Anyone else noticed a huge, huge drop in forensic positions the last 3-4 months being advertised on the market?
I remember, two years ago, there were 2-3 jobs per week being splatted all over the web, now I see 1-2 a month if that!
Concerning. Market saturation has finally arrived I wonder? You could argue credit crunch etc, but I think it's market saturation. Two years ago, there were 3-4 Uni's in the Uk teaching this stuff…now they all do.
Bad economic times?
I very much agree. Theres just not enough work about it seems!
hi
in IMHO bad economic times weigh on our sector very much; in addition there is a big confusion about this business.
I've published a post about the idea to create an international price list, that can be a base for those who like freelancer work in the field of Computer Forensics. It's also true in every country there is a different market situation and legal order, but i believe that price fixing (or criteria) could perhaps help us….or be a first step …
Here in Italy the situation is pretty complex, and as long as half lawyers keep on playing the "wannabe technician game" thinking that clicking a couple of icons on encase or FTK transforms them into ubersk1ll0rz forensic analyst, there won't be any kind of market to talk about.
and for this situation to change we have to wait till the law enforcement will hit their face against the wall several times.
but for this to happen there's the need for lawyers to understand the importance of hiring skilled computer forensics analysts and investigators for supporting the defense with an analysis that is done the way it's meant to be done.
EDIT oh well, i'm not saying that there aren't skilled forensics experts, the problem is that the consciousness of their skill and their value is appreciated only in a small amount of areas on the territory, like in Milan or Rome.
Public sector cuts here in the UK aren't going to help much either!
I don't believe that we have seen market saturation yet, but just give it a few more years and we certainly will.
but i believe that price fixing (or criteria) could perhaps help us….or be a first step …
I completely disagree I'm afraid, do you not think particular patrons of this field are not better at their job and should be able to charge more for their time.
Prince fixing will only make the problem worse, you will get cowboys straight out of uni being paid to much and it will drive reputable seasoned expert witnesses into the ground.
As with everything if you fix a price someone will always try to be backhanded and undercut it to get a bigger market share
but i believe that price fixing (or criteria) could perhaps help us….or be a first step …
I completely disagree I'm afraid, do you not think particular patrons of this field are not better at their job and should be able to charge more for their time.
Prince fixing will only make the problem worse, you will get cowboys straight out of uni being paid to much and it will drive reputable seasoned expert witnesses into the ground.
As with everything if you fix a price someone will always try to be backhanded and undercut it to get a bigger market share
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The drop in forensic positions is pretty much directly linked to the current economic climate as far as I see.
If you consider that the UK market; the vast majority of work comes from LE, and these are the organisations who have to bear the brunt of massive public spending cuts. There's certainly no shortage of people commiting crimes involving digital devices, it's just a matter of finding the budget to get them analysed.
This has a knock-on effect for those dealing in with the defence side of things, if LE decide not to analyse a device why would a defence solicitor want to go to the expense of having an anlysis done unless they are convinced that their client has a vital piece of exonerating evidence held on that device?
In my experience, it's a similar story in the corporate world. Many businesses are reluctant to shell out for forensic services when budgets are so tight.
Long story short, the market is far from satured it's all just a question of money!