Applied UAS Forensics: A Drone Security Certification Course from SkySafe

In 1993 (the year I was born, as a matter of fact), you’d be hard-pressed to find the words “drone” and “forensics” in the same sentence, especially when describing a course one could take certifications-wise. Though drones have been around for over a century, the operationalization of them (let alone mainstream popularization) didn’t kick in until the 1960s or 1970s. (Outside of military uses, that is.) Thereafter, drones became used more often for civilian purposes in agriculture, construction, photography and filmmaking, etc. Now, even casual hobbyists use them. Toy drones have hit shelves, both in brick and mortar stores and via e-commerce. The innovation has been wild, to say the least.

And now, we have companies like SkySafe – a global provider in airspace security and drone management – that has announced the launch of its new certification course for drone forensics.

Given the time that’s passed since the pandemic, this doesn’t come as an out-of-total-nowhere surprise. The drone industry’s growth has gone sky-high since 2019-2020, and now SkySafe’s course will provide in-depth training on drone usage; specifically, the necessary training on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for forensic use cases.

In 2023, a first responder’s actions (or, unfortunately, inaction) following a drone-related criminal incident could have serious consequences on any following investigations. (i.e. determining the drone’s point-of-origin and capabilities, what data can be extracted in order to potentially prosecute offenders, etc.) So, SkySafe has created its “Applied UAS Forensics” certification course to provide law enforcement and forensic examiners with the insights necessary to analyze drones’ pattern-of-life activities and legitimate threat potentials.

“SkySafe is a leader in the drone forensics space,” said SkySafe founder and CEO, Grant Jordan. “We’re excited to bring drone forensics training and certification to the market. As more drones become available, more people are finding opportunities to use drones for criminal activities. We’ll provide investigators with the skills they need to combat these threats and bring offenders to justice in the modern age.”

To obtain certification, course participants will also experience hands-on training with a CFID (Covert Forensic Imaging Device), drone analysis techniques, and much more.

“Our goal is to go beyond just teaching students about the popular tools,” said Director of Reverse Engineering at SkySafe, Sara Frances, “and instead provide examiners with the key skills needed to become subject-matter experts.”