On December 5, State Scientific and Research Institute of Cybersecurity Technologies and Information Protection (ICTIP), together with leading government and scientific institutions, held an All-Ukrainian scientific and practical conference. The event was devoted to discussing current issues of conducting scientific, technical, and forensic expertise in the field of fighting criminal offenses in wartime. The conference, held at the Kyiv branch of the National Scientific Center “Ноn. Prof. М.S. Bokarius Forensic Science Institute”, brought together scientists, forensic experts, teachers, officers, law enforcement officials, and security forces of Ukraine. Participants discussed the specifics of examining methods and means of committing crimes during wartime and exchanged practical experience and best practices.

The participation of ICTIP employees was an important step in developing professional standards in the cybersecurity sector. The next step is to form interdepartmental working groups to create professional standards in priority areas:

• “Forensic expert in judicial expertise (cybersecurity and information protection)”;
• “Forensic expert (cybersecurity and information protection)”;
• “Specialist in legal consulting and advocacy in the field of cybersecurity”;
• “Cybercrime investigator.”

The working groups are proposed to include representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Security Service of Ukraine, State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, as well as higher education institutions, public associations, and trade unions, which will ensure a comprehensive and practical approach to the development of standards.

The development of these standards is strategically important for improving the effectiveness of investigations in cybercrime and war crimes. Agreed interdepartmental standards will ensure a high level of professional training for specialists working with digital evidence and will also increase the reliability and efficiency of forensic expertise, which is necessary to properly document crimes.