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The Acorn · Practical workflow guide

What do you need for forensic imaging at a client’s premises?

By Squirrel Forensics · · 2 minute read

Take a complete acquisition chain, not just a small computer: a protected source connection, suitable adapters, reliable power, a display and enough separate destination storage. The Acorn puts imaging, device management and review tools in one portable workspace, so the collection can be documented before the equipment leaves site.

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Agree the collection before packing

Confirm the devices, authority, intended acquisition and time available. Ask whether the machine is running, whether encryption is present and who can provide credentials. A switched-off disk and a live business-critical computer may require different approaches.

Record who can release the equipment and what the organisation must keep using. An on-site plan should include a safe stopping point if the condition of the source or the available access differs from the brief.

Front view of the compact Acorn workstation with its connected ports. View full size
Acorn workstation photograph. Confirm the supplied chassis, ports and complete kit in your quotation.

Test the whole kit

Pair the workstation with the required drive adapters, a portable screen, input devices and destination storage. Check the exact connection chain using test media before travel. A USB-C connector does not by itself tell you whether a cable carries video, sufficient power or the required data rate.

The current compact workstation is approximately 12.8 x 12.8 x 4.4 cm and 500 g, excluding accessories. Its power input is 19 V DC. The portable screen has its own requirements; do not assume that a dock powers the workstation through USB-C.

Leave with an acquisition another examiner can use

Identify the source in Device Manager, apply read-only protection and acquire to the case destination through Forensic Imager. Keep the case reference, source identity, settings, output names and verification record together. Document read errors rather than hiding them in a general completion note.

Before departure, confirm the outputs are present and the handover record identifies them. A useful field kit reduces forgotten dependencies and repeat visits. Ask SQFR to quote against your media, screen and storage needs, with the supplied accessories listed explicitly.

What to check

  • Written scope, device state and authorised access
  • Tested adapters, power, display and separate storage
  • Image, verification record and signed handover details

Common questions

Can the acquisition run without internet?

Local imaging can run without cloud access. Remote sessions, cloud collection, updates and some online services need a connection.

Does portability guarantee a same-day collection?

No. Capacity, read speed, encryption, faults, access and verification all affect the time. Plan from the actual source rather than a fixed promise.

Explore the relevant Acorn apps

Check supported artefacts and file systems

Put the workflow to the test

Request an on-site acquisition kit quotation

Tell SQFR about the source types, task and equipment you need. We can discuss a focused demonstration and the configuration or quotation that fits. Do not send case evidence or credentials through the enquiry form.

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A useful first conversation

Let’s look at your workflow

Tell us what you examine, where you work and what you need to deliver.

Use the enquiry form to outline your role, intended use and potential order quantity. Do not send case material through a general enquiry.

Open the enquiry formEmail info@sqfr.uk

Your enquiry goes to the SQFR team. Please do not include passwords or case evidence.