GigaOm Radar for E-Discoveryv1.0

Table of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. Market Categories and Deployment Types
  3. Key Criteria Comparison
  4. GigaOm Radar
  5. Vendor Insights
  6. Analyst’s Take
  7. About Sue Clarke

1. Summary

Organizations can face litigation or discovery requests at any time due to legislation or regulations such as the general data protection regulation (GDPR). Searching for a particular item among millions of documents, emails, and other content is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. Without the right tools in place, it is extremely time-consuming and costly, and many enterprises might choose to accept a fine and the associated brand damage rather than attempt to locate the required content. In some countries, however, failure to produce documents and records could result in summary judgment against them.

E-discovery software makes finding that single piece of content possible via the e-discovery process. This process is based on the electronic discovery reference model (EDRM), a framework that defines all of the stages of e-discovery, from identifying the data to presenting it to a court. Solutions can cover the entire process, from the initial searches and putting legal holds on data that may be relevant, to the final presentation of the content to a court or opposing counsel. And the software has additional benefits, such as the ability to run risk assessments on the content to ensure there are no smoking guns that could be the subject of litigation in the future.

E-discovery software manages the process of proactively discovering, preserving, collecting, processing, reviewing, producing, and presenting electronically stored information (ESI). Platforms follow the EDRM, with some providing end-to-end capabilities, while others stick to either the left-hand side (identification, preservation, collection, and processing) or the right-hand side of the model (review, analysis, production, and presentation).

There are two distinct audiences for e-discovery software: enterprises that typically undertake the initial searches for content that may be relevant to a matter; and legal departments within large enterprises or legal firms responsible for reviewing and putting together the final set of content.

When implementing e-discovery software, enterprises should be proactive so they’re ready to act as soon as a request is received. Discovery must be undertaken in a timely fashion, and therefore procuring a solution must occur well before its need becomes critical, when there is time to properly assess its capabilities to ensure that it meets the enterprise’s requirements. The ability to undertake an early case assessment (ECA) will allow counsel and courts to determine whether a matter is worth pursuing or if a settlement should be sought.

This GigaOm Radar report highlights key e-discovery vendors and identifies vendors and products that excel. In the corresponding GigaOm report “Key Criteria for Evaluating E-Discovery Solutions,” we describe in more detail the key features and metrics used to evaluate these vendors. Together, these reports provide an overview of the category and its underlying technology, identify leading e-discovery offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these platforms and make a more informed investment decision.

How to Read this Report

This GigaOm report is one of a series of documents that helps IT organizations assess competing solutions in the context of well-defined features and criteria. For a fuller understanding, consider reviewing the following reports:

Key Criteria report: A detailed market sector analysis that assesses the impact that key product features and criteria have on top-line solution characteristics—such as scalability, performance, and TCO—that drive purchase decisions.

GigaOm Radar report: A forward-looking analysis that plots the relative value and progression of vendor solutions along multiple axes based on strategy and execution. The Radar report includes a breakdown of each vendor’s offering in the sector.

Solution Profile: An in-depth vendor analysis that builds on the framework developed in the Key Criteria and Radar reports to assess a company’s engagement within a technology sector. This analysis includes forward-looking guidance around both strategy and product.