 2 Gigs of RAM, and a high-speed internet connection
Apply Now
Apply Now to the University of Rhode Island.
Apply Now to the Digital Forensics Undergraduate Minor.
Apply Now to our Digital Forensics Professional Certificate Program.
Apply Now to our Digital Forensics Graduate Certificate Program.
Coming Soon
Starting in Spring 2010 URI will be offering a full course in EnCase Forensics Software. This course will be eligible to any student who is currently enrolled in one of the degree or certificate programs and has successfully completed CSC485 or CSC585. Enroll now to be one of the first students eligible. Students who complete the course will be eligible to take their EnCe certification test.
