Super computer sleuths

Digital detectives: (From left) Samantha Rule of the Computing Platforms team in the Technical Support Services Division, Nick Parsons of the Helpdesk team in Customer Services Division, and Roshan Harneker, a team leader in the Customer Services Division. In the middle is their course convenor, Adri Stander.

Three members of the university's Information & Communication Technology Services (ICTS) team will graduate with honours in Information Systems, specifically in the vital area of computer forensics.

They are Samantha Rule of the Computing Platforms team in the Technical Support Services Division, Nick Parsons of the Helpdesk team in Customer Services Division and Roshan Harneker, a team leader in the Customer Services Division.

Computer forensics concerns computer crime and is a branch of digital forensic science that involves legal evidence found in computers and digital storage media. The aim is to examine digital media in a "forensically sound manner with the aim of preserving, recovering, analysing and presenting facts and opinions about the information", according to a brief description in Wikipedia.

"As computer forensics and digital forensics get more exposure, people will realise that there is a great need for more individuals who can perform digital forensic investigations in a legally admissible manner, and interpret their findings," said Harneker.

"It is definitely an in-house skill that benefits any organisation. And as two of my fellow graduands are also members of ICTS, I believe we're well-situated to be able to start assisting the campus with queries or cases they have which require a digital forensic investigation to be conducted."

Rule has long had an interest in computer forensics, having already completed industry-specific certification courses such as AccessData Certified Examiner, a qualification for digital forensic investigation.

Having an in-house team of digital forensic investigators at UCT is a boon.

"There are now individuals who understand and know what processes should be followed to ensure that evidence isn't contaminated and who can respond to and perform digital forensic investigation," added Rule.