Insight 1
AI is raising the bar—and the stakes—of digital investigations
The majority of respondents already use AI in their digital investigations, representing a remarkable increase from just two years ago.
Teams are adopting AI for scale—while keeping validation and decisions with investigators.”
Trey Amick
VP Product & Technical Marketing, Magnet Forensics
A leap in AI use in digital investigations
Insight 2
Collaboration is becoming a central driver for SaaS adoption
As investigations grow more complex and distributed—spanning geographies, functions, and teams—DFIR professionals are placing greater emphasis on tools that allow multiple stakeholders to work together on the same data, at the same time.
Real-time collaboration is now a requirement for modern incident response.”
Lyn Hinsch
Platform Consultant, Magnet Forensics
Insight 2
Collaboration is becoming a central driver for SaaS adoption
As investigations grow more complex and distributed—spanning geographies, functions, and teams—DFIR professionals are placing greater emphasis on tools that allow multiple stakeholders to work together on the same data, at the same time.
Real-time collaboration is now a requirement for modern incident response.”
Lyn Hinsch
Platform Consultant, Magnet Forensics
Insight 3
Mobile evidence is increasingly challenging to access
While mobile data remains central to modern investigations, investigators must adapt their approaches and tools to operate effectively within a more regulated and technically complex environment.
It’s not about more tools—it’s about the right tools for complex investigations.”
Jeff Rutherford
Forensic Consultant, Magnet Forensics
61%
Percentage of respondents who reported that their digital investigations either always or often require using a forensic tool to collect data from mobile devices and tablets.
Tools used in digital investigations
Bubbles proportionately represent the number of respondents who said they are using each individual tool.
Insight 4
Tool integration is becoming the defining factor in investigation speed
Digital forensics toolkits continue to expand as investigators adopt specialized tools to address new data sources, investigative techniques, and compliance requirements.
Insight 4
Tool integration is becoming the defining factor in investigation speed
Digital forensics toolkits continue to expand as investigators adopt specialized tools to address new data sources, investigative techniques, and compliance requirements.
Tools used in digital investigations
Bubbles proportionately represent the number of respondents who said they are using each individual tool.
You’ve seen the highlights.
Now read the full report for charts, breakdowns, and expert analysis on:
- AI adoption and governance measures
- Why collaboration is accelerating SaaS adoption
- The top mobile evidence constraints (and why)
- How tool sprawl is changing investigation speed
