Recovering Lost Data and Uncovering Digital Evidence
Data Recovery & Evidence Collection Team Lead – Timothy E. Allen | Former Special Agent (U.S. Secret Service & DOJ-OIG)
Data is both a valuable asset and a critical source of evidence. Our digital forensics experts specialize in the meticulous and legally sound recovery of lost or deleted data and the collection of digital evidence.
Whether you’ve experienced accidental data loss, system failures, or require evidence for legal proceedings, our experienced team of digital forensics consultants employs cutting-edge techniques and industry best practices to retrieve information and preserve its integrity for analysis and presentation. Trust Corporate Investigation Consulting to help you find evidence and provide you with the information you need.
We Deliver Results for Your Data Recovery & Evidence Collection
Digital evidence often holds the key to uncovering fraud, intellectual property theft, employee misconduct, and a myriad of other internal and external threats. Corporate Investigation Consulting play a role in navigating this digital terrain, offering specialized expertise in both data recovery and evidence collection.
Our methodical approach ensures that information is not only retrieved but also handled in a forensically sound manner, maintaining its admissibility in legal proceedings and investigative hearings.
We often act as an objective third party, bringing technical proficiency and legal awareness to the often-complex process of extracting and preserving digital evidence. Our involvement can significantly streamline investigations, reduce costs associated with internal resource allocation, and ultimately increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Timothy E. Allen
Former Senior Special Agent U.S. Secret Service
Chris J. Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Maura Kelley
Former Special Agent (FBI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Michael S. Koslow
Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)
Marquis D. Pickett
Special Agent U.S. Secret Service (ret.)
Data Recovery: Resurrecting Lost Information
Data loss can occur due to various reasons, including accidental deletion, hardware failures, software corruption, or even malicious activity. Corporate Investigation Consulting possesses the specialized tools and knowledge to manage the data recovery process for seemingly lost information.
Logical Data Recovery
This involves retrieving files and data that are still present on a storage device but are no longer accessible through normal operating system functions. Consultants utilize specialized data recovery tools to scan the drive’s file system, identify orphaned and deleted files, and reconstruct the directory structure. This can recover deleted documents, emails, photos, hidden data, and other essential business data.
Physical Data Recovery
In cases of physical damage to digital storage media like hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), or USB drives, more advanced techniques are required. Consultants may work in cleanroom environments to disassemble the device, diagnose the physical issue (e.g., head crash, motor failure), and attempt to extract data directly from the platters or memory chips. This is a more complex process but can be vital when logical recovery fails.
Server and RAID Recovery
Businesses often store critical data on complex server systems utilizing RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations. When a server fails or a RAID array experiences issues, data can become inaccessible. Our digital forensic consultants have expertise in understanding different RAID levels and employing specialized hardware and software to reconstruct the array and recover the data.
Mobile Device Data Recovery
Smartphones, cell phones, and tablets hold a wealth of relevant information for investigations. Consultants employ specialized forensic tools and specialized techniques to bypass security measures and extract encrypted data from these electronic devices, including deleted instant messages, call logs, internet browsing history, location data, and application-specific information.
Evidence Collection: Preserving the Digital Footprint
Once data is recovered or identified as potentially relevant, the focus shifts to evidence collection. This data collection process is critical to ensure the integrity and admissibility of the digital evidence in any legal or disciplinary proceedings. Corporate Investigation Consulting adheres to strict forensic protocols.
Forensic Imaging
This involves creating a bit-by-bit copy of the entire storage device (e.g., hard drive, USB drive, mobile device, or other digital devices). This “image” is an exact duplicate of the original media and is important because all analysis is performed on the copy, preserving the original evidence from alteration or spoliation. Specialized hardware and software are used to ensure the integrity of the image through hashing algorithms.
Live Data Acquisition
In certain situations, collecting data from a live system is necessary, such as capturing volatile information in memory or network connections. Consultants use specialized digital tools to acquire this data without shutting down the system, minimizing the risk of losing essential evidence.
Chain of Custody Documentation
Maintaining a meticulous and unbroken chain of custody is paramount. Consultants document every step of the evidence handling process in line with normal evidence collection procedures, from initial acquisition to storage and analysis, detailing who accessed the evidence, when, and what actions were taken. This ensures the evidence’s integrity and admissibility in court.
Secure Evidence Storage
Once collected, electronic data and digital evidence must be stored securely to prevent tampering or unauthorized access. Consultants utilize secure storage facilities and implement strict access controls to maintain the integrity of the evidence.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Corporate Investigation Consulting’s experts are well-versed in relevant legal frameworks and regulations concerning data privacy, electronic discovery (e-discovery), and admissibility of digital evidence. They ensure that all collection and recovery activities are conducted in compliance with these laws, minimizing the risk of legal issues or challenges.
Our Former Special Agents Will Help with Your Digital Data and Evidence
In the high-stakes arena of corporate investigations, data recovery and evidence collection demand more than just technical proficiency. They require a strategic mindset, an understanding of legal intricacies, and the ability to navigate complex scenarios with precision and discretion. This is where the unique expertise of former special agents at Corporate Investigation Consulting proves invaluable.
