Episode 4: Cyber Attacks and Digital Forensics Incident Response

 In this episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Nick Klein, the Executive Director of Digital Forensics & Incident Response(DFIR) at Cyber CX. Nick's journey is fascinating; With over two decades of experience, Nick has become a go-to expert for presenting evidence in both criminal and civil cases, not just in Australia but internationally. He’s a trusted advisor for senior executives and boards during major cyber incidents, guiding them through the complexities of response coordination, forensic investigation, threat hunting, ransomware negotiations, and working with law enforcement.

Our conversation with Nick was packed with insights on digital forensics and incident response. He emphasised how vital digital forensics is investigating cyber crimes on almost every level of organisation during data breaches, and security incidents. Nick walked us through the process of collecting and analysing digital evidence, which often involves overcoming challenges related to cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT). A highlight was insight on how to gain the essential skills for anyone wanting to be in this field, including technical know-how, attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to stay calm under pressure.

Most Interesting Points

What stood out was Nick’s sheer passion for digital forensics, which stems from his love for technology and his drive to help organisations bounce back from cyber attacks. He talked about the hurdles he faces, like dealing with vast amounts of data, encrypted devices, and cloud-based evidence, not to mention clients who may not have the best monitoring or security setups t begin with. To keep up with the ever-evolving field, Nick stressed the importance of continuous learning, attending conferences, collaborating with peers, and experimenting with new tools. A few leadership lessons that were gold, included focusing on adapting to various challenges, communicating effectively with stakeholders, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and knock off the imposter syndrome!

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recordingit!

Get the slides from this episode here