The Intelligence Lifecyle: Phase 3 - Processing
Last time we walked through Phase 2: Collection. That's where you do the fun part, the gathering of data. If you haven't read Phase 1 and/or Phase 2, I recommend starting there to better understand the process in its entirety. Now, it's time for Phase 3: Processing. This is where things go from MESSY to MANAGEABLE.
Phase 3: Processing
The Processing Phase involves activities to collate, clean, store, and organize collected intelligence information so it can be used later in analysis.
(Adapted from Baker & Henderson, 2017)
Note: In military and government contexts, this stage is often called Processing and Exploitation, with an emphasis on rapidly surfacing time-sensitive information. In corporate or private investigations, the focus is usually on organizing and preparing data so it can be effectively analyzed later.
What does this mean for you?
Processing is all about turning the chaos of raw collection into something you can actually work with. It's about setting the stage for Analysis.
Please be aware that these are examples, and depending on your position and daily job tasks, Processing may look slightly different.
- Cut the noise. Remove duplicates, irrelevant data, inconsistencies, or corrupted files.
- Make it usable. Run OCR on scanned PDFs, convert file types, or format exports so they’re searchable.
- Stay consistent. Rename files and screenshots in a standard format (date_platform_identifier).
- Add context. Label entries with metadata: where they came from, when, and how.
- Structure it. Build folders, timelines, spreadsheets, or simple databases to keep things neat.
- Enrich data. Pull out timestamps, metadata, or cross-reference with other sources.
Think of it like prepping ingredients in the kitchen: Collection is grocery shopping, Processing is preparing all the ingredients, and Analysis is when you finally start cooking. (Let me cook!)
Do analysts always do this?
Nope.
The exact steps depend on the investigation, available tools, and how much time you have. Sometimes you'll just rename and organize files; other times you'll need to tag, clean, and structure everything in detail.
I personally like this step because while reviewing my data, I'm constantly aware of what I've found and what I haven't. I'm able to remove items that don't really add value because they're just noise. I like my data to be organized and clearly labeled so it's easier to review when the time comes.
💭 I’m curious…
How do you handle processing? Do you prefer structured spreadsheets, visualization tools, or a simple folder system? What part of this step do you find most challenging?
👀 Your turn: I’d love to hear how you approach this phase. Drop your thoughts in the comments below, or share your process on social media and tag me so we can keep the conversation going. The more we exchange ideas, the more we all grow as analysts!