CCDFA Exam

Are you ready for the challenge?

The CYBER 5W Certified Digital Forensic Analyst (CCDFA) Exam is a comprehensive, hands-on assessment designed to validate the knowledge and skills students have gained in the course. This exam challenges participants to demonstrate their ability to conduct a full-scale forensic investigation, analyze digital artifacts, and produce professional investigative reports based on realistic scenarios.


Exam Overview

The CCDFA Exam simulates digital forensic investigation. Participants will be provided with evidence files, including disk images, file system snapshots, and system artifacts, representing scenarios inspired by real-world cases such as data breaches, insider threats, and malware infections.

Through this exam, students will:
  • Acquire, analyze, and interpret digital evidence.
  • Explore key forensic artifacts from Windows operating systems.
  • Reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the incident.
  • Document findings in a structured, detailed investigative report.

    • The exam tasks cover core skills and topics from the CCDFA training, ensuring students can demonstrate their proficiency in:
  • Evidence Acquisition and Validation: Properly collecting and verifying evidence integrity through hashing techniques.
  • Disk and File System Analysis: Investigating FAT32 and NTFS file systems, recovering files, and analyzing corrupted disks.
  • Windows Forensic Artifacts: Analyzing user activity and program execution artifacts, such as Prefetch files, Shellbags, Registry keys, and Event Logs.
  • Browser Forensics: Extracting and interpreting data from Chromium-based browsers.
  • Reporting: Writing a detailed forensic report summarizing findings, timelines, and conclusions.

    • Exam Deliverables

    Students are required to produce an investigation report that includes:

    1. Evidence Handling Documentation: Methods used for acquisition and validation.
    2. Analysis of Forensic Artifacts: Identification and interpretation of key system and user artifacts.
    3. Incident Timeline: Reconstruction of the sequence of events based on artifact analysis.
    4. Technical Findings: Detailed exploration of identified artifacts, including file recovery and metadata analysis.
    5. Conclusions and Recommendations: Summarized insights and recommendations for remediation or further investigation.

    Duration and Submission

    Students will have one week to complete the exam and submit their forensic report. Submissions will be evaluated by the CYBER 5W team based on:

  • Accuracy: Precision in identifying artifacts and evidence.
  • Depth of Analysis: Comprehensive interpretation of forensic data.
  • Report Quality: Clarity, organization, and professionalism in reporting.
  • Passing Score: a minimum score of 70% is required to pass the exam certification.

    • Required Skills

    By following these steps and ensuring your technical readiness, you’ll be well-prepared to succeed in the CCDFA certification exam. Good luck!

      To successfully pass the CCDFA certification exam , you need proficiency in the following areas:
    • Identify, acquire, and validate digital evidence
    • Mount and navigate case evidence
    • Perform file analysis using a hexadecimal editor
    • Conduct disk analysis and repair corrupted disks and volumes
    • Analyze NTFS and FAT32 file systems
    • Perform data and file carving
    • Analyze artifacts such as the Recycle Bin, Thumbnails, LNK files, and Jump Lists
    • Locate and interpret system and user program execution artifacts
    • Extract and analyze Windows Registry files
    • Analyze Volume Shadow Copies & File History
    • Review Windows Events and Scheduled Tasks
    • Document forensic investigation findings
    • Write a clear and professional forensic report

    Feedback and Certification

    Students will receive detailed feedback highlighting their strengths and areas for improvement, fostering further growth in their forensic investigation capabilities. Successful completion of the exam leads to the CYBER 5W Certified Digital Forensic Analyst (CCDFA) certification, showcasing their expertise in digital forensics. This exam provides a realistic and challenging platform for aspiring forensic analysts, preparing them to tackle the complexities of real-world digital investigations with confidence and proficiency.

    FAQ

    What you need to know about CCDFA?

    • How much time do I have to complete the exam?

      One Week to complete the investigation and the report.

    • What does the exam format looks like, is it a multiple choice question (MCQ), or what exactly?

      The exam will be a description of a semi-world case study. You'll be given the data and asked to conduct an investigation and report your findings. No guiding questions and no MCQs.

    • What tools do I need for the exam? Will you provide me with a lab environment?

      You will need a computer with at least 50GB of empty disk space, a relatively good processor, 16GB of RAM, and a Windows VM with your favorite forensic tools. Please refer to the CDFA course for what tools are covered within the course and are recommended.

    • Do I need to write a Forensic Report?
      Is there a particular template for the report

      Yes, this is a critical part of being a professional forensic investigator and CCDFA focuses on this part.
      There is no preference on the used report template. However, you will be provided with a template so you have an idea what is expected from you.

    • How will my work be evaluated, are there any rubrics used?

      Your report will be evaluated based on your case findings, explanations, and documentation. Following that, all students will be interviewed by a committee of DFIR professionals.

    • Is the evaluation meeting recorded?

      Yes, it will be recorded for future references, credibility, and quality assurance.

    • Is there any support to contact during my exam period?

      You are welcome to email our team info [at] cyber5w [dot] com, but please note that we will not be able to answer any question related to the exam itself. In other words, we won’t be giving any hints to the investigation given for your exam.

    • I took the CDFA course but I am still not prepared, do I lose my exam voucher?

      You will have 1 year to attempt the exam, starting from the date you purchased the CDFA course or exam voucher.

    • When can I take the exam?

      You can take the exam anytime you are ready and before the expiration date of the course/exam voucher.

    • What is the expiration date for the certificate?

      There is no expiration date for the certificate. However, we encourage students to retake the exam every 2-3 years to stay current with the DFIR field.

    • How many exam attempts do I have with each voucher?

      You have two exam attempts.

    • Can I do an immediate retake of the exam if I fail?

      No, you will be able to retake the exam after at least one month from your first attempt.

    Testimonials

    “Although this exam had its challenges, I thoroughly enjoyed the process and I commend Ali and Jessica for continuing to challenge me even after 15 years of forensics work. For Closer Look at the Cyber 5W CCDFA Certification Exam, check this: https://metadataperspective.com/2023/12/06/forensic-expedition-a-closer-look-at-the-cyber-5w-ccdfa-certification-exam/”

    Digital Forensics Examiner

    Dean Boyer

    “This test is different than most where it's not multiple choice questions but rather a complete practical examination of a predefined set of evidence. Your final report of your findings is then graded with a 70% required to pass.
    For more info: https://www.stark4n6.com/2023/09/cyber5ws-ccdfa-certification-review.html”

    Digital Forensics Analyst

    kevin pagano

    “It has been a game-changer for me during this exam, and I would encourage everyone to take the course and start the #dfir journey. ”

    Digital Forensic and Incident Responder

    Bandr Alkhuzaie