Magnet ATLAS by Magnet Forensics is a collaborative case management platform that enables police agencies to store and analyze all their case information on seized digital devices with critical digital evidence in one centralized and secure location.
The growing volumes of devices and digital evidence and the different tools used to work with them have made it difficult for police agencies to securely store, track, manage and report on their case data. Without a single solution, agencies have inefficiently used a combination of spreadsheets, databases, word processing software and even hand-written notes that were not designed to be used in digital investigations. Each team will have their own methods, further complicating any potential collaboration. These inefficiencies may influence the ability of police agencies to prove that the proper chain of custody was upheld for their evidence, placing justice at risk. Internally, agencies must also report on the devices they intake, the data they process and the number of requests they receive.
Magnet ATLAS is easy to use and can break down the silos between different teams. An investigator can use Magnet ATLAS to kick off a digital investigation and make a request for services from digital forensics professionals, who can in-turn, use the platform to update all stakeholders on their progress and findings. Even external stakeholders like prosecutors can be given access to Magnet ATLAS. The platform houses all their contributions as well as case files and digital evidence from computers, smartphones and other devices in one secure location, where agencies can control which team members can access what data. Agencies can also track evidence sources, the examinations performed on evidence and the team members who accessed it to preserve the full case history and proper chain of custody. With Magnet ATLAS’ analytics tools, they can generate real-time and historical statistics about evidence sources, case details, lab expenditures and more. This data can help police leaders better plan their budgets and make the case for additional resources through budget requests and grants.
After implementing Magnet ATLAS, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was able to begin reporting on the devices and data it was processing, including the numbers of search warrants and consent searches, to justify grant funding and its budgets for software, equipment and personnel.
