Electronically Stored Information, or ESI for short, is a demand and necessity in the ever-changing world of technology from an investigative standpoint, and ICU takes pride in offering this information to our clients as we stay current in the coming age. According to an article by David Pelligrinelli on PInow.com, there are 10 ways that ESI, “whether coming from private data sources, public records, or from electronic evidence such as email record and internet log files,” is revolutionizing private investigations:
1. The Importance of Analysis
What if we handed you a bunch of data that we uncovered from our resources and expected you to analyze it yourself? The value that we bring to the client is the ability to analyze the information and interpret the data to produce accurate results.
2. Deeper Case Results
ESI has opened up many doors in the services that we offer. With people willing to put every minute detail about their lives out into cyberspace, if we decided against capitalizing on the information that is readily available to us, we surely would have missed the boat. The investigators at ICU want to give you everything we have so you have the ability to make educated and confident decisions.
3. Competition
Pelligrinelli said it best in this article, stating that “ESI levels the playing field for investigators. Deep ESI skills bring the competitive position of a smaller agency closer to that of a larger or more established firm.”
4. Value and Separation
The days of surveillance footage and a few photos of the subject being a sufficient amount of intel are gone. The staff at ICU knows the value that ESI brings to our clients, and we choose to disclose as much information from all of our available resources as possible. The investigators at ICU continue education with intensive seminars, online classes, and the method of research to discover new sources and investigative tools.
5. Interpretation and Expert Opinion
As a PI, “your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to transform electronic information into usable intel,” says Pelligrinelli. Expert opinion of the results provided by Electronically Stored Information and a fresh set of eyes looking at your case is key.
6. Saturation
Information is everywhere; you just have to know where to look. ICU’s resources are endless, and we preach the initiative that there is no end source, dig deeper.
7. Variety
Aside from the obvious services that ESI is used in such as ICU’s Internet Profile Report, we are able to incorporate ESI into other services such as asset searches, accident investigations, background investigations, and more.
8. Legislation
The staff at ICU makes a point to stay current in case law, because if the information we uncover would not be deemed admissible in court, then the value is irrelevant.
9. Client Relations
Ultimately, the client is the boss. We understand your needs as a business and we want to help you meet your goals in a timely, efficient manner.
10. Exceed the Expectations
The industry has changed, and we have vowed to evolve right along with it. If we did not provide our clients with ESI, then we would not be able to label ourselves as a full-service investigative agency. ICU’s mission statement reads, “Our mission is to take a genuine interest in our clients, understand their objectives, and meet or exceed their expectations. We dedicate ourselves to these values: For our clients, we will work hard, provide superior investigative services on a timely, effective, and efficient basis, and maintain the highest standards of professional integrity. We encourage initiative, innovation, teamwork, and loyalty.” And we promise to continue to evolve with the world of technology to be able to provide our valuable clients with the information they deserve.