DFCS 645 is a three-credit course at the University of Maryland Global Campus with prerequisites DFCS 605 and DFCS 615.
UMGC describes a hands-on examination of the tools and procedures for forensic analysis of network or cloud network incidents, with the objective of collecting, examining and preserving digital evidence and artifacts from a network-based cyberattack or incident.
Credit may be received for only one of DFC 630 or DFCS 645. Network and cloud evidence is often transient and spread across providers, so students need both technical skill and an understanding of what can and cannot be obtained.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Code and title | DFCS 645 Cloud and Network Forensics |
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisites | DFCS 605 and DFCS 615 |
| Credit note | Credit for only one of DFC 630 or DFCS 645 |
| Format | Hands-on |
What DFCS 645 Covers
| Topic (from UMGC) | In plain language |
|---|---|
| Forensic tools and techniques | Software and methods for network and cloud evidence |
| Network monitoring and defense | Watching traffic and protecting networks |
| Incident response | Handling an attack from detection to recovery |
| Intrusion detection and prevention systems | Systems that alert on or block suspicious traffic |
| Log analysis | Searching firewall, server and service logs |
| Cloud computing | How cloud services work and what evidence they hold |
| Cryptography | How encryption affects collection and analysis |
Key Concepts Explained
Network Evidence Types
Full packet captures show content but are large; flow records show who talked to whom and how much, with less detail; logs from firewalls and servers add context. Choosing the right source depends on the question.
Illustrative reasoning: Flow records show a server sending large volumes to an unfamiliar address overnight. Firewall logs confirm the connection, and a packet capture, if available, shows whether the data was encrypted. Together they support a data-exfiltration hypothesis.
Cloud Challenges
In cloud environments, evidence may sit with the provider, be short-lived, or span regions. Investigators rely on logs, snapshots and cooperation processes, and need to record exactly what was collected and how.
Encryption
Encrypted traffic hides content but not metadata such as addresses, timing and volume. Be clear about what your conclusions rest on.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic analysis lab | Reading captures and flows | Filter to the relevant hosts, then summarize patterns |
| Log analysis | Correlating logs across devices | Align times and note gaps |
| Cloud incident scenario | Planning evidence collection | List sources, who controls them and how to preserve them |
| Incident report | Reporting findings | Separate facts, analysis and recommendations |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Volume of data. Narrow by time window and hosts before digging.
- Time synchronisation. Check clocks across sources.
- Cloud boundaries. Be clear about what you can access and what the provider holds.
- Overclaiming. Encrypted traffic limits what can be concluded.
Planning Your Work
| Stage | Do this | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Define the incident window and systems | Scope note |
| Collect | Preserve logs, captures and snapshots | Collection log with hashes |
| Analyze | Correlate sources | Timeline |
| Report | Findings and defensive improvements | Report |
Preservation steps are graded as carefully as findings, so record how and when each source was captured.
A Worked Evidence Source Map
| Question | Likely source | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Which host talked to an unknown address? | Flow records, firewall logs | No content visible |
| What was sent? | Packet capture | Encrypted content stays hidden |
| Who logged in to a cloud account? | Provider audit logs | Retention periods vary |
| What did a virtual machine contain? | Snapshot or disk image | Needs provider or admin access |
Mapping questions to sources before you start saves time and shows planning. In a scenario assignment, a table like this is often the core of a strong collection plan.
Include preservation in the plan: how each source will be copied, hashed and stored, and who is authorized. Cloud logs may expire, so noting urgency and retention is a sign of practical understanding.
Finally, link findings to defense. The course covers monitoring and prevention as well as investigation, so close your report with a few specific improvements, such as better log retention or an alert for the pattern you found.
Final Checks Before Submitting
Confirm that your scope names the incident window and systems, every source has a preservation note, times are aligned, and limits are stated, for example where traffic was encrypted or provider logs were unavailable.
Study Tips for DFCS 645
- Learn common protocols well enough to recognize normal versus odd traffic.
- Practice filtering and summarizing captures from practice data sets.
- Keep a table of cloud log types and what each shows.
- Review chain of custody from DFCS 605.
How We Help with DFCS 645
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Frequently Asked Questions
DFCS 605 and DFCS 615.
Three credits.
Credit may be received for only one of DFC 630 or DFCS 645.
Forensic tools, network monitoring and defense, incident response, IDS/IPS, log analysis, cloud computing and cryptography.
Yes, UMGC describes a hands-on examination.
Yes, the title and description include network and cloud network incidents.