Student Led Data Recovery Services: Providing Digital Forensics students with relevant work experience

Digital Forensics is a growth market; however, obtaining real world work experience as a student can be challenging due to the high levels of competition, legal, ethical, and confidential aspects of the work. This paper presents a solution to providing students practical work experience that will aid them in obtaining future employment in Forensics. Currently under development at Leeds Beckett University is a student led data recovery service, which will be provided to all staff and students, using mixed level groupings of students. This service is designed to provide a rich, interactive environment that enables students to gain hands-on experience in an unknown and dynamically changing environment. Plans have received positive support from both Faculty Leadership and students. The service is due to start in September 2016.