E3:Universal

Implementing E3:Universal is a structured and guided process designed to integrate seamlessly into an organization’s digital investigation workflow. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Initial Consultation & Workflow Assessment
   The process begins with a one-on-one consultation with Paraben’s senior staff. This session is used to understand your current digital investigation workflow, identify specific needs, and determine how E3:Universal can enhance or integrate with your existing tools.

2. Licensing & Deployment Planning
   Based on the assessment, Paraben helps you choose the appropriate licensing model (perpetual, SaaS, or site license) and deployment method (standalone, networked, or hybrid). You’ll also decide whether to include optional tools like Zandra AI or hardware kits.

3. Installation & Configuration
   Once licensing is finalized, the software is installed on your designated systems. Paraben provides guidance on configuring the platform to support your data sources—whether they’re mobile devices, computers, cloud services, or IoT systems.

4. Training & Onboarding
   Paraben offers online training and certification programs to ensure your team is fully equipped to use the platform. This includes hands-on instruction in acquisition, analysis, reporting, and advanced features like remote imaging and malware detection.

5. Data Integration & Customization
   During this phase, your team begins importing and processing real case data. Paraben assists in setting up custom filters, hash sets, and search parameters tailored to your investigative needs.

6. Operational Use & Support
   After onboarding, your team begins using E3:Universal in live investigations. Paraben provides ongoing support, including software updates, troubleshooting, and workflow optimization advice.

7. Review & Optimization
   After a few weeks of use, Paraben may conduct a follow-up review to ensure the platform is meeting expectations and to suggest any workflow enhancements or additional training.

Typical Timeframe:
The full implementation process—from consultation to operational use—can take 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the complexity of your environment, the number of users, and whether custom integrations are required.

E3:Universal is highly customizable to fit specific business or investigative needs. Here are several ways it can be tailored:

• Custom Hash Sets & Filters: Users can import their own hash databases and create skip lists or filters to streamline analysis.

• Modular Licensing: You can choose only the components you need (e.g., mobile forensics, cloud analysis, IoT support) and scale up as your needs grow.

• Custom Export Formats: Reports and data can be exported in various formats (EML, PST, HTML, XML, etc.) to match legal or internal documentation standards.

• Scripting & Automation: Supports scripting in Python, C#, and PowerShell for automating repetitive tasks or integrating with other tools.

• Time Zone & Bookmark Customization: Investigators can adjust time zones and use multi-level bookmarks with color coding and tags for better case organization.

• Language & OCR Support: Multilingual indexing and OCR allow for analysis of data in various languages, including Arabic, which is useful for regional investigations.

• Remote Imaging & Cloud Integration: Can be configured to acquire data from remote endpoints and cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Office365.

• AI Integration (Zandra): Optional AI assistant that can be added to automate timeline creation, pattern recognition, and cross-device correlation.

These customization options make E3:Universal adaptable for use in law enforcement, corporate security, legal eDiscovery, and even academic research environments.

While the base perpetual license for E3:Universal is priced at $6,295 USD, there are several additional costs to consider depending on your needs:

• Annual Maintenance & Updates: After the first year, continued access to software updates and support requires an annual renewal fee of $1,199 USD.

• SaaS Licensing Option: For those preferring a subscription model, E3:Universal is available at $750/month, which includes all core engines and features

• Optional Add-ons:
  • Dongle License: $110 USD
  • E3 Toolbox Cable & Accessory Kit: $299 USD (excluding shipping)
  • Zandra AI Assistant: Licensed separately, with discounted pricing for E3 users

• Site Licensing: Custom pricing is available for organizations needing multiple seats or enterprise-wide deployment

There are no setup fees for standard installations, and the software is delivered electronically. However, organizations requiring on-site setup or custom integration may incur additional service charges.

Paraben provides a robust training and support ecosystem for E3:Universal users:

• Included Training: Every license includes Level 1 Operator Certification, which covers the fundamentals of using the platform for digital investigations

• Online Certification Programs: Users can access advanced training modules and certifications through Paraben’s online learning portal.

• Live Demonstrations: New users can schedule live demos with Paraben experts to walk through features and workflows.

• Documentation & Video Tutorials: Comprehensive user manuals and video walkthroughs are available to guide users through installation, evidence processing, and reporting.

• Technical Support: Ongoing support is included with active maintenance. This includes troubleshooting, workflow optimization, and update assistance.

E3:Universal is designed with forensic integrity and data security at its core. Key security features include:

• Forensically Sound Acquisition: Ensures that data is collected without altering the original source, preserving chain of custody.