Former special agents from government agencies bring a wealth of real-world experience in handling sensitive investigations, managing confidential information, and operating under pressure. Their training instills in them a deep understanding of the legal framework surrounding evidence admissibility, the importance of maintaining an unbroken chain of custody, and the strategic thinking necessary to uncover hidden digital footprints.
A Strategic Investigative Mindset
While technical skills in data recovery and forensic tools are essential, former special agents offer another layer of investigative acumen. They are trained to think like investigators, understanding the motives behind potential wrongdoing and anticipating where digital evidence might reside.
Our proactive approach can lead to the discovery of critical information that purely technically focused individuals might overlook. They can connect digital breadcrumbs to real-world actions, building a comprehensive narrative that strengthens the investigative findings.
Navigating Legal Minefields with Confidence
The legal landscape surrounding digital evidence is complex and constantly evolving. Former special agents possess a deep understanding of legal procedures, rules of evidence, and the implications of mishandling digital information.
Our experts’ experience in preparing cases for legal proceedings ensures that all data recovery and digital evidence collection efforts are conducted in a legally sound manner, maximizing the chances of admissibility in court or during internal disciplinary processes.
We are adept at documenting procedures meticulously, maintaining the chain of custody, and understanding the nuances of search warrants and legal disclosures.
Discretion and Confidentiality
Corporate investigations often involve highly sensitive information that, if mishandled, could lead to significant reputational damage or legal repercussions. Former special agents are accustomed to operating under strict confidentiality protocols.
Our consultants’ backgrounds in handling classified information and conducting covert operations instills in them an unwavering commitment to discretion, ensuring that sensitive data recovered and collected remains secure and protected throughout the investigation.
Real-World Experience in High-Pressure Situations
The pressure of an investigation, especially when facing potential litigation or public scrutiny, can be immense. Our former special agents are battle-tested professionals who have operated effectively in high-pressure environments.
Our consultants’ training equips them with the composure and strategic thinking necessary to make sound decisions under duress, ensuring that critical steps in data recovery and evidence collection are executed flawlessly, even when time is of the essence.
Bridging the Gap Between Technical and Legal
Former special agents act as a vital bridge between the technical aspects of data recovery and evidence collection and the legal and strategic considerations of internal and external investigations.
We can effectively communicate technical findings, including those tied to public records, in a clear and concise manner to legal professionals and business stakeholders, ensuring that everyone understands the significance of the digital evidence. This holistic approach ensures that the investigative process is not only technically sound but also strategically aligned with the overall objectives.
FAQ: Supporting Your Efforts in Data Recovery & Evidence Collection
What Types of Data Can You Recover?
We can recover a wide range of data types from various storage media, including:
- Documents: Word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, text files, etc.
- Emails: Outlook PST/OST files, Exchange EDB files, Thunderbird profiles, webmail data
- Photos & Videos: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, MP4, MOV, AVI, and other image and video formats
- Databases: SQL databases, Access databases, Oracle databases, etc.
- Audio Files: MP3, WAV, AAC, and other audio formats
- Archives: ZIP, RAR, 7z, and other compressed file formats
- Virtual Machine Files: VMware VMDK, VirtualBox VDI, Hyper-V VHD/VHDX files
- Operating System Files: In some cases, we can recover critical OS files for system restoration.
- Proprietary Files: We have experience recovering data from various industry-specific applications.
What Is Your Success Rate for Data Recovery?
Our success rate is high, but it’s important to understand that data recovery is not always guaranteed. The success depends heavily on the nature and extent of the data loss. Severely physically damaged media or data that has been overwritten multiple times may be unrecoverable. We provide an honest assessment of the chances of successful recovery during our initial evaluation.
How Do You Ensure the Integrity and Admissibility of Collected Evidence?
Maintaining the integrity and admissibility of digital evidence is paramount. We follow strict forensic protocols, including:
- Chain of Custody: Meticulously documenting every step of the evidence handling process, from acquisition to storage and analysis.
- Hashing Algorithms: Using cryptographic hash functions (e.g., MD5, SHA-256) to create a unique digital fingerprint of the evidence, verifying its integrity and ensuring it hasn’t been tampered with.
- Write Protection: Employing write blockers to prevent any accidental or intentional modifications to the original evidence.
- Secure Storage: Storing collected evidence in secure, access-controlled environments.
- Detailed Reporting: Providing comprehensive reports detailing the collection process, forensic software used, and methods for analyzing digital evidence.
- Adherence to Legal Standards: Ensuring all collection methods comply with relevant laws and regulations.
Corporate Investigation Consulting Is Your Trusted Partner for Data Recovery & Digital Evidence
Corporate Investigation Consulting offers a comprehensive suite of data recovery and evidence collection services designed to meet the diverse needs of organizations facing digital challenges. From retrieving lost data, conducting incident response, and investigating internal misconduct to navigating complex legal proceedings, our team combines technical expertise with investigative acumen to deliver results that align with legal authority and industry standards.
Whether you require meticulous data recovery, forensically sound evidence collection, or the strategic guidance of former special agents, we are committed to providing the support you need to uncover the truth, protect your interests, and make informed decisions in today’s digital world. Contact us today to discuss your specific requirements and discover how we can assist you.