In order to stand up to such scrutiny and maintain its integrity the transfer of evidential data collected on a memory card should be both more thorough and more straightforward than the processes used to transfer data and photographs to a computer in other circumstances - for example wedding or holiday photos - unless, of course, these wedding and holiday photos and videos also need the following:
- data verification
- evidential copies
- metadata extraction and display
- individual frame timecode information
- digital fingerprints to ensure no digital or human tampering
A good data collection process should in fact start before any data is even recorded - for example before you shoot photographs or videos. Is the device used to record the data set up correctly and is the operator trained to use it? More importantly than this do you have a clean, working memory card? Has it been checked for errors to ensure it can be written on?
Has the memory card been forensically erased?
If not you will have images from weeks possibly even months ago on the memory card, what happens if you lose this card?
The Transfer Method
A good system for transferring data off memory cards should be quick and simple, and eliminate steps where errors can be introduced.
| Card Reader & Computer | Backup Device | Mercia's Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Use a memory card reader plugged into a computer in order to drag & drop data files using, for example, Microsoft File Manager software.Typically a system used to transfer holiday photos and videos onto a home computer for editing and printing |
Stand alone hardware.This is typically used by professional photographers who do not need either a robust system or one that carries out any forensic processes or data verification | Purpose built products and/or specialist workstations provided by Mercia Solutions. Our solution is ideal for professionals and can be used in an office or on site |
| Evidential integrity | Evidential integrity | Evidential integrity |
| ✅ Image Displayed ❌ No Audit Trail ❌ No Proof Files transferred are the same ❌ No Forensic image ❌ No verification on transfer ❌ Card not tested ❌ Card not forensically wiped |
✅ Verification on transfer ✅ WORM media ❌ No visual display of images ❌ No audit trail ❌ Card not tested ❌ Card not forensically wiped |
✅ Images displayed ✅ Full audit trail ✅ Proof files transferred are the same ✅ Forensic image with digital seal ✅ Full verification on transfer ✅ Card is tested ✅ Card is forensically wiped |
