GCFA

GCFA stands for GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst, a professional certification offered by GIAC, the Global Information Assurance Certification program managed by the SANS Institute. The credential validates expertise in computer forensics and incident response, with emphasis on memory analysis, file systems, and artifacts across Windows and Linux environments, as well as the ability to conduct multidisciplinary investigations that include malware analysis, timeline creation, and reporting.

The GCFA exam typically covers domains such as memory forensics and analysis, operating system forensics (Windows and Linux), disk forensics and data collection, network forensics, incident response and handling, and legal and ethical considerations including chain of custody and evidence preservation. Practitioners often pursue GCFA to demonstrate capability in investigating security incidents, performing evidence collection, reconstructing attacker techniques, and communicating findings to stakeholders.

Candidates generally have hands-on experience in digital forensics, incident response, or security operations. The certification is widely recognized in government, finance, and private sector organizations and can be used to fulfill professional development goals.

Maintaining GCFA status requires ongoing education and renewal through GIAC's continuing education framework, ensuring practitioners stay current with evolving tools and techniques.