Devon Ackerman

About Devon Ackerman

Devon Ackerman is a recognized leader in digital forensics, incident response, and cybersecurity consulting, known for guiding organizations through complex cyber investigations, high-impact intrusions, and litigation support. With a career spanning federal service and private sector leadership, Devon brings deep technical expertise and strategic vision to enterprise-level threat response and resilience efforts.Before entering the private sector, Devon served as a Supervisory Special Agent at the FBI’s Operational Technology Division within the CART Field Operations Unit. In this role, he led deployments for major digital forensic operations, managed executive and inter-agency relationships, and oversaw forensic response during national security events, including the San Bernardino domestic terrorism case involving Apple iPhone encryption. As a senior-certified Forensic Examiner, he directed on-scene collections and conducted deep-dive forensic analysis in support of high-profile investigations.In the private sector, Devon has built and led global incident response teams, developed service delivery frameworks, and helped mature the consulting capabilities of cybersecurity firms. He is known for his clarity in translating technical findings for non-technical stakeholders, frequently supporting executive teams, legal counsel, and insurers with actionable intelligence, expert witness services, and strategic guidance.Devon is the creator of AboutDFIR.com, a widely used resource for digital forensics and incident response professionals, and the author of the best-selling cybersecurity book “Diving In: An Incident Responder’s Journey.” His thought leadership spans cybersecurity education, expert consulting, and public speaking, where he brings forward insights from real-world experience involving nation-state threat actors, ransomware campaigns, insider threats, and cloud-based intrusions.Devon’s work consistently bridges the gap between technical rigor and business-critical decision-making, making him a trusted advisor for clients seeking clarity and confidence in the face of today’s evolving cyber threats.

Experience

1. Global Head, Digital Forensics and Incident Response (Dfir)

   Cybereason, A Levelblue Company

   Jul 2024 — Present

   Devon Ackerman is a recognized leader in Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR), with a proven track record of building, scaling, and leading high-performing global teams to deliver expert-level investigative and advisory services. At Cybereason, Devon plays a pivotal role in advancing the company’s consulting capabilities, focusing on complex incident response, ransomware intrusion investigations, insider threat cases, and business email compromise scenarios across cloud and hybrid enterprise environments.With a deep foundation in threat actor tradecraft, forensic analysis, and enterprise security operations, Devon has led hundreds of incident response engagements involving organized cybercrime, advanced persistent threats, and nation-state actors. His experience spans critical sectors, including finance, healthcare, legal, and energy, where he has helped clients contain active threats, conduct root cause investigations, and strengthen their security posture post-incident.Devon is known for bridging the technical and executive worlds—translating sophisticated forensic findings into actionable recommendations for legal counsel, boards of directors, and CISOs. He is frequently sought after for his strategic insight, ability to operationalize forensic intelligence, and focus on minimizing business disruption during crisis response.Throughout his career, Devon has contributed thought leadership to the industry through published works, public speaking, and direct collaboration with enterprise security teams. His work consistently emphasizes precision, discretion, and the highest standards of professional integrity.

Education

• Champlain College

  Bachelor of Science Degree: Computer & Information Systems, Digital Forensics

• Champlain College

  MSc in Digital Forensic Science

  2016 — 2017

• Federal Bureau of Investigation

  Special Agent, Criminal, National Security, and Cyber

  2008 — 2009

Skills

• Physical Security
• Network Security
• Evidence Collection
• Fraud Investigations
• Investigation
• Criminal Law
• Forensic Analysis
• Security Operations
• Criminal Justice
• Mobile Forensics
• Computer Forensics
• Security Incident Response
• Ftk
• Encase
• Security
• Law Enforcement
• Incident Response
• Private Investigations
• Os X
• Cybercrime
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Fraud
• Digital Evidence
• Computer Security
• Python
• Smartphone Forensics
• Information Security
• Teaching Adults
• Background Checks
• Digital Forensics
• Counterintelligence
• Critical Incident Response
• Federal Law Enforcement
• National Security
• Evidence
• Network Forensics
• X-Ways
• Project Management
• Criminal Investigations
• Cybercrime Investigation