Employing Artificial Intelligence in Digital Forensic Examinations
CYBERSECURITY TRACK / MINI KEYNOTE
ROOM 309-310 / APR. 8 / 1:50 PM - 2:15 PM
About this session
The complexity of digital evidence has been a challenge for forensic examiners for several years. Other types of forensic evidence that are typically examined – blood, fingerprints, hair, and bullets – do not change, or at least not at a rapid pace. Admittedly, analysis techniques have improved, but the evidence itself has remained relatively constant. In contrast, digital evidence is in constant flux—new technologies emerge, and the volume of data grows exponentially.
Artificial intelligence (AI) enables examiners to search for patterns in data, reducing the need for manual inspection of millions of files and terabytes of information. AI can identify specific fragments and piece them together more efficiently. Through automated machine learning, what might seem like a trivial artifact to the human eye can be recognized as part of a larger puzzle.
While AI is still in its early stages, it is already being used in some routine forensic applications. Research and exploration into its potential contributions continue to evolve.
Key takeaways
1. Digital Evidence Is Constantly Evolving: Unlike traditional forensic evidence, digital evidence is in a state of constant change due to emerging technologies and the exponential growth in data volume, creating challenges for forensic examiners.
2. AI Enhances Forensic Analysis Efficiency: Artificial intelligence helps forensic examiners identify patterns in vast datasets, reducing the need for manual inspection of large volumes of files and efficiently connecting fragments of digital evidence.
3. AI’s Potential Is Still Developing: While AI is still in its early stages, it is already being applied in forensic applications, with ongoing research exploring its future potential to revolutionize digital evidence analysis.
Speakers
Bryan Burkhardt
Professor & Co-Chair
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
Bryan Burkhardt is professor of Electronics & Information Technology at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). He is co-chair of the Digital Forensics program. Bryan regularly teaches courses related to information technology, digital investigations, applied computer forensics, and computer science. He is also the former director of the Electronic Crime Institute (ECI) at the college. He speaks regularly on the topics of information security, digital forensics, and online safety. He provides investigatory, technical assistance to law enforcement throughout the state and beyond and has testified as an expert in both state (IA) and Federal court (IA-S). He holds degrees in Computer Engineering (B.S. & M.S.; Iowa State University). In addition to his full-time career at the college, he has worked as a part-time, private consultant in the information technology, forensics and engineering fields for more than 25 years. During the 2018-19 academic year, Bryan took a leave of absence to serve as Manager of Digital Forensics for a prominent, Iowa-based cybersecurity firm working with the clients nationwide.
Dr. Doug Elrick
Professor & Co-Chair
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
Dr. Doug Elrick is a full-time instructor in the Digital Forensics program and an adjunct for the University of South Florida Digital Forensics graduate program. He worked in the field of digital forensics for over thirty years. Prior to joining DMACC, he was the Director of Forensic Services for Digital Intelligence (DI), a digital forensic & e-discovery company, working there from 2002 to 2018. At DI, he worked on civil forensic and e-discovery cases for corporations around the world and witnessed the development and growth of the e-discovery field.
Before working at Digital Intelligence, Doug worked from 1989 to 2002 as a forensic scientist for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, where he started the computer forensic unit for the DCI laboratory in 1992. Doug obtained the following digital forensic certifications: A+, MSCE, CFCE, and CAWFE from IACIS, and EnCE from Guidance Software.
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