The economy is still in bad shape, and one way companies are cutting costs is by opting to ship computers to their forensic vendors instead of paying for onsite work.  This is a very economical alternative to paying a for a consultant's travel expenses (airfare, hotel, meals, etc.).  That being said, there are several things one should consider when shipping computers to their forensic vendor's office.

• 1. Include the power supply. Most of the computers Jones Dykstra receives in the mail are laptops, and most are without power supply. Usually, this is not a problem because the computer's hard drive is removed and is then duplicated using one of the vendor's computers. This is not always the case, though, as we occasionally receive a hard drive that refuses to cooperate and must be forensically duplicated in its original computer. In such a case, the forensic vendor must be able to keep the computer powered on long enough to forensically duplicate the hard drive. Many times, vendors will have assorted spare power supplies on hand, but the best way to prevent this problem is to include the power supply when shipping the laptop to your vendor to ensure you receive the computer back as quickly as possible.
• 2. Pack the computer carefully. This sounds simple, but more often than not, computers show up at our office in a ratty box with minimal padding. FedEx will not insure a laptop unless it is shipped in one of their laptop boxes. You can insure the computer monetarily and if it is damaged during shipment you can have it replaced, but what about the data it contained? Is that information replaceable? If a hard drive is smashed and the plates are cracked or broken, even the best data recovery lab in the country is going to have trouble recovering the data, and it will be quite costly. So take the time to pack up your computers right, and it will pay off later when they arrive at your vendor's office safe and sound.
• 3. Include any additional information or instructions with the computer. This is especially important if you are looking for an expedited turnaround from your vendor. Occasionally, Jones Dykstra will receive a computer in the mail with little or no information regarding from which client it was sent, or to which matter it pertains. When this occurs it usually prompts phone calls and/or emails in order to hunt down answers about the miscellaneous computer. If a set of detailed instructions and information about the computer is included it makes for a much smoother process.