Preservation-first services
Digital Evidence Preservation
Boston-based, serving clients nationwide by appointment.
Preservation-first digital evidence handling, with forensic data acquisition where appropriate, for legal and insurance-related matters.
Engagements are defined in writing, with controlled handling and contemporaneous records.
Written intake begins with an intake record so source condition, transfer logistics, and decision-makers can be clarified before preservation steps are scheduled.
What makes this service safe to engage
This page is designed for matters where the source may change quickly and preservation decisions need to be settled before routine activity narrows the available record.
- A written handling plan defines the handling objective before technical activity starts.
- Authority and transfer path are confirmed before access, receipt, or release occurs.
- Service plan is tied to source form, logistics, and intended deliverables.
- Close-out materials are prepared to reflect what was received, handled, verified when used, and delivered.
Typical Preservation Scope
- Devices & media: laptops, desktops, external drives, and removable media (handled as listed in the matter record).
- Cloud-hosted data: mailboxes, cloud drives, and collaboration-platform exports (via authorized provider tools where available).
- Authentication / access logs: directory services, IAM/SSO, VPN, and related audit records (when provided under approved access terms).
- Public website content: publicly accessible website content captured with associated metadata
Preservation Controls
- Scope is established at intake, defining purpose, boundaries, and deliverables.
- Read-only handling is used when suitable, with originals protected.
- Hash verification is recorded for preserved images or exports when used.
- Chain-of-custody logging is maintained for receipt, handling, and transfer.
Controlled Documentation for Legal and Insurance Matters
Preservation deliverables are accompanied by contemporaneous handling records designed to show what was received, handled, verified when used, and delivered for legal review, claims handling, and internal file administration without interpretation.
Typical documentation may include
- Chain-of-custody record (PDF)
- Acquisition log and handling notes
- Hash verification record (when used)
- Storage / device metadata sheet (when used)
- Delivery manifest and verification outputs
Documentation is produced contemporaneously and maintained in accordance with defined handling procedures. These records commonly support internal review, insurance claims handling, and legal preservation obligations. No legal analysis, content interpretation, or evidentiary conclusions are provided.
When evidence is lost before counsel is retained
Long before a matter becomes formal, routine system activity can alter or erase digital evidence. Beginning written intake helps capture source condition, likely transfer path, and immediate constraints while preservation options are still practical.
For the loss-risk sequence, see What Happens When Digital Evidence Is Lost or Overwritten. For the opening record used to frame source condition, access authority, and delivery logistics, see the intake guide.
Why preservation controls matter at the outset
Preservation risk often appears before expert retention, full fact development, or formal hold language. The safest next step is to settle who can authorize preservation, what needs to be handled first, and how materials should be transferred before technical steps are scheduled.
Selected preparation and checklist downloads
Engagement boundary: A message or intake submission starts review only. Engagement terms are confirmed in writing before technical handling is scheduled.
After preservation
Once materials are preserved, the next phase typically involves secure transfer, integrity verification, and recorded handoff for legal review or later expert engagement where separately retained.
Core references