Preparing for eDiscovery: A Simplified Approach to Text and Chat Data
Key takeaways from our on-demand webinar titled ‘Collecting Custodian Data to Prepare for Review’.
A woman typing on a computer – Source: Shutterstock
Text and chat data have become invaluable sources of information for investigations and eDiscovery processes today, particularly with the widespread use of mobile phones. With communication predominantly happening through messaging apps, social media platforms, and emails, these digital conversations offer crucial insights into various matters, ranging from legal disputes to corporate investigations.
In this blog, we will explore how our unified solution, Cellebrite Endpoint Inspector, simplifies the process of remotely collecting data from custodian computers, mobile devices, and workplace applications, preparing it for review.
- The Importance of Custodian Data Collection
Collecting custodian data is a vital step in conducting thorough and legally sound investigations. These data collections provide real-time and historical records of conversations and interactions, shedding light on motives, relationships, and events. Moreover, text and chat data have gained recognition as admissible evidence in legal proceedings, making their collection and preservation essential for any investigation.
- Endpoint Inspector as an All-In-One Solution
Cellebrite Endpoint Inspector, developed by Cellebrite Enterprise Solutions, is a powerful yet simplified solution that allows corporate investigators and eDiscovery practitioners to remotely collect various types of data in one job and prepare it for review. The tool supports the collection of data from computers, mobile devices, and workplace applications, offering a unified solution for organizations dealing with extensive employee data distributed globally.
Cellebrite Endpoint Inspector – Source: Cellebrite
- Setting Up the Collection Process
Before conducting the data collection, a few configurations need to be set up in Endpoint Inspector. These include registering computer agents, uploading mobile agents, defining an SMTP server for email communication, and setting up the workplace application server and collection destination. Once these configurations are in place, the collection process becomes streamlined and efficient.
- Creating Collection Templates
To simplify the data collection process and facilitate repeated collections, Endpoint Inspector allows the creation of collection templates. These templates capture specific data types, date ranges, and filters, making it easy to apply the same settings to multiple collections. Templates can be defined for computer and workplace application collections, ensuring consistency in data collection across various employees and sources.
- Running the Data Collection
With the configurations and templates in place, investigators can create a comprehensive job for data collection. This job can include computer, mobile, and workplace application collections for a specific custodian. The mobile collection process involves sending an activation code to the custodian’s mobile device, enabling them to initiate the data collection seamlessly.
- Reviewing and Preparing the Data
Once the data collection is complete, the information is saved in the designated repository. Endpoint Inspector’s user-friendly interface allows investigators to view and analyze the collected data easily. They can filter and search for specific information relevant to their investigation. Based on the findings, investigators may decide to repeat the collection process for additional sources or users, using the previously created templates to ensure consistency.
Cellebrite Endpoint Inspector Diagram – Source: Cellebrite
Conclusion
Text and chat data have become indispensable sources of information for modern investigations and eDiscovery processes. Cellebrite’s Endpoint Inspector provides a unified solution for remotely collecting data from computers, mobile devices, and workplace applications, preparing it for review. With powerful features and easy-to-use templates, Endpoint Inspector streamlines the data collection process, empowering investigators to make informed decisions and uncover valuable insights with confidence.
For a comprehensive demonstration of how Endpoint Inspector can collect and analyze data from endpoints and cloud workplace applications, watch Lisa Neyen, Lead Software Developer for Cellebrite Enterprise Solutions walk you through the data collection journey on our on-demand webinar.
