Jon Blake
Internet and Cyber Investigator and Consultant
Open Source Internet Investigations for local authorities
This course is designed specifically for employees of Local Authorities in Ireland who are involved in enforcement, compliance, investigation, or regulatory roles.
400 - exclusive price for local authorities' employees
Online
2 half days
About this course
Our tailored Open Source Internet Investigations course is designed specifically for Local Authority employees in Ireland. This interactive online programme equips you with essential skills to conduct effective and lawful internet-based investigations, enhancing your ability to gather and analyse online evidence pertinent to your role.
Why choose this course
This is a hands on, online instructor lead course introducing delegates to the fundamentals of an Open Source Internet investigation. An Open Source Internet Investigation is the process where data collected from publicly available sources online can be collected as evidence and analysed as part of your investigation.
Practical applications: learn new skills and techniques you can put into practice straight away.
Engaging, knowledgeable and professional trainers.
Course syllabus
In the digital age, the internet serves as a vital resource for various investigative functions within local authorities. This course offers hands-on training, enabling you to:
- Understand the scope and application of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in public sector investigations.
- Utilise advanced web search techniques to uncover relevant information efficiently.
- Navigate and extract data from social media platforms, websites, and other online databases.
- Apply appropriate safeguards to protect investigative methods, including anonymisation techniques.
- Comprehend and adhere to Irish legislation and procedural practices affecting internet investigations.
Key learning objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Define open-source material and its relevance to local authority investigations.
- Employ both basic and advanced web search strategies to locate pertinent information.
- Identify and utilise valuable open-source databases and indexes relevant to public sector needs.
- Recognise and comply with Irish legal frameworks governing online investigations.
- Implement online safety measures to protect investigative integrity and personal data.
- Assess the evidential value of digital images, websites, and social media content.
- Apply enhanced evidence capture methodologies suitable for internet investigations.
- Conduct effective email investigations.
- Describe the Deep and Dark Web and demonstrate investigative techniques applicable to these areas.
Who should attend?
This course is designed specifically for employees of Local Authorities in Ireland who are involved in enforcement, compliance, investigation, or regulatory roles. It is particularly relevant to:
- Planning and Enforcement Officers,
- Environmental Health Officers,
- Housing and Welfare Officers,
- Trading Standards Officers,
- Waste Management and Litter Enforcement Officers,
- Licensing and Compliance Officers,
- Legal and Investigations Teams,
- HR and Internal Audit Teams.
If your role involves gathering intelligence, verifying online information, or conducting investigations as part of your duties, this course will provide essential skills to enhance your effectiveness while ensuring legal compliance.
Course format
- Duration: Two half-day sessions (9 AM to 1 PM)
- Delivery: Online via Zoom
- Materials: Participants will receive digital course materials for reference.
To secure your place, please book now. Spaces are limited to ensure an interactive and engaging learning experience.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the CPD Group, ensuring it meets the highest standards of continuing professional development.
Watch the short introduction video
The internet is an increasingly important tool in a wide range of investigations. When used effectively it enables organisations and investigators to save both a considerable amount of time and money. However, failure to research properly, monitor changes, capture data, and follow procedures or legislation could result in any evidence obtained being rendered inadmissible.
Meet the trainers
Practical training with small groups to ensure quality.
Our training sessions are not lectures—they're practical, interactive experiences. The small group format allows every attendee to ask questions, take part in discussions involving practical exercises and role-plays.
This method of training allows attendees to put the skills learned into practice immediately. Course participants benefit from the focused attention and guidance of an independent expert.
Register to attend
The training course will run from 9 AM to 1 PM.
Please contact us for details.
Unlock the power of Open Source Internet Investigations
FAQs
The OSINT for Local Authorities course provides training on how local authority staff can use open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques to support investigations and enforcement activities. The course focuses on identifying, collecting, and analysing publicly available information from online sources.
This course is designed for local authority investigators, enforcement officers, compliance staff, and regulatory personnel who may use publicly available online information during investigations.
Open-source intelligence refers to information obtained legally from publicly available sources such as websites, social media platforms, public records, and online databases. Investigators use OSINT to gather information that can support enforcement or regulatory investigations.
OSINT can help investigators verify information, identify relevant online activity, locate publicly available evidence, and gain additional context during investigations related to regulatory breaches or enforcement matters.
Investigators may use a range of publicly available sources including social media platforms, company websites, public records, online directories, mapping tools, and other digital resources that provide relevant information.
Information gathered from open sources can support investigations if it is collected legally and documented appropriately. Proper verification and record-keeping are important to ensure that the evidence can be relied upon during investigative or enforcement processes.
As more information is available online, investigators increasingly rely on digital sources. OSINT training helps enforcement officers locate relevant information efficiently and use online evidence responsibly and ethically.
Participants will learn how to identify relevant online information, verify digital content, document findings properly, and apply open-source investigation techniques within a regulatory or enforcement framework.
The course uses practical demonstrations and scenario-based exercises to help participants apply OSINT techniques to real-world investigative situations faced by local authority staff.
