Intellectual property theft is rarely obvious, and it is almost never straightforward.
Guardian Forensics provides clear, defensible answers in high-stakes environments where proprietary and confidential information has been accessed, copied, or misused. When the concern involves a departing employee, internal misconduct, or a competitor exploiting protected data, we help determine what happened, when, how, and by whom.
Our approach is grounded in technical precision and legal awareness. We understand that evidence must not only be accurate, it must be usable in litigation or negotiation. From identifying unauthorized access to reconstructing file movement, our team is skilled at uncovering patterns that are often missed in internal reviews or traditional IT audits.
Common elements of our IP/trade secret theft investigations include:
Assessing the digital ecosystem and providing insight to the possible ESI
Identifying file access, transfer, modifications, deletion, or concealment across company systems
Analyzing USB activity, cloud uploads, personal email use, and portable device connections
Investigating metadata and artifacts, shellbags, link files, and system logs for timeline reconstruction
Recovering deleted or hidden files that could signal theft or attempted cover-up
Because time is often a factor in IP theft matters, we move direct action intent while preserving the integrity of the evidence. Our work is methodical, detailed, and always tailored to the specific context of the case. Guardian Forensics is a trusted resource for organizations looking to protect their innovations and enforce their rights.