Page 1
ONEDRIVE EVIDENCE · A GUIDE FOR UK LAWYERS One Drive Evidence Sync, Versions, Deleted Files and Sharing: the Personal Drive That Is Never Only in One Place COMPUTER FORENSICS LAB
§ ABOUT THE AUTHOR PREPARED BY COMPUTER FORENSICS LAB E-DISCOVERY TEAM EXFILTRATION ANALYSIS CPR PART 35 EXPERT REPORT S FULL CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY DOCUMENTATION
§ CONTENTS In this guide 01 Executive summary 02 The problem in plain English: one drive, two truths 03 Cloud-side anatomy: versions, recycle stages, sharing states 04 Device-side anatomy: the sync client's confessions 05 Collection: both halves, with the joins planned 06 Deletion, the leaver clock and recovery 07 Exfiltration patterns and how they prove 08 Source architecture: where else the evidence lives 09 Worked examples 10 Common mistakes and technical limitations 11 Questions to ask · Suggested wording 12 Checklist and red flags · When to involve a digital forensic expert 13 Frequently asked questions 14 Glossary · References · Disclaimer · How a specialist laboratory can assist
§ 01 · ORIENTATION Executive summary THE HEADLINE POINT: ONEDRIVEISTWOSOURCESWEARINGONENAME, AND THE CASE USUALLYLIVESINTHEIRDIFFERENCES
§ 02 · FIRST PRINCIPLES The problem in plain English: one drive, two truths
§ 03 · THE CLOUD HALF Cloud-side anatomy: versions, recycle stages, sharing states
Page 2
§ 04 · THE DEVICE HALF Device-side anatomy: the sync client's confessions
§ 05 · GETTINGBOTH Collection: both halves, with the joins planned
§ 06 · GONE, GOING, KEPT Deletion, the leaver clock and recovery
§ 07 · THEPATTERNS Exfiltration patterns and how they prove
§ 08 · THEWIDERMAP Source architecture: where else the evidence lives EVIDENCE STORE + PART Y PERSONAL CLOUD THIRD- SHARED-OUT / LAYERS BACKUP ACCOUNTS SYNCED AUDIT / DELETED / DEVICES SIGN-IN RECOVERABLE
§ 09 · IN THE WILD Worked examples EXAMPLE1 · THEEMPTYDRIVEANDTHEDISCONNECTEDLAPTOP EXAMPLE2 · THE ANY ON E-LINKWITHATIMESTAMPEDAUDIENCE EXAMPLE3 · THEVERSIONHISTORYTHATACQUITTEDTHEEDITOR
Page 3
§ 10 · WHEREITGOESWRONG Common mistakes and technical limitations Common mistakes Technical limitations
§ 11 · INTERROGATORIES & DRAFTING AIDS Questions to ask · Suggested wording Ask your client Ask your opponent Ask your e Discovery / forensic provider SUGGESTED WORDING · ONEDRIVELIMBFORTHECOLLECTIONSPECIFIC AT ION
§ 12 · QUICK CONTROL Checklist and red flags · When to involve a digital forensic expert The One Drive checklist Red flags When to involve a digital forensic expert
§ 13 · COMMON QUESTIONS Frequently asked questions Files were deleted from One Drive six months ago, unheld. Gone? Can we tell if someone downloaded the whole drive before resigning? What does a sharing link actually prove? The custodian says the sync client "did things on its own". Plausible? How do One Drive and Share Point evidence differ? What single step most often decides One Drive matters?
§ 14 · REFERENCE Glossary Sources and authoritative references DISCLAIMER
§ HOW A SPECIALIST LABORATORY CAN ASSIST Working with Computer Forensics Lab Speak to a forensic examiner, not a salesperson. INSTRUCTTHELAB NEWENQUIRIESEMAILE - DISCOVERY
Cite as: Joseph Naghdi, OneDrive Evidence, Computer Forensics Lab, https://e-discovery.uk/library/onedrive-evidence/pdf.