NetworkNetwork & Cloud ForensicsCloud Storage InvestigationCollect and read AWS, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace logs as sound evidence.Cloud / Network Forensics Certificate
This certificate is for cases where the evidence is not on a device you can hold. It covers cloud storage accounts, audit logs and virtual machines.
DFRTISpecialised certificate
What a holder can show
- Collect data from cloud storage accounts such as Google Drive and OneDrive with proper authority
- Read audit logs such as AWS CloudTrail to see who did what and when
- Find traces of cloud sync clients on a seized computer
- Acquire and examine virtual machine disks and snapshots
- Investigate VMware ESXi and Hyper-V hosts after an attack
- Document cloud evidence so its source and integrity can be shown
- Send precise data requests to cloud providers
About the Certificate
An employee shares client files from the company OneDrive to a personal account. Ransomware encrypts every virtual machine on an ESXi host overnight. In cases like these there is no single disk to image. The evidence sits in logs, sync records and virtual disk files spread across systems you do not own.
The certificate brings together cloud storage investigation and virtual machine and hypervisor forensics. You learn to collect cloud data with the right authority, read audit logs and examine virtual disks and snapshots without disturbing the running environment.
Who Should Take It
This is a specialised certificate. DFRTI asks for completion of foundation or core forensic courses, or equivalent professional experience, before you start.
- Network and cloud administrators who handle incidents
- DCNI holders who want to extend into cloud and virtual environments
- Corporate investigators dealing with data leaks from cloud accounts
- Cyber cell officers who request and analyse data from cloud providers
How to Earn It
- 01Choose the certification
Select the Cloud / Network Forensics Certificate on the certifications page. If you are not sure it is the right level for you, talk to a counsellor first.
- 02Enrol
Fill in the enrolment form and complete the payment. You then get access to the course material and labs on the DFRTI student portal.
- 03Study and practise
Work through the Cloud Storage Investigation and Virtual Machine / Hypervisor Forensics courses. The portal has video lectures, notes, lab exercises, quizzes and exam preparation material.
- 04Schedule the exam
Book your exam through the DFRTI portal when you feel ready.
- 05Get your certificate
Your certificate carries a unique ID. Anyone can enter that ID on the DFRTI verification page and confirm it online.
What Is Assessed
DFRTI exams combine multiple-choice questions, practical lab work, case study analysis and tool-based exercises, all within a set time. The exact structure depends on the certification.
- Theory questions
Multiple-choice questions on cloud service models, shared responsibility, log sources and virtual disk formats.
- Practical lab
Examine a virtual machine disk and its snapshots and recover the attacker's actions.
- Case study
Trace a data leak through cloud audit logs and sync client records and state who shared what.
- Tool-based exercise
Answer set questions on prepared CloudTrail logs and a virtual disk image using standard forensic tools.
Cloud / Network Questions
Are there prerequisites?
Yes. Specialised certificates need completion of foundation or core forensic courses, or equivalent professional experience in network and cloud analysis. The DCNI is a natural step before this one.
Can cloud data be collected without the provider's help?
Sometimes. With proper authority and the account holder's credentials or consent, data can be collected through the account itself. Logs and data held only by the provider need a request through the proper legal route.
Can I retake the exam if I do not pass?
Yes. DFRTI allows retakes and the number of attempts depends on the certification. A counsellor can explain the current retake rules before you enrol.
How can an employer check my certificate?
Every DFRTI certificate has a unique ID. The employer enters it on the DFRTI verification page and sees at once whether the certificate is genuine.
Related courses
NetworkNetwork & Cloud ForensicsCloud Storage InvestigationCollect and read AWS, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace logs as sound evidence.NetworkNetwork & Cloud ForensicsVirtual Machine / Hypervisor ForensicsExamine VMDK, VHDX and QCOW2 disks, snapshots, ESXi logs and VM memory files.More in Certifications
Not sure this is the right one for you?
Tell us your background and what you want to do next. A counsellor will suggest a course and the next batch.