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digital evidence in forensic investigations

Analysing digital evidence in forensic investigations

How to join the dots and uncover hidden patterns when analysing digital evidence in forensic investigations

The analysis phase involves asking targeted questions – the classic “who, what, when, where, why, and how” – to piece together a complete picture of events. Salient’s forensic and eDiscovery experts help investigators answer questions like:

  • Who created, edited, or shared a document?
  • What actions were taken with the data, and how do these actions relate to the case?
  • When did key events occur, building an accurate timeline?
  • Where was each file stored, accessed, or transmitted?
  • Why do certain pieces of data hold particular relevance, and how do they contribute to the case?
  • How did data come to exist in its current state, including traces of device or software interactions?

 

Answering these questions helps to “connect the dots” in an investigation, mapping out themes and sequences and uncovering previously hidden interactions.

Advanced tools for deeper analysis of digital evidence in forensic investigations

The volume of digital evidence in forensic investigations can be daunting, but today’s advanced eDiscovery tools can streamline the analysis for far greater efficiency.

Traditionally, analysis of unstructured data starts with keyword searches. But the latest GenAI tools (such as Reveal Ask) allow investigators to dig deeper, enabling queries that explore different themes within the data to reveal significant topics and people of interest.

Reveal’s continuous active learning algorithms also make this process faster and more precise. By learning from a subset of documents marked for relevance by human reviewers, the tool continually refines its results, highlighting documents most likely to be pertinent. With each human-reviewed batch, the AI becomes increasingly accurate, reducing the data set and allowing investigators to focus on high-value information.

Key benefits of combining digital forensics and eDiscovery

Using digital forensics and eDiscovery tools together offers several key advantages that accelerate investigations and enhance outcomes. Examples include:

  • Efficient data reduction: Advanced tools allow experts to sift through large volumes of data, discarding irrelevant files so investigators can concentrate on what truly matters. This is especially important as corporate data volumes continue to grow, and traditional analysis methods struggle to keep up.
  • Rapid pattern recognition: Visualisation tools help investigators quickly identify patterns, relationships, and unusual behaviours within the data, allowing insights to surface more quickly.

Why Salient?

At Salient, we know that accurate preservation and precision analysis of digital evidence in forensic investigations can make all the difference.

By blending our digital forensics expertise with cutting-edge eDiscovery tools, we provide a clear, comprehensive view of even the most complex cases, quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively. From securing evidence to uncovering critical insights, each step is designed to ensure that findings are reliable, defensible, and ready for any level of scrutiny.

As data volumes grow and investigations become more intricate, having the right tools and expertise on your side is essential. Wherever your case leads, Salient is here to help you navigate the path to truth with confidence. Get in touch to discuss how we can help.

An Introduction to Digital Forensics:
from defensible collection to analysis and insights

Read more in our Digital Forensics series to explore the complexities of collections, processing and analysis in more detail, and gain practical insights into how we can help uncover the truth in even the most challenging cases.  

Introduction to digital forensics services – we share our thoughts on the applications and challenges.

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Digital evidence collection – we discuss the two main techniques: Imaging vs. RAM Capture.

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What to collect and how – we explore the different data types and the importance of a defensible process.

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Preservation of digital evidence – we share best practice about preserving digital forensic evidence.

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