In
the past, discovery was simply the gathering and organization
of typewritten and handwritten documents. Today, information
exists in many forms on personal computers and other
electronic devices. There are e-mails, word processing
documents, spreadsheets, and instant messaging logs
- the list goes on. AlphaLit has developed custom state-of-the-art
processes in which to collect and process your vital
electronic information in an efficient, complete and
accurate fashion.
Upon receipt of the electronic media from our clients,
the evidence is immediately profiled and logged into
our database to maintain tracking for chain-of-custody.
Forensically sound clones of the data are then created
for processing. The original media is then immediately
secured for purposes of preservation and forensic defensibility.
In order to make sound choices in which data should
be processed, AlphaLit has developed extensive preflight
reporting that provides a birds-eye view of your data.
Working with our project managers, our clients can
target exactly which files should be processed, which
files require special processing, and which ones should
be ignored, if any. This gives you extraordinary insight
into the content of your collection including the number
of duplicates before you commit to conversion.
AlphaLit has developed an electronic discovery application
containing the latest in file identification algorithms.
Using our proprietary voting technology, we determine
file types based on a number of independent factors.
We use this information to properly format and convert
your documents with the highest possible quality.
Metadata is the data attached to an electronic file
that typically describes the file that it is associated
with. It can contain the name of the file, the type
of the file, the date the file was created, who created
it, etc. Sometimes, key information can be hidden within
the metadata, helping or hurting your particular matter.
Our proprietary extraction process will make available,
in any desired format, all information that is hidden
within each file so that its information can be reviewed
or utilized to further select or de-select documents
for direct review. Our process ensures that the metadata
captured from each file is completely unaltered so
that the evidentiary integrity of the information will
never be called into question.
There are many strategies and methods for culling large
electronic collections, and we use them all. The end
result is a more efficient and cost-effective review.
Among our reduction methods are:
Automated File Filtering by:
- Date Ranges
- File Types (system, multimedia, unprocessable
and custom types)
- Keyword Searches
- MD5 Hash Sets
- Custom Searches
Since all of our processes are based on our own software,
there is no limit to the types of filtering available
to our clients.
De-Duplication:
Special proprietary selection methods ensure complete
and accurate duplicate identification while still allowing
for later re-injection (if requested).
Our formatter uses proprietary code to render each
file to image according to the specifics and idiosyncrasies
of the identified file type. Our custom formatters
render documents completely and in a way that "viewers" cannot.
A partial list of files requiring custom formatters
are as follows:
- Spreadsheets
- PowerPoint Documents
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access Databases
- Lotus Notes
- Microsoft Word
Once processed, the resulting native or image data,
full text and profile databases can be provided in
any number of ways for Review or Production.
At times, there are special considerations required
at the file intake phase. For example, the data may
exist on legacy media (9 track tape, floppy disk, etc.)
Also, the data may be in a third-party application,
such as GroupWise, Microsoft Exchange Server or Lotus
Notes, or on different operating systems and platforms
such as Unix, IBM mainframe operating systems, etc.
AlphaLit and its partners are capable of converting
and extracting all required data for your electronic
discovery projects.
At times, the level of data collection for our clients'
electronic discovery needs require the services of
a certified forensics consultant. AlphaLit maintains
strategic partnerships with qualified forensics professionals
to allow forensic collection of electronic data nationwide.
Our in-house project management and consulting team
are at your disposal to assist you in planning and
implementing complex electronic discovery collection,
review and production scenarios using the latest in
litigation support techniques and software.
