Modern technology has brought about countless benefits. It brings endless hours of entertainment and nearly unlimited information to people’s fingertips. It facilitates banking and shopping while allowing people to work and attend school from the comfort of their own homes. Thanks to the latest advancements, businesses have almost endless talent pools at their disposal and the power to reach more customers than ever before. With current developments in play, people can even take their health and safety into their own hands.
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Advancing Security Through Technology
Safety and security have certainly been influenced by technology. In fact, it has led to some unexpected developments in these realms. Since security cameras are now accessible and affordable for virtually everyone, they’re becoming common additions to people’s homes. Video doorbells and dashcams are also fostering security. People’s smartphones are important pieces of the puzzle as well. Those devices are allowing people to gather footage of crimes in progress so they can take action against the people who threaten their homes, families, and neighborhoods. They can even deter criminals in many cases.
In turn, law enforcement officials are seeing an unprecedented influx of pictures and videos from the public. Those have collectively become known as digital evidence. As digital evidence makes its way to law enforcement agencies, they must be able to deal with it quickly and effectively. That’s where digital evidence management essentials come into play. Certain factors are crucial when examining digital evidence management systems and determining which ones best meet the needs of those who will be using them.
Storage Capacity
Ever-growing volumes of digital evidence are being sent to police departments and other law enforcement agencies these days, and they’re going to continue to grow in the years to come. Because of that, the storage capacity offered by various DEMS is a crucial aspect to consider. Some allow for on-site storage while others rely on cloud technology. Certain DEMS can be integrated with other storage systems whereas other versions are designed to be standalone tools. Regardless, the agencies must be able to store those increasing volumes of information.
Integration Capability
Law enforcement agencies use a range of systems for collecting, processing, storing, and analyzing data. At the same time, they’re receiving digital evidence from a variety of outside sources. As such, their DEMS must be able to integrate with all those tools and systems to make full use of digital evidence that becomes available. Not all DEMS offer significant integration capabilities, so it’s important to analyze that factor before narrowing down the choices.
Security
Security may seem like an obvious point, but it’s one that often gets overlooked in one way or another. Several security regulations are in place for handling digital evidence. They apply to collection and storage along with many other aspects. Of course, protecting files from security breaches, tampering, and other issues is critical. Law enforcement agencies must look at the security of the DEMS they’re considering and whether they comply with regulations to ensure their digital evidence remains authentic and credible.
Using Digital Evidence to the Fullest Extent
Digital evidence has become a crucial component in law enforcement. Security cameras, smartphones, and other equipment allow citizens to be proactive in protecting their homes, families, and communities while working alongside law enforcement officials to keep crime at bay. When people send digital evidence to law enforcement agencies, they’re able to use it to make arrests, build stronger cases against criminals, and drive down crime rates. DEMS are essential in allowing them to use digital evidence to the fullest extent.
