Digital Evidence Preservation for Legal & Insurance Matters

Secure Digital Evidence Preservation for Attorneys & Insurers

Early preservation reduces the risk of alteration, loss, or scope disputes. Data365 Evidence provides defensible acquisition, documented chain-of-custody, and integrity-verified handling aligned with legal and insurance review needs.

For counsel / insurers: include matter name, deadlines, preservation objective, and current custody location. Do not send files until a transfer method is confirmed.

Situations Where Early Preservation Is Important

Digital information may change through routine device use, automated system processes, or account retention policies. In some matters, early preservation may help reduce avoidable alteration before the scope of a matter is formally defined.

• Devices subject to reset, replacement, or shared accessd
• Accounts with automated retention or deletion policies
• Employment, insurance, or civil matters involving time-sensitive facts/li>
• Circumstances arising before formal discovery or expert review

Defensible, Neutral Preservation Approach

Preservation focuses on documented custody continuity, integrity verification, and clear recordkeeping — without analysis or case conclusions.

• Preservation‑only scope — defined in writing before technical procedures begin
• Custody continuity — documented handling, transfer, and storage controls
• Integrity verification — verification records maintained where applicable to scope
• Role separation — materials preserved without substantive review and maintained in a condition appropriate for independent expert analysis if later required

Core Services

A short overview. Full details are available on the Services page.

Media Assessment & Preservation

Early-stage technical assessment of devices and storage media to define preservation parameters and identify handling considerations.

• Assessment of whether limited imaging or targeted acquisition is appropriate within defined scope
• Device and media identification (type, interface, condition)
• Risk flags (encryption, fragility, prior handling)

Structured Technical Review (when separately retained)

When separately retained under written scope, structured technical review of preserved materials may be undertaken with documented procedures and clearly stated limitations. This service is distinct from preservation handling and does not include legal advice or case conclusions.

• Technical artifact review within defined scope
• Internal consistency review and timeline-oriented structuring
• Technical summary memorandum documenting procedures and limitations

Evidence Handling & Documentation

Workflows emphasizing integrity verification, documentation, and repeatability.

• Custody logging under written terms
• Hash calculation and verification for provided images or exports
• Separation of original media and working copies

Litigation Hold & Dispute Preservation Support

Preservation coordination performed in collaboration with legal or IT teams under defined written scope. Services focus on technical preservation actions and documentation and do not include legal advice.

• Identify relevant data sources in collaboration with counsel or IT teams
• Coordinate collection and preservation schedules
• Preserve mailboxes, cloud drives, authentication logs, and related records

OSINT & Cloud-Based Preservation Support

Defensible preservation of publicly available or cloud-stored data, performed under written authorization and defined scope.

• Collection of provider-generated exports and account-level data from cloud platforms (e.g., Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, cloud storage and collaboration services) under written authorization and defined scope
• Preservation of metadata, timestamps, and audit or log context as made available by the service provider
• Documented collection procedures and verification records, including hash calculation and verification of received export files

Publicly Available Online Data Preservation

Collection and preservation of publicly accessible online information under written authorization and defined scope.

• Structured search queries and identification of publicly available profiles
• Collection of publicly accessible documents and website content
• Identification of associated domains and web properties

Authentication & Access Log Preservation

Preservation of authentication and access-control audit records under written scope, conducted using read-only collection methods. Covered sources may include directory services, cloud identity providers, and VPN logs. Documented custody procedures, hash verification, and controlled storage are applied. Materials are provided to client security teams or legal counsel. Monitoring, intrusion detection, and security operations services are not included.

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How Preservation-First Evidence Handling Works

Neutral evidence-handling practices designed to protect digital information while maintaining clear separation from forensic analysis and legal interpretation.

• Defined authorization and documented scope before handling begins
• Read-only, defensible acquisition that helps reduce the risk of alteration or loss
• Chain-of-custody documentation supporting traceability
• Delivery of preserved materials suitable for independent legal or forensic review

Trust & Defensibility

Preservation-first handling designed for attorneys, insurers, and compliance teams—focused on traceability, neutrality, and defensible documentation.

• Neutrality-first — preservation and documentation performed without embedded interpretation, advocacy, or legal opinion
• Chain-of-custody discipline — contemporaneous handling records supporting traceability from collection through secure transfer and storage
• Verification artifacts — hash verification and integrity checks applied where appropriate to defined scope and authorization
• Documentation set — consistent deliverables (e.g., authorization record, acquisition log, handling notes, verification record)
• Standards-aligned practices — workflows informed by widely recognized digital-evidence handling guidance, as applicable to scope
• Boston-based, nationwide by appointment — remote intake available; on-site work determined by scope and logistics

Need preservation guidance? Start with email-first intake

Background

Video overview of preservation intake by email