Manage standard eDiscovery cases (not including Premium eDiscovery)

To effectively manage standard eDiscovery cases in Microsoft 365 Messaging, you can follow a systematic process that allows you to search for, identify, and preserve relevant data for legal purposes. While this guide focuses on standard eDiscovery cases, excluding Premium eDiscovery, it provides a comprehensive approach to managing your eDiscovery requirements.

1. Understand eDiscovery in Microsoft 365 Messaging:

eDiscovery is a process that involves identifying, preserving, collecting, reviewing, and exporting electronic content for investigation or litigation. In Microsoft 365 Messaging, you can perform eDiscovery using the Security & Compliance Center, which offers various tools and features to facilitate the process.

2. Determine the scope of your eDiscovery case:

Define the scope and objectives of your eDiscovery case. Clearly identify the users, mailboxes, or SharePoint sites that are subject to the case. Ensure you comply with legal and regulatory requirements while considering the data sources involved.

3. Create an eDiscovery case:

In the Security & Compliance Center, navigate to the “eDiscovery” section and create a new case. Provide relevant details such as case name, description, and assign appropriate permissions to users involved in the case.

4. Add members and assign permissions:

Add members to the eDiscovery case who will be responsible for managing the process. Assign appropriate permissions to each member based on their roles and responsibilities. These permissions determine who can perform specific actions, such as creating searches or exporting data.

5. Identify the data sources:

Determine the data sources to be included in the eDiscovery case. This could include Exchange mailboxes, SharePoint sites, OneDrive for Business, or Teams chat and channel conversations. Configure the necessary data sources within the case settings.

6. Create a search:

In the eDiscovery case, create a new search query to identify relevant content. You can define search criteria based on keywords, specific users, date ranges, or other available filters. Refine your search by adjusting search options, such as including or excluding attachments or specific message types.

7. Preview and estimate results:

Before launching the search, preview the estimated search results to ensure they align with your expectations. This allows you to make any necessary adjustments to the search criteria or filters before committing to the search.

8. Run the search:

Once satisfied with the search criteria, initiate the search within the eDiscovery case. The system will then search for the specified content across the defined data sources. Depending on the volume of data and search complexity, the search may take some time to complete.

9. Review and analyze search results:

Once the search has completed, review the search results. You can apply filters, sort the results, and preview individual items to assess their relevance to the eDiscovery case. Mark items as relevant, privileged, or exclude them if they’re irrelevant.

10. Preserve and export data:

After reviewing and identifying relevant items, you can preserve and export them. Preservation ensures that the identified items won’t be altered or deleted during the eDiscovery process. Export the relevant items in a suitable format, such as PST or XML, for further analysis or sharing with legal teams.

11. Review and produce data:

Review the exported data, applying further analysis if required. Collaborate with the legal team to produce the requested documents and data. Maintain a secure chain of custody throughout the process to ensure the integrity of the data.

12. Close the eDiscovery case:

Once the eDiscovery process is complete, close the case in the Security & Compliance Center. Review and document the entire workflow for future reference, noting any challenges faced and lessons learned.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage standard eDiscovery cases in Microsoft 365 Messaging. Remember to stay updated with the latest Microsoft documentation to leverage additional features and enhancements to streamline your eDiscovery processes.