SYTECH was contacted by a firm of solicitors acting on behalf of a client. The case centred on a former employee who had unlawfully shared sensitive financial data with a competitor. A Destruction Obligation order had been issued, requiring the competitor to permanently delete the data.
The client sought expert digital forensic input to determine whether it would be possible to confirm compliance with the destruction order solely through randomised on-site searches of the competitor’s endpoints.
The Challenge
It was quickly established that random on-site endpoint searches could not conclusively verify whether the data had been destroyed. The core challenge, therefore, became identifying credible alternative forensic methods that could assess likely compliance while balancing the operational disruption such steps might cause the third party. The client required a clear, pragmatic report outlining these options within 10 working days.
SYTECH’s Approach
The case was assigned to a senior digital forensic analyst with extensive experience in data recovery assessments and evidential reporting. No forensic tools were required at this stage. Instead, the analyst applied expert judgement to outline viable technical approaches, assessing each in terms of effectiveness, proportionality, and intrusiveness. A key priority was to produce a report that was not only technically sound but also accessible to legal professionals and their client.
The Outcome
SYTECH delivered the expert report in just 5 working days – half the agreed turnaround time. The final document presented the options clearly, with guidance to support informed decision-making. The solicitors and their client were able to progress the matter confidently, supported by expert forensic insight.
Looking Ahead
This type of instruction falls squarely within SYTECH’s core capability but highlights growing demand for expert input in civil and employment-related cases. SYTECH will follow up with the client upon conclusion of the investigation to gather feedback and request a testimonial.
