Deliver indispensable data acquisition and analysis when it matters most, showing you are ready to investigate and triage on the technical battlefield.
The GIAC Battlefield Forensics and Acquisition (GBFA) certification validates a practitioner’s readiness to handle every facet of the data collection and rapid triage process. GBFA certification holders are qualified to properly collect, acquire, and conduct rapid triage analysis across a wide range of data storage.
Areas Covered
- Acquiring data efficiently from a wide range of devices
- Rapidly producing actionable intelligence
- Manually identifying and acquiring data
Who is GBFA for?
- Federal agents and law enforcement personnel
- Digital forensic analysts
- Information security professionals
- Incident response team members
- Media exploitation analysts
- DoD and intelligence community professionals
- Anyone with a background in information security interested in an understanding of the proper preservation of systems
“Instructor Testimonial
The GIAC Battlefield Forensics and Acquisition (GBFA) certification demonstrates that an individual is trained and qualified in the proper collection, acquisition, and rapid triage analysis of many forms of data storage. Certified GBFA professionals can traverse each point from arriving at a scene, through determining and establishing the "quick wins" necessary to rapidly move an investigation forward. They have shown skill and excellence in the use of a wide variety of tools and techniques across a vast spectrum of media storage repositories from portable devices, servers, and endpoints, through to IoT and Cloud data. This industry certification will convey that the holder is prepared to handle every facet of the collection and rapid triage process.”
Exam Format
- 1 proctored exam
- 2 hours
- Minimum passing score of 69%
- 75 questions
Note: GIAC periodically reviews and may update certification specifications to ensure fairness, validity, and reliability. Using a psychometric standard-setting study, GIAC has set the passing score for the GBFA exam at 69% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after August 1, 2020.
To confirm the exam format and passing score that apply to your specific attempt, please refer to the Certification Information section of your GIAC account: https://exams.giac.org/pages/attempts.
Certification Delivery
GIAC certification attempts will be activated in your GIAC account after your application has been approved and according to the terms of your purchase. Details on delivery will be provided along with your registration confirmation upon payment. You will receive an email notification when your certification attempt has been activated in your account. You will have 120 days from the date of activation to complete your certification attempt.
NOTE: All GIAC Certification exams are web-based and required to be proctored. There are two proctoring options: remote proctoring through ProctorU, and onsite proctoring through PearsonVUE. Click here for more information.
Exam Certification Objectives & Outcome Statements
- Acquiring RAM and OS ArtifactsThe candidate will be able to describe the different methods for performing acquisition of RAM, macOS and Shadow copies. This includes using disk copy utilities and target disk mode.
- Acquisition PreparationThe candidate will be able to summarize the goals of scene management, how to assess evidence, recognize tampering, and verify acquisitions.
- Computer FundamentalsThe candidate will be familiar with basic computer concepts, such as machine configuration, boot processes, BIOS, UEFI, IP addressing, and domain registrars, in preparation for acquisition.
- Data on DrivesThe candidate will be able to summarize different ways data on drives can be stored and accessed, including encryption and handling deleted files.
- Data on the NetworkThe candidate will be able to describe different ways that data can exist in motion, such as IoT network traffic and PCAP files. They will also be able to discuss how different network tools can be used to discover networked devices.
- Dead Box AcquisitionThe candidate will be able to describe the different methods for performing dead box acquisition, including write blocking and media removal.
- Filesystem FundamentalsThe candidate will be able to describe basic concepts of common filesystems, like NTFS, EXT, and FAT. They will also be able to describe the functionality of major components that comprise these file systems, such as Master File Tables and File Allocation Tables.
- Host Based Live AcquisitionThe candidate will be able to describe the different methods for performing host based live acquisition, including the use of software and hardware write blocking and accessing physical drives and volumes.
- Manual TriageThe candidate will be familiar with manual techniques and tools used to select and triage data.
- Manually Finding DataThe candidate will be able to outline the different ways in which data can be manually found. This includes: where data can be found, carving metadata, and file recovery.
- Mobile Device AcquisitionThe candidate will be able to describe, at a high level, the different methods used to perform mobile device acquisition. This includes isolating portable devices from radio signals, tools for mobile device acquisition, and identifying specific mobile devices.
- Mobile Device TriageThe candidate will be able to outline the ways in which data can be triaged from mobile devices. This includes Android and Apple specific scenarios and how to triage data found in mobile apps, as well as calendars and emails.
- Physical Storage DevicesThe candidate will be able to compare and contrast the different forms of physical storage devices. This includes device interfaces, spinning disk layout, solid state drive fundamentals, and common HDD problems.
- Remote AcquisitionThe candidate will be able to describe the different methods for performing remote acquisitions, including acquisitions over the network as well as leveraging common cloud provider products.
- Specialty Device FundamentalsThe candidate will be able to describe basic concepts of common specialty devices, like MacOS, including System Profiler and Device Information Collection.
- Storage TechnologiesThe candidate will be able to summarize, compare, and contrast common storage technologies, such as the different levels of RAID configurations.
- Using Forensic Tools for TriageThe candidate will be able to compare and contrast the ways in which popular forensic tools can be effectively used in data triage.
- Windows FilesystemsThe candidate will be able to compare and contrast major Windows filesystems including FAT, exFAT, and NTFS.
- Working With Evidence FilesThe candidate will be able to compare and contrast common evidence file formats, how they can be accessed, and how they can be used in an investigation.
Practice Tests
- Practice exams are a simulation of the real exam, allowing you to become familiar with the test engine and style of questions
- Practice exams can serve as a gauge to determine if your preparation methods are sufficient
- The bank of practice questions is limited, so you may encounter the same question on multiple practice tests
- Practice exams never include actual exam questions
- Purchase a GBFA practice test here
Other Resources
- Training is available in a variety of modalities including live training and OnDemand
- Practical work experience can help ensure that you have mastered the skills necessary for certification
- College level courses or self-paced study through other programs or materials may meet the needs for mastery
- Understand the procedure to contest exam results
- Use this justification letter to share key details of this certification opportunity with your boss