The Best Digital Forensic Conferences of the Year - with COVID-19 Pandemic Updates
Below is a list of some of our favorite annual conferences which are in addition to our list of 2020 Law Enforcement Conferences in North America.
Note: The COVID-19 Pandemic is causing some digital forensic conferences to be moved online to virtual events. Other events are getting postponed or cancelled. Please check with the individual conference organizer to verify dates and locations.
The knowledge and training you can gain at digital forensic conferences around the world can make the difference in crime solving. In addition to networking, annual conferences are one of the best ways to learn from peers, stay on top of the latest strategies and tactics, get an advance look at industry trends, and they can be a great place to talk face-to-face with digital forensic vendors. In addition to keynotes and lectures, many annual conferences also offer hands-on lab sessions or pre-conference training classes on everything from RAM capture to digital forensic triage and mobile forensic best practices.
Sixteenth IFIP Working Group 11.9 International Conference on Digital Forensics
When: January 6-8, 2020
Where: New Delhi, India
Why Attend: Designed to advance the "state of the art" of research and practice in the emerging field of digital forensics, this conference is ideal for scientists, engineers and practitioners.
Forensics Asia Expo
When: July 15 - 17, 2020
Where: Jakarta, Indonesia
Why Attened: Set apart by its unique focus on the latest developments and debates within Asia’s forensic community, Forensics Asia Expo provides a definitive source of education, training and networking for professionals who attend.
International Conference on Digital Forensics and Justice System
When: September 10-11, 2020
Where: Tokyo, Japan
Why Attend: The ICDFJS 2020 conference brings together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Digital Forensics and the Justice System.
When: Postponed for 2020 due to COVID-19
Where: London UK
Why Attend: This year's event will take place with Security & Counter Terror Expo and UK Security Week and attracts 1,500+ international forensics professionals from government, law enforcement, forensic laboratories, private sector, military and intelligence, as well as legal sector and university professionals.
National Cyber Crime Conference (Virtual Conference)
When: July 13 - July 17, 2020 #2020NCCC
Where: Boston, Massachusetts
Why Attend: Coming off the successful 2019 NCCC event, this conference hosted by the MA Attorney General's Office features more than 100 digital forensic training sessions for police and investigators.
Congreso Informatica y Ciberseguridad 2020
When: Postponed
Where: Madrid, Spain
Why Attend: Sponsored by ADF Authorized Partner Ondata International, and Red Seguridad magazine, this annual conference is ideal for investigators, lab examiners and anyone who is interested in the latest cybersecurity, incident response, risk management, electronic discovery or investigation technology.
When: March 27, 2020
Where: Illinois Institute of Technology, Wheaton, Illinois
Why Attend: Created by the Center for Cyber Security and Forensics Education (IIT C²SAFE) and is an industry-focused technical conference (not an academic conference). This event is Chicago's premier cybersecurity conference. It attracts 200+ professionals for discussion and debate over forensics, security, data/information governance, cyber crime and security, cyber security legislation and legal issues, ethical hacking, eDiscovery, cloud forensics, steganography, policy and compliance, privacy, wireless security, cloud computing, identity theft, and more.
DFRWS - Digital Forensic Research Workshop Conferences
DFRWS EU: March 25, 2020 - Oxford (Postponed due to COVID-19)
DFRWS USA: July 19, 2020 - Virtual Conference
DFRWS APAC: September 21, 2020 - Postponed to May 17-21, 2021
Why Attend: This event organized by DFRWS, a nonprofit, volunteer organization that is brings together individuals and organizations interested in digital forensics to help address emerging challenges in the field of digital forensics. The event features industry leading keynotes, hands-on workshops, lectures, panel discussions as well as demos and poster sessions.
International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS)
When: Postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19
Where: Orlando, Florida
Why Attend: Widely respected as one of the best training events for law enforcement, this event is focuses on Basic Computer Forensic Examiner training. BCFE students receive a laptop computer, write-blocker, USB 3.0 external hard drive, thumb drive, training manuals, and other equipment to take home with them at the successful conclusion of the training.
Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law
When: August 12-13, 2020 (Originally scheduled for May 27-28 in Las Vegas, NV)
Where: Daytona Beach, Florida
Why Attend: Sponsored by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Purdue University and the University of Texas San Antonio, this official conference of the Association of Digital Forensics Security and Law provides an for the presentation and discussion of original research and curriculum about digital forensics and its relationship to security and law.
Ontario Forensic Investigators Association Annual Conference
When: November 3 - November 6, 2020
Where: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Why Attend: The OFIA 2020 educational conference is sponsored in conjunction with local law enforcement.
Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference
When: September 14 - September 17, 2020
Where: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Why Attend: The Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference brings together leaders in the digital forensics and cybersecurity industries and fosters collaboration between government and private sectors. "Techno" as it is often referred to within the industry, is designed to build awareness internationally in the field of IT security and digital forensics.
SANS Digital Forensics and Incident Response Summit & Training 2020
When: July 16 - July 17, 2020
Where: Virtual Summit
Why Attend: The annual SANS DFIR Summit brings together an influential group of experts, immersion-style training, and industry networking opportunities for a multi-day training event that features highly technical summit talks, as well as hands-on courses taught by authors and instructors.
High Technology Crime Investigation Association
When: September 28 - October 2, 2020
Where: Virtual International Conference & Expo
Why Attend: This conference, for law enforcement, is one of the premier high tech investigation conferences in the world and it is focused on solving digital crimes and offers lectures, labs and pre-conference training. Training is taught by "investigators for investigators".
Still want more? Here's a list of law enforcement conferences by type.