Am I on the right path?

Private and Federal 2 different paths.

Private, work on whatever cert or degree you want. In the private world what one attorney or client might like, the next may not understand or want. If I was starting over in the private side, I would not be worrying about certs, I would worry about where the steady flow of clients would be coming from. How am I going to keep the doors open with all the costs associated with running a CF business.

Federal work on your degree and then lately it's been hodgepodge type stuff. They want someone who can write enscripts, who knows Linux, who is good with Cellphones, has one of the main certs (most wording I see always has ENCE PREFERRED) can't remember last one where ACE was listed.

Your question was a bit misleading, you said you are working for 2 years in the DA's office and now you finally get to do cell phones. Then in a new paragraph you say my question is what classes should I be focusing on?
That could mean what classes for cellphones or what classes to further the career in it's totality.

You did leave out lots of options though. Like Winhex and Paraben. It's so engrained into everyone Encase Encase Encase that we often forget there are other players out there who are looking out for us, the examiners.

Hope that helps somewhat.

Don't forget about Paraben, they have a cert program in cell phones and it's very in depth and covers lots of things all the way from CDMA, GSM, to Hyperbolic's, various software, etc.

Greetings! I am a 27 year old computer forensic Analyst in Pennsylvania. I have been working for my local District Attorney's Office in the Computer Forensic Divison for 2 years and, finally, this year we are diving into Cell Phone Forensics.

My question to you is after looking at my classes and certs… If you want to advance to federal or private, what classes should I be focusing on?

Classes

Basic Data Recovery (BDRA)
Intermediate Data Recovery (IDRA)
FTK
Encase I and II
Secure Techniques for Onsite Previewing (STOP)
Windows Forensics 7
Computer Forensic Investigation Training (CFIT)

Working on my ACE Cert for FTK and want to gain A+. Any advice is helpful! Thanks!

Thanks Armresl. As for the cell phone training, our office is currently budgeting for cell phone examinations. We do not have the capability yet but I pushed for them to start. Yeah I want to get ENCE certified and I will look into Paraben training.

I guess overall I was looking for solid core structure of computer forensic classes that could really solidify my future whatever path I choose? I do understand it is two entirely different fields of work. I have no desire to start up my own company.

Thanks for the advice! Always looking to correspond with other forensic examiners!

Core classes, can be taken by any number of places.

Actually Xways training is very good in teaching you to do dirty work with hex.

Some people like SANS, other people learn from conferences where they can attend multiple classes over a week (you wouldn't want to build your foundation from that, but filler stuff is great)

Also some people like those CCE bootcamps.

It's all in preference. Lastly, it appears there will be some major changes in Windows 8 which will surely warrant new training on how to deal with things. Just put that on the back burner.

Any help I can offer, PM me and I will help however I can.

Thanks Armresl. As for the cell phone training, our office is currently budgeting for cell phone examinations. We do not have the capability yet but I pushed for them to start. Yeah I want to get ENCE certified and I will look into Paraben training.

I guess overall I was looking for solid core structure of computer forensic classes that could really solidify my future whatever path I choose? I do understand it is two entirely different fields of work. I have no desire to start up my own company.

Thanks for the advice! Always looking to correspond with other forensic examiners!