15 November 2024 - The Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices – Centre of Excellence held, from 04 to 08 November, the DOMEX (Document and Media Exploitation) “Train the Trainers” Course at its facilities in Hoyo de Manzanares, Madrid.

Organized and managed by C-IED CoE staff and sponsored by the NATO Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber Division, the Course has received 8 instructors of 3 nations (Greece, Spain and United States), including members of different armies, Law Enforcement Agencies and civilians.  

The C-IED CoE has been working on Technical Exploitation supporting Attack the Networks since its creation in 2010. Back then, it was the only international organization who offered training in DOMEX.

In recent years, demand for DOMEX courses has increased, as the Allies have realized the importance of extracting and sharing information from documents and digital devices (especially UAVs and mobile phones) found in theatres of operations. That is why the C-IED CoE supports NATO members and partner nations through the DOMEX courses (basic and advanced) with several iterations per year.

With this idea in mind, the DOMEX “Train the Trainers” Course was organized, in order to improve the instructors’ training, increase the pool of SMEs and help nations develop their own DOMEX capabilities.

During this one-week course, the previous syllabus was reviewed, improved (through a lessons-learned process) and adapted to the ever-changing global scenario. From the technical point of view, attendees were trained in advanced extraction techniques (Chip-Off) applied to damaged devices that cannot be processed using standard procedures. They also received specific training in recently acquired digital forensic tools.

As the instructors’ technical skills have been enhanced, future DOMEX courses will benefit from this advanced knowledge.

Courses will resume during the second quarter of 2025.