Readers should be familiar with the Windows OS and have the ability to download and run applications as well as to use the Windows command line. Familiarity with the Linux command line is also helpful. An understanding of the basic network protocols and various types of network traffic is required as well. It's not required, but it is helpful to have access to a virtualization software platform and a Windows OS in which to run specific tools. Finally, incident response and digital forensics is a growing field. You will get the most out of this book by continuing to research and try new tools and techniques.