[Podcast] HaystackID® in the EDRM Illumination Zone: John Wilson, CISO and President and Forensics

HaystackID Blog | March 13, 2025
Listen to the latest EDRM Illumination Zone podcast interview with HaystackID CISO and President of Forensics John Wilson.

Editor’s Note: Digital investigations hinge on precision, and in the latest EDRM Illumination Zone podcast, HaystackID® Chief Information Security Officer and President of Forensics John Wilson breaks down why the old methods of sweeping data collection no longer cut it. Forensic teams must be more targeted with changing privacy regulations and rising data complexity. Wilson shared how HaystackID’s advanced triage solutions enhance investigations—helping legal teams collect what is necessary while maintaining compliance. He also dove into the role of AI in accelerating discovery and offers a glimpse into what’s next, including a highly anticipated email triage tool. Beyond the tech, listeners get a candid look at Wilson’s personal side, from his love of racquetball to an exclusive Legalweek cigar and whiskey gathering. This episode isn’t just an industry update—it’s a roadmap for staying ahead in digital forensics.

[Podcast] HaystackID® in the EDRM Illumination Zone: John Wilson, CISO and President and Forensics

By HaystackID Staff

A single overlooked detail can unravel an entire investigation. A missing device, an undisclosed email account, or a hidden chat log—these gaps can mean the difference between solving a case and missing the mark entirely. In the latest EDRM Illumination Zone podcast, John Wilson, Chief Information Security Officer and President of Forensics at HaystackID® took listeners inside the high-stakes world of digital investigations, where precision isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity. With forensic teams facing mounting privacy regulations and data challenges, Wilson shared how HaystackID’s triage capabilities change how investigators identify, collect, and analyze digital evidence.

Blanket data collection is no longer an option. Investigators can’t just scoop up entire hard drives without considering privacy laws, relevance, or proportionality. Today’s forensic work demands precision—zeroing in on what’s needed while safeguarding sensitive information. During the conversation with hosts Mary Mack,  Kaylee Walstad, and Holley Robinson, Wilson explained how modern forensics demands a more targeted, intelligent approach—one that respects privacy laws while ensuring investigators get exactly what they need. And, of course, no conversation about eDiscovery in 2025 would be complete without AI. Wilson broke down how generative AI is being leveraged—not to replace human review, but to enhance it—helping investigators connect the dots faster than ever before.

Beyond the technical insights, the episode had its moments of levity. Wilson, a seasoned guest of the Illumination Zone, gave listeners a peek into his passions—competitive racquetball, a love for fountain pens, and his legendary cigar and whiskey gathering at Legalweek. But the real takeaway? Digital investigations are changing at breakneck speed, and those who fail to keep up will quickly find themselves left behind. Whether you’re deep in the trenches of eDiscovery or just curious about how forensic experts navigate an increasingly complex digital world, this episode is a must-listen.

More About John Wilson

John Wilson is a highly motivated, strategic, results-oriented leader with over 20 years of experience in the information security and risk management field, focused on building strong security governance, policies and procedures, INFOSEC teams, providing expert leadership, and assisting diverse organizations with developing and defining enterprise-level information security programs which balance strong security practices with the needs of the business. John provides expertise and expert witness services to help companies address various matters related to digital forensics and eDiscovery, including leading investigations, ensuring proper preservation of evidence items and chain of custody. He develops processes, creates workflows, leads implementation projects as well as GDPR data mapping services for clients, including major financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, Am Law 100 law firms, and many other organizations small and large. In addition, he provides expert witness services and consulting in matters of all sizes. His work spans some of the largest litigation and matters on record in the United States and many of the 46 countries where he has worked on cases.

John is a certified forensics examiner, licensed private investigator, and information technology veteran. In his over two decades of experience, he has worked with the U.S. government and both public and private companies. He serves clients in a variety of industries and is an advisor to outside counsel, general counsel, and in-house executives on best practices. John provides business and litigation consulting services to help companies address computer and device forensics, data retention, GDPR mapping, information governance, compliance, records management, and electronic discovery, including data identification, leading investigations, properly preserving evidence items, and ensuring chain of custody. In addition, John has extensive experience with international collections, large-scale collections distributed across diverse locations, Mac forensics, mobile forensics, social media forensics, and cloud forensics. In John’s role as a computer forensics technologist, his clients have included private companies, public companies, and governmental agencies with operations in both national and international jurisdictions.

Listen to the latest EDRM Illumination Zone podcast interview with HaystackID CISO and President of Forensics John Wilson.

The podcast is available on your favorite listening app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Play. The podcast is available on the EDRM website and is provided below for convenience.

Additional Listening

About the Electronic Discovery Reference Model

Empowering the global leaders of e-discovery, the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) creates practical global resources to improve e-discovery, privacy, security, and information governance. Since 2005, EDRM has delivered leadership, standards, tools, guides, and test datasets to strengthen best practices throughout the world. EDRM has an international presence in 136 countries, spanning six continents. EDRM provides an innovative support infrastructure for individuals, law firms, corporations, and government organizations seeking to improve the practice and provision of data and legal discovery with 19 active projects. Learn more at EDRM.net.

About HaystackID®

HaystackID solves complex data challenges related to legal, compliance, regulatory, and cyber events. Core offerings include Global Advisory, Data Discovery Intelligence, HaystackID Core® Platform, and AI-enhanced Global Managed Review powered by its proprietary platform, ReviewRight®. Repeatedly recognized as one of the world’s most trusted legal industry providers by prestigious publishers such as Chambers, Gartner, IDC, and Legaltech News, HaystackID implements innovative cyber discovery, enterprise solutions, and legal and compliance offerings to leading companies and legal practices around the world. HaystackID offers highly curated and customized offerings while prioritizing security, privacy, and integrity. For more information about how HaystackID can help solve unique legal enterprise needs, please visit HaystackID.com.

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Source: HaystackID