The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is planning a major overhaul of its digital evidence-gathering environment, ahead of the late-2027 expiry of a $22.7 million contract with Nuix.
The corporate regulator has started scoping a “high-level” architecture to support its digital forensics and eDiscovery capabilities, which it uses to collect and analyse evidence during investigations.
ASIC is also set to tender for new early case assessment and evidence management software sometime in the next quarter.
An ASIC spokesperson confirmed to iTnews that the architecture work will support the upcoming evidence management software tender later this financial year.
“ASIC is undergoing a transformation, which includes investing in one of its core strategic projects focused on digital technology and data in accordance with its 2023-2027 corporate plan,” the spokesperson added.
At present, ASIC is laying the groundwork for a new architecture to handle “increasing future data volumes and complex processing requirements” in its eDiscovery environment.
The finished product will ideally provide ASIC with a unified view of its digital eDiscovery environment and facilitate “seamless integration and transition” between forensic tools including Cellebrite, X-Ways, Encase, Forensic Explorer and Magnet.
Although not specified in the current request for tender, ASIC has used Nuix’s e-discovery software as part of its investigative capabilities since 2008.
The regulator went on to sign two five-year contracts with Nuix since 2012, valued at $3.4 million and then $7.7 million.
However, ASIC’s agreement with Nuix – and its ability to function with or without the software – was put in the spotlight after legal proceedings were filed against the vendor’s directors and officers alleging continuous disclosure breaches and “deceptive conduct”.
The proceedings, which remain ongoing, relate to discrepancies between Nuix’s reported figures and its actual performance.
Nevertheless, ASIC decided to renew its agreement with Nuix for a further three years in December last year, adding another $14.6 million to the previous deal.