02 / Investigative research
Connect the information. Understand the picture.
A search result is one piece of information. Understanding how it fits with other findings is where careful research makes a difference.
What is open source investigation?
It is research using publicly available information, including public records, websites, and social media. You may hear it called open source intelligence, or OSINT. The value comes from checking sources, connecting findings, and explaining their limits.
A question gives research its purpose.
- Due diligence before a potential business relationship.
- Public-records research relevant to a specific concern.
- Social media and online research with context.
- Information that supports a risk assessment or decision.
Evidence and uncertainty both matter.
Information can be incomplete, outdated, or about a different person or organization with a similar name. We look at context and corroboration rather than treating a single result as a conclusion.
A first conversation helps define the question, useful sources, and an appropriate scope. Specific deliverables and limitations should be agreed before work begins.
A few helpful answers
Questions are a good start.
Does publicly available information tell the whole story?
No. Public sources have gaps and limitations. Findings should be assessed in context, and unanswered questions should remain visible rather than being turned into certainty.
Can you help check a potential business partner?
Due diligence research is one starting point to discuss. Share the kind of relationship and what you need to understand, without sending sensitive documents in your first inquiry.
Keep exploring
A good place to start
You don’t have to have
all the answers.
Tell us a little about your concern. We can talk about whether Scabbard is the right fit and what a next step could look like.
Request a consultation