Validating Incidents

Validating an incident means checking the status of the incident information saved to an Incident Locker. It will confirm that all video files successfully saved to the locker or that some files did not, in which case, you can try to perform the save again.

SHA-2 Message Digest Algorithm

Synergy uses the standard SHA-2 Message Digest Algorithm to create a unique 256 bit fingerprint which is embedded in the one minute video file at point of creation. Subsequently, this calculation can be repeated and if any single piece of information has changed, the resulting SHA-2 fingerprint will be changed as well.

When evidence is exported from Synergy, the SHA-2 hash should be noted. The evidence can be audited for alteration or corruption by recalculating the SHA-2 hash and comparing it to the recorded SHA-2 hash. They will match if no changes were made.

To validate an incident, select it in the View Locker Contents list and click the Validate button.

If the status of the selected incident is Saved in Locker, the Incident Saved And Validated dialog appears.

Click OK. You will now be given the opportunity to check the Hash Test of the video. The Hash Test checks that the checksum on the video file is the same as when recorded, proving that files have not been modified.

Click Yes. If the video integrity is OK, the Video Integrity Test OK dialog appears.

Click OK.

When an incident is successfully validated, the following transaction record is added to the incident:

Validation Complete. All files available for incident Successfully loaded.

Note: You can configure the system in such a way that the validation messages are color-coded according to their status. See your system administrator for details. Successful messages are color-coded in green. If a message is unsuccessful in any way, it will display in red, as shown:

You can view the transaction records for an incident on the Transactions tab of the Incident Details dialog.

Note: Performing the validation and having the transaction record is important, as the incident may be used as evidence in a court of law. The Transaction tab provides details of how an incident was updated or modified; these details can be used to demonstrate chain of custody (or as other evidence).

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