Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2022 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Learn what inspired the development of ArtifactIQ by Grayshift and how it can help you get access to actionable intelligence within minutes.
Director, Digital Forensics
Time Is Of The Essence In Digital Forensics
Digital forensic examiners and investigators know that when a crime is committed, every second counts. That’s why it’s so important to have the right investigative intelligence tools and processes in place to analyze digital evidence quickly and efficiently.
Unfortunately, traditional digital forensics workflows can be slow and inefficient. They often require investigators to manually extract data from devices, which can take hours, days, or months in some instances. And once the data is extracted, it can be difficult to analyze and interpret.
ArtifactIQ by Grayshift
ArtifactIQ by Grayshift is an investigative intelligence solution designed to provide digital forensic examiners with actionable intelligence. ArtifactIQ uses innovative technology to help you get facts into the hands of key stakeholders without disrupting your workflow. The data you obtain is stored in the cloud where it can be easily accessed and acted on by investigators.
Time to First Fact (TTFF) is the amount of time it takes between the start of a device data extraction and when the data is available for review. The traditional digital forensics workflow despises the TTFF concept, requiring you to first extract the contents of a device in their entirety, which, as previously mentioned, can take hours – sometimes days – to complete, depending on the size of the extraction. After the extraction, the data needs to be imported into an analysis tool and parsed, which can take an additional day, or two, depending on the hardware used and a few other variables.
ArtifactIQ is built around speed, really homing in on the importance of quickly obtaining actionable intelligence, with a current average of just under five minutes. We accomplish this through our existing GrayKey hardware and a seamless connection to ArtifactIQ.
The development team’s focus behind ArtifactIQ did not stop at speed – they wanted to learn more about collaboration and the entire process of handling a smartphone extraction after it was acquired. When my team and I walked them through the workflow from start to finish, it was clear to everyone in the room that collaboration and sharing were other priorities for ArtifactIQ. I am excited to say that they listened to our struggles surrounding team collaboration and implemented something extraordinary into the product: the ability to invite other individuals into the experience, allowing them to review important artifacts together and tag items of interest – as a team.
In addition to speed and collaboration, ArtifactIQ includes several powerful features that make it easier to work your case:
- A timeline view of all activity on the device
- A search function that allows investigators to quickly find specific data
- The ability to tag and annotate evidence
Investigative Intelligence Tools And The Future Of Digital Forensics
ArtifactIQ is the future investigative intelligence and digital forensics. It’s fast, efficient, and powerful, designe to help investigators quickly solve crimes like:
- Missing persons cases
- Trafficking cases (drugs, people, etc.)
- Homicide cases
If you’re a digital forensics examiner or investigator who would like to learn more about ArtifactIQ, TTFF, and accelerating your workflow, download this free eBook:
Accelerate Your Digital Forensics Workflow With Cloud Technology
