Building National Capacity Through Cyber Forensics: Reflections from PES Mandya

The Poster Published for the Session

We recently had the opportunity to engage with students and faculty at PES College of Engineering, Mandya, where the Department of Master of Computer Applications organised a technical session titled “A Primer on Digital Forensics: Recent Developments and Career Building Opportunities.” The session was hosted under the aegis of the People’s Education Trust and reflected a growing academic commitment to domains that sit at the intersection of technology, law, and national security.

Why Cyber Forensics Matters Today

Cyber forensics is no longer a niche technical skill confined to law enforcement labs. It has become a strategic capability—essential for investigating cybercrime, protecting critical infrastructure, ensuring legal admissibility of digital evidence, and supporting national security objectives. As India continues to digitise governance, industry, and public services, the demand for robust, home-grown digital forensic capabilities is only accelerating.

From our perspective, building indigenous capacity in cyber forensics is not just about tools; it is about standards, research depth, skilled professionals, and institutional readiness. Nations that rely entirely on imported forensic technologies risk strategic dependency. Academic institutions therefore play a critical role in shaping sovereign capabilities through research, curriculum design, and applied training.

Objectives of the Session

The session at PES Mandya was designed with three clear objectives:

1. Introduce students and faculty to contemporary cyber and digital forensic practices, including how investigations are conducted in real-world scenarios.

2. Highlight emerging research areas in cyber forensics that can be pursued at postgraduate and doctoral levels.

3. Create awareness of career pathways—across law enforcement, consulting, industry, research, and policy.

Rather than positioning cyber forensics as a purely reactive discipline, we approached it as a preventive, investigative, and strategic function within the larger cybersecurity ecosystem.

Bridging Practice and Academia

One of the key themes we emphasised was the gap between theoretical knowledge and operational reality. While many students are familiar with cybersecurity concepts at a high level, fewer understand how digital evidence is actually collected, preserved, analysed, and presented—especially within legal and procedural constraints.

During the session, we discussed:

• The lifecycle of a digital forensic investigation

• The importance of chain of custody and evidentiary integrity

• Common challenges in handling data from cloud platforms, mobile devices, and industrial systems

• The evolving role of forensics in incident response and threat attribution

  
  

For faculty members, the discussion extended into how these themes can be translated into research problems, lab work, and interdisciplinary collaboration—particularly with law, policy, and behavioural sciences.

Research and Capacity Building Opportunities

A core takeaway from the engagement was the immense scope for academic research in cyber forensics in India. Areas such as forensic readiness, AI-assisted forensic analysis, forensics for OT and critical infrastructure, and indigenous tool development remain underexplored.

We strongly believe that institutions like PES Mandya can become regional centres of excellence by:

• Encouraging applied research aligned with national needs

• Developing specialised forensic labs and curricula

• Collaborating with practitioners, agencies, and industry

• Fostering a culture where students see cybersecurity and forensics as long-term research and leadership domains, not just short-term job skills

  
  

Impact on Students and Educators

The interaction with students was particularly encouraging. There was a clear curiosity about how classroom learning translates into real investigations and how they could prepare themselves for meaningful roles in this field. For educators, the session opened discussions around curriculum evolution and the importance of keeping pace with a rapidly changing threat landscape.

Such engagements reaffirm our belief that capacity building begins in classrooms—not after a crisis occurs.

Looking Ahead

This session at PES Mandya was more than a technical talk. It was a step toward normalising cyber forensics as a critical academic and national security discipline. As India moves toward greater digital autonomy, the role of educational institutions in nurturing skilled, research-oriented professionals cannot be overstated.

We look forward to continued collaboration with academic institutions to strengthen India’s cyber forensic ecosystem—through training, research, and sustained knowledge exchange.

Resource Person: Sanjana RathiCEO & Founder, CyberDiplomatSession held on 13 July 2023, Mandya, Karnataka