Domenica Crognale

Domenica Lee Crognale is a Senior Instructor and co-author of FOR585: Smartphone Forensic Analysis In-Depth with SANS as well as a principal security engineer. She spent 15 years as a contractor to various federal government agencies providing support to both Law Enforcement and the Intelligence Community with digital forensic investigations and cybersecurity best practices. She has provided training to military special forces, the United States Coast Guard, FBI and others, and in her spare time, she tests various mobile forensics utilities and provides security assessments for mobile applications. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management from Purdue University Global. She is also a proud faculty advisor for the SANS Technology Institute's Graduate program and enjoys helping students reach their academic goals in cybersecurity.

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Domenica is a co-author of SANS FOR585: Advanced Smartphone Forensics. As a co-author, she has been able to share some of her challenges and experiences with students who are interested in the field, something that's been a very rewarding experience. "One former student shared that the she appreciated all of the work that went into the Legacy BlackBerry section of the course, and mentioned that she was able to use the information that she learned in class to assist with prosecuting a subject," says Domenica. "This section was particularly challenging to author, so this feedback made me realize that what we are doing is truly helping make examiners better in the field. I also like that every single case is different. It's still growing and there are so many opportunities to make a difference in this field."
In her teaching, Domenica ensures her students know that it's okay if they don't have all of the answers. "I also stumble through some of this data trying to make sense of all of the millions of things you can find on these devices," she says. "This field will always keep you on your toes because there is always something new. It's your motivation to do research and testing that will set you apart from other examiners."
And even with her experience and wealth of knowledge, Domenica says she still treats every mobile device application the same way as she did her first examinations. "You are never too advanced to research," she says. Also, Domenica says that regardless of having all of the best books, notes and samples, this field requires the need for constant testing. "If you aren't prepared to create test data to verify your findings, you may still be missing a piece of the puzzle."
Domenica maintains multiple certifications including the GASF, EnCE, CCE, and CISSP. She is also a IACIS CFCE mentor and coach, providing mentorship to candidates enrolled in the IACIS certification process.
When she's not investigating, teaching and mentoring, Domenica enjoys spending time with friends and family and her two adopted rescue pups, who make a few appearances in the course material! Luckily, she says, they are willing subjects.

Watch Domenica's talk, "All you need to know about FOR585 - Smartphone Forensic Analysis In-Depth"