Clients should expect an investigative firm to protect case information the way an enterprise would: encrypted transmission of reports, photos, and video; secure file exchange through an independently audited platform; multi-factor authentication and role-based access; confidential handling and secure retention; and a named contact for security and compliance questions. Firms should describe their posture honestly, including where they are on the path toward standards like SOC 2.

Why clients now vet investigative vendors on security

Insurance carriers, self-insured employers, law firms, and corporations entrust investigators with some of their most sensitive information. More of them now run vendor security reviews and questionnaires, and some ask whether vendors meet or are working toward SOC 2. The vendor’s exposure becomes the client’s exposure.

What secure practices should you expect?

You do not need a firm to recite IT jargon. You need evidence that protecting information is built into how they operate.

  • Encrypted transmission of reports, photographs, surveillance video, and evidence
  • Secure file exchange through an independently audited platform, not plain email
  • Multi-factor authentication and role-based access to case information
  • Confidential handling and secure retention of investigative files
  • A clear point of contact for security and compliance questions

How should a firm talk about SOC 2?

SOC 2 is far more than a website feature, and honesty matters. A credible firm states plainly whether it holds a certification or is aligned with the principles and working toward formal standards. A firm claiming a certification it does not hold is a bigger risk than one that is transparent about its roadmap.

Build vs. buy: custom portal or proven platform?

A common question is whether to build a custom client portal or use an established, audited platform. For most firms, integrating an enterprise-grade, independently audited exchange is more secure than building and maintaining one in-house — it keeps the security burden with a provider whose entire business is holding that standard.

How Direct Insight approaches this. Direct Insight exchanges sensitive materials only through ShareFile, an independently audited, enterprise-grade platform — never plain email — with multi-factor authentication, role-based access, and confidential retention. The Trust Center and a one-page Security Overview answer vendor-review questions directly.

Frequently asked questions

Does an investigation firm need to be SOC 2 certified?

Not universally, but clients increasingly ask. What matters is honest disclosure of security practices and posture. A firm should describe its controls plainly and state whether it holds, or is working toward, formal standards such as SOC 2.

How should confidential case files be sent to an investigator?

Through a secure, encrypted, access-controlled portal, never plain email. Reports, photos, and video should be exchanged on an independently audited platform with multi-factor authentication.

Should an investigator build a custom client portal?

Usually not. Integrating a proven, independently audited platform is typically more secure than building and maintaining a custom portal, because it keeps the security and audit burden with a specialized provider.