Former FBI agent invited as guest speaker | News

March 2026

Digital forensics under investigation by cyber security students

By Claire Huggins

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Main photo L-R: Sean Preston, Craig Porter and Yash Bhootra.

Cyber Security BSc (Hons) students had their eyes opened to the scope and scale of digital forensics, as they welcomed Craig Porter as a guest speaker. Currently touring a select few UK universities in his role as Senior Account Executive and academia lead for OpenText鈩�, Craig is a specialist in digital forensics, cyber intrusion, and physical and data security.

So far鈥o relevant, but the students weren鈥檛 expecting the breadth of Craig鈥檚 lived experience which really brought the session to life.

鈥淗e was telling us stories that really caught our attention,鈥� said Diya Tioruthimmal after the session.

鈥淚 really got interested when he was talking about his investigations because I am planning to work in forensics in the future, so I鈥檝e got a clear picture about which part I should concentrate on.鈥�

Honing his lifelong interest in cyber security, Craig began his career in military intelligence for the US Army before spending over 20 years with the FBI. And one look at his will testify to a career spent applying his skills and experience to cyber security, digital forensics, incident response and research across multiple operating systems.

鈥淏ecause I鈥檓 old, I feel like I am a bit of a pioneer in this area,鈥� Craig joked.

鈥淭he fact is, that when I started with the FBI, the internet was just kicking off, Wi-Fi was very unknown, and it鈥檚 crazy to think about that, so I had to grow with it. I can talk about it because I did it.鈥�

As part of his role with OpenText, Craig gets to draw on his previous experience as a lecturer and spends two weeks a year in the UK, presenting to students at the universities already working with the company. Instead of going into technical detail, he shares some of his 鈥榳ar stories鈥� from his previous roles, with the aim of highlighting the possibilities open to cyber security graduates and excite them about working in the field.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been great that this was arranged for us,鈥� said Amdad Siddikee Ovi.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to learn what is going on in the industry, how trends are going and what is the demand.

鈥淭he best thing was that Craig gave us a way to connect it to himself and professional experience. We looked in depth at digital forensics and understood that there are many things you could do.鈥�

"The most important part of these visits for students, is that they get to know what鈥檚 happening in the industry...guest speakers鈥� experience of how they got to where they are is the exciting part."

Yash Bhootra Cyber security lecturer

Craig was on hand to demonstrate the value of their software programme, OpenText Forensic (EnCase)- a software programme born out of the need for digital investigative work and today, trusted the world over by businesses, governments and law enforcement to gather and store vital digital evidence while maintaining its integrity.

鈥淓nCase gives you the capability to 鈥榮terilise鈥� the evidence you need from a person鈥檚 computer,鈥� explained Craig.

鈥淵ou wouldn鈥檛 work on the original, you鈥檇 need to keep that intact, so you鈥檇 take a copy that has the same digital footprint as the original. Then you鈥檙e able to take a deep dive into that copy, to find what you need to assist your investigation.鈥�

Sean Preston, Deputy Dean - School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, was keen to expand on the value EnCase has for students:

鈥淓nCase is a global industry leader in digital forensics and is widely used by law enforcement agencies in the UK and internationally. Through our collaboration with Craig and his team at OpenText, we have invested in the software and hardware needed to provide our students with access to this powerful, widely used suite of forensic tools. This investment reflects the school鈥檚 strong commitment to ensuring students gain practical, real-world experience with the same technologies used by professionals in the field.

"I would like to thank Craig for visiting us here at UCB.鈥�

鈥淭he most important part of these visits for students, is that they get to know what鈥檚 happening in the industry,鈥� added Yash Bhootra, cyber security lecturer.

鈥淎s a lecturer, it can be difficult to guide students as to what the exact thing is they should be looking out for to get into a specific domain; guest speakers鈥� experience of how they got to where they are is the exciting part.鈥�

Rounding up the session, Craig was clearly in his element:

鈥淚 love to teach, I love to learn and, in this role, I get to help students, so I feel like I鈥檓 still giving back,鈥� he said.

鈥淭his is the first time I鈥檝e been at this university and it鈥檚 a great pleasure for me to be here.鈥�

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