Open University starts computer forensics course

A new computer forensics postgraduate course is being offered by The Open University.

The course is designed to equip professionals with a basic understanding of the complex field of computer forensics.

The Computer Forensics and Investigations course provides an introduction to the world of digital evidence collection, forensic computing and IT incident management.

The course will enable people to know what to do in the initial stages of an investigation - being a "first responder" to a situation, and helping an organisation prepare for problems before they happen.

The course is aimed at IT professionals wishing to broaden their skill set, human resources managers who need to understand the issues and legal professionals.

Specially commissioned material has been written by legal and technical expert in the field Peter Sommer, who has acted as an expert witness in high-profile criminal cases, including terrorism, fraud, internet child abuse, international hacking, corporate espionage, defamation and murder.

Somner has also had experience in Westminster and Whitehall as a specialist advisor.

Sommer said, "IT-related crimes are more prolific and businesses have to guard themselves against a multitude of issues: fraud, illegal downloads, theft of data and online bullying, for instance."

The first presentation of the course starts in May 2008, with registration closing at the end of this March. The course will run again in November 2008.