WV Executive

Marshall University Forensic Science Center, in conjunction with the Department of Integrated Science and Technology, has announced two agreements with a world leader in digital forensic software. According to the first Memorandum of Understanding, Marshall University will conduct research for AccessData, a pioneer in digital investigations for more than 20 years.

The company’s software empowers law enforcement, government agencies and corporations to perform computer investigations of any kind. As a part of the MOU, Marshall students will conduct research on new browsers, instant messenger clients, and other Internet-related applications. The results of this research will be incorporated into AccessData training and training materials that will be delivered to a worldwide audience.

John Sammons, assistant professor in the Department of Integrated Science and Technology, worked to develop the relationship with AccessData. He said because of the agreement, the University will receive credit in AccessData materials and students will gain real-world experience working with the company’s Forensic Toolkit®, which is considered to be the industry standard. AccessData’s solutions address criminal and internal investigations, incident response, eDiscovery and information assurance. The company is headquartered in Lindon, Utah, and has training centers across the U.S. and around the world. The company’s Forensic Toolkit® and network-enabled enterprise solutions allow organizations to preview, search for, forensically preserve, process and analyze electronic evidence. This agreement with Marshall University is unique for the company. According to the second MOU, AccessData training will be offered at Marshall University’s state-of-the-art Forensics facility this summer. In July, Marshall University will host two AccessData classes for practitioners – Mac Forensics and Applied Decryption.