Endpoint Memory Forensic Investigation

Master Endpoint Memory Forensic Investigation

Uncover in-memory threats, fileless malware, and advanced attacker activity that never touches the disk. Learn to capture, analyze, and extract critical evidence from volatile memory across Windows and Linux, turning raw RAM dumps into actionable intelligence for incident response and threat hunting.

View Pricing Download Lab Pack Take End of Course Exam → 40 CPE Credits

What you'll be able to do

Detect process injection, fileless malware, and credential theft directly inside memory dumps
Simulate real-world attacks and instantly analyse the volatile artefacts they leave behind
Extract actionable Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) from purely in-memory evidence that never touches disk
Perform deep forensic analysis on both Windows and Linux memory captures using Volatility 3
Reconstruct complete attack timelines and attacker behaviour using only volatile memory evidence
FOR502 | Specialist tier | 10 modules across 4 phases | 36-40 hours at your own pace | 40 CPE credits | 11 free preview lessons, no account needed | All tools free | Updated June 2026
Course Agenda View all 10 modules

Course overview

The Endpoint Memory Forensic Investigation course delivers hands-on expertise to capture, examine, and interpret volatile memory from live systems and memory dumps. You'll master industry-standard tools and techniques to detect stealthy threats that traditional disk-based forensics cannot see. Learn how to:

Acquire and analyze memory from Windows, Linux, and virtual/cloud environments
Extract processes, network connections, credentials and key material, injected code, and attacker artifacts
Identify fileless malware, rootkits, and advanced persistent threats (APTs)
Build repeatable workflows for rapid incident response and deep-dive investigations

By the end, you'll capture and analyze volatile memory the way a working DFIR analyst does, recover evidence that disk forensics cannot, and feed it into your team's detection and response.

Who this course is for

You're a SOC analyst, incident responder, threat hunter, security engineer, or digital forensics professional who already has foundational skills and wants to specialize in the next level of investigation. This course is designed for you if you want to:

Master volatile memory analysis to uncover threats that never touch the disk
Develop the investigative mindset and technical precision needed to detect fileless malware, rootkits, and advanced in-memory attacks
Turn raw memory captures into clear, actionable intelligence for real-world incident response and threat hunting
Build memory-analysis capability across Windows and Linux

In short, if you want to work memory the way a DFIR specialist does and run the investigations disk forensics cannot, this course is for you.

What you'll learn

By the end of this Endpoint Memory Forensic Investigation course you will be able to:

Capture and analyze volatile memory from live systems and memory dumps across Windows and Linux, including cloud and virtual-machine acquisition
Extract critical artifacts including processes, network connections, credentials and key material, injected code, and attacker footprints
Identify and investigate fileless malware, rootkits, process injection, and advanced persistent threats (APTs) that evade traditional forensics
Apply structured analytical workflows and industry-standard tools to rapidly reconstruct attacker activity
Interpret complex memory data and present clear, court-ready findings for incident response and internal investigations
Build repeatable, production-grade memory forensics capabilities that strengthen your organization's detection and response posture

Key course takeaways

Gain production-ready memory forensics skills to detect stealthy, diskless threats that traditional methods cannot see
Run full-scope memory investigations and turn the findings into actionable intelligence for the team
Master the most important volatile artifacts and evidence locations across Windows and Linux
Quickly uncover hidden attacker activity, key material, and in-memory persistence mechanisms
Create repeatable investigative workflows and lab environments that make you highly effective and consistent on the job
Move from disk-based forensics into memory analysis as a working specialism

Lab Pack: Attack, Capture, Analyze

Included: 3 VM setup scripts, 7 attack playbooks, PoC kernel driver and LKM rootkit source code with build instructions, 33 exercises (Standard/Hard/Expert), 10 verification scripts, 10 HTML walkthroughs, 6 documentation templates.

Not included by design: Memory images (you capture your own), pre-compiled binaries (you build from source), analysis tools (install per Lab Setup Guide). Capturing memory and building PoC tools from source are skills, not overhead.

Endpoint Memory Forensic Investigation Lab Pack v2.0
7 attacks · 10 walkthroughs · 33 exercises · PoC source code · report templates
Download Lab Pack (.zip)

Things you need to know

What are the prerequisites for this course?

Foundational knowledge of Windows and Linux operating systems is recommended. You should be comfortable using the command line and navigating file systems. Prior experience with incident response or disk-based forensics will help you move faster, but is not required. Every memory forensics concept is explained from first principles.

What are the device requirements?

A device with at least 16 GB of RAM (32 GB recommended for running multiple VMs simultaneously). You will need a hypervisor (VMware Workstation, VirtualBox, or similar) to run the attack lab environment: a Windows target VM, a Linux target VM, and a Kali attacker VM. Approximately 80 GB of free disk space for VM images and memory captures.

How will the course benefit your career?

Memory forensics is one of the most advanced and in-demand specializations in digital forensics and incident response. Organizations increasingly face fileless malware, in-memory attacks, and threats that leave no trace on disk. Analysts who can capture and interpret volatile memory are critical to detecting these threats.

This course builds the skills needed for senior DFIR roles, memory forensics specialist positions, threat hunting teams, and advanced SOC functions. The ability to analyze volatile evidence sets you apart from practitioners limited to disk-based forensics.

Usage rights and disclaimer

Course materials: Licensed for individual professional development. You may not redistribute course content or share account credentials.

Attack tools: Metasploit, Mimikatz, and PoC rootkits are for educational use in isolated lab environments only. Running them against unauthorized systems is illegal.

Fictional environment: All scenarios use Northgate Engineering. Any resemblance to real organizations is coincidental.

Version and changelog

Current version: 3.1  |  Last updated: June 2026

June 2026 - v3.1: Course renamed to Endpoint Memory Forensic Investigation. Course page restructured. Reference module rebuilt with Volatility 3 command reference, field manual, and further reading.

April 2026 - v3.0: Complete course. 10 modules across 4 phases. Attack-capture-analyze pedagogy. Lab pack with PoC source code, exercises, verification scripts, walkthroughs.

This course is actively maintained.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

End of Course Exam

Complete the course, then prove your skills under time pressure. Pass mark: 70. Earn your certificate with CPE credits.

40minutes
3phases
100points
1scenario
Take End of Course Exam

Requires 80% course completion. One random scenario per attempt. Certificate issued on pass.