As computer forensics has become increasingly important to civil and criminal trials, certification for computer experts has been a growing business. However, no one authority has appeared to define what a computer forensic certification should entail, which means investigations, can vary wildly in terms of quality.

Computer forensics is a complex field that requires many different skills and whilst the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has published a set of guidelines for interrogating electronic evidence, they do not legislate for certification.