The Ultimate List of eDiscovery Terms – Part 1

TERIS/USA – Happy New Year! Learning how to navigate the e-discovery landscape can be a challenge, especially when so many of the common industry terms sound like a completely different language. Here is Part 1 of a comprehensive guide to help define essential phrases and concepts.

• Admissible: Evidence that is allowed in court during litigation
• Analytics: This blanket term refers to all different kinds of technology that are used to examine a particular data set.
• Chain of Custody: The tracking and logging of all handling, access and location movement of any electronic evidence from initial collection to presentation as evidence. The chain of custody is used to verify authenticity of evidence.
• Computer Assisted Review: The use of conceptual search tools to assist in the document review process. Sometimes also technology assisted review.
• Computer Forensics: The investigation and analysis of computer crimes or misuse. Can include the recovery of deleted or damaged files and capturing encrypted data in response to e-discovery.
• Custodian: The individual from whom original records were collected; not always the author of those files.
• Data Extraction: The identification of metadata and body contents from electronic documents for use in the discovery process.
• Data Mapping: The process of recognizing and classifying data and data locations within an organization’s electronically stored information.
• De-duplication: Sometimes also deduplication or de-duping. Identifying and removing duplicate records to streamline the review process.
• Discovery: The process of recognizing and obtaining information that may be relevant to the litigation process.
• E-discovery: Electronic discovery. The discovery process when specifically focusing on electronic data. Includes the collection and review of electronic data for discovery efforts, including email, documents, files and any data or metadata stored on a computer, network or removable storage media.
• ESI: Electronically Stored Information. A blanket term for electronic data such as documents, emails or files stored on any type of hardware, portable storage device or in the cloud.
• Filtering: Using search metrics to eliminate electronically stored information in a particular data set that is irrelevant to current litigation.
• Forensic Computer Expert: A technical position that can include data collection, including of damaged or deleted data, as well as providing consultation services and testimony at trial.
• FRCP: The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. These guidelines define the proper protocol for e-discovery as well as other aspects of litigation.
• Harvesting: Retrieving relevant electronic data for the purpose of discovery.

Look for more terms in our next blog – The Ultimate List of eDiscovery Terms – Part 2. If you would like more information about eDiscovery or how TERIS solutions can help you, please contact us!