• Write-Blocking Support: Compatible with hardware and software write-blockers to prevent data modification during acquisition.

• Secure Remote Imaging: Uses encrypted channels for remote data capture from computers and cloud environments.

• Audit Logs: Maintains detailed logs of all actions taken within the platform for accountability and legal admissibility.

• Custom Hash Set Integration: Allows organizations to use their own hash databases for secure data validation and filtering.

• Data Export Controls: Supports exporting in forensic containers and encrypted formats to maintain evidence integrity.

• Role-Based Access: Can be configured to restrict access to sensitive data based on user roles and permissions.

These measures ensure that E3:Universal not only supports powerful investigations but also upholds the highest standards of data protection and legal compliance.

E3:Universal receives regular updates, typically aligned with major version releases and incremental improvements throughout the year. These updates include new features, bug fixes, UI enhancements, and expanded support for new devices and data types. For example, the Cobalt 3.8 release introduced improvements to file viewers, malware scanning, and reporting features.

Updates are managed through Paraben’s zone.paraben.com portal, where licensed users can download the latest versions. Users with an active maintenance subscription receive these updates automatically and are notified via email or through their account dashboard. Updates can be installed manually or configured for automatic deployment, depending on the organization’s IT policies.

Paraben’s E3:Universal platform adheres to a strict data ownership policy:

• All data processed within the platform remains the property of the user or organization conducting the investigation.

• The software does not transmit or store user data externally unless explicitly configured to do so (e.g., for cloud-based imaging or remote access).

• Data portability is fully supported through a wide range of export formats, including native file types, forensic containers (like E01, AD1), and structured outputs such as XML, CSV, PST, and HTML.

• Users can also export bookmarks, search results, and case summaries, ensuring that evidence can be shared or migrated to other platforms without loss of integrity.

This approach ensures compliance with legal standards and internal data governance policies, especially in regulated industries or government investigations.

E3:Universal is designed with scalability and flexibility in mind. Here’s how it supports scaling:

• Modular Licensing: Organizations can start with core components (e.g., mobile or computer forensics) and add modules like cloud analysis, IoT, or Zandra AI as needed.

• SaaS and Perpetual Options: You can switch between monthly SaaS licensing (at $750/month) and perpetual licensing ($6,295 one-time) depending on budget and usage patterns

• Site Licensing: For larger teams or agencies, Paraben offers custom site licenses that allow for multiple users and installations under a single agreement.

• Hardware Add-ons: Optional accessories like the E3 Toolbox Kit can be added as your hardware acquisition needs grow.

• User-Based Access: Role-based access control allows organizations to scale user permissions and responsibilities without needing separate installations.

Paraben Corporation offers both perpetual and subscription-based licensing for E3:Universal, each with its own renewal and cancellation terms:

• Subscription Renewal:
  E3:Universal subscriptions are renewed on an annual basis. The renewal fee is $1,199 USD per year, and it includes access to software updates and technical support. Importantly, renewals are calculated from the original expiration date, not the date of payment—so late renewals do not extend the license beyond the original cycle.

• Perpetual License Maintenance:
  For perpetual license holders, the first year of updates and support is included. After that, continued access to updates and support also requires the $1,199 annual maintenance fee. If maintenance lapses, users can still use the software but won’t receive updates or support until the fee is paid.

• Cancellation Policy:
  Paraben does not publicly list a formal cancellation policy for subscriptions, but as with most software vendors, cancellations likely apply at the end of the current billing cycle. Refunds are typically not issued once a license term has begun. For precise terms, users are encouraged to request a formal quote or agreement via Paraben’s sales team.

E3:Universal is designed to meet the rigorous standards required for legal and forensic investigations. Key compliance and validation points include:

• NIST Testing & Validation:
  E3:Universal has undergone testing by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which validates its forensic soundness and reliability for use in court-admissible investigations.

• Court-Admissible Evidence Handling:
  The platform follows best practices for chain of custody, write-blocking, and forensically sound acquisition, ensuring that evidence collected is legally defensible.

• Data Integrity & Audit Trails:
  E3:Universal maintains detailed audit logs of all user actions, which is essential for compliance with legal and regulatory standards in law enforcement and corporate investigations.

• Export Compliance:
  The software supports export in formats that align with eDiscovery and legal review standards, such as PST, EML, HTML, and forensic containers like E01 and AD1.

• Data Privacy & Ownership:
  All data processed remains under the control of the user or organization. E3:Universal does not transmit or store data externally unless explicitly configured to do so, supporting compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR or local privacy laws.