Using Relay
Submit structured forensic requests, track case and evidence progress, communicate with forensic teams, and access shared files through Relay.
Relay is Monolith's request portal for submitting structured forensic requests to the teams you work with.
Each forensic organization using Relay has its own Relay tenant. After you have been granted access, you can submit requests, provide evidence and contact information, upload supporting files, track the progress of your requests, communicate with the forensic team, and access files shared back with you.
Access Relay
Each Relay tenant has its own URL.
Your forensic provider or organization may send you this URL directly, provide it through an internal website or resource, or invite you by email.
A Relay tenant URL may look similar to:
https://relay-app.monolithforensics.com/{tenant}Use the URL provided by the forensic organization you are submitting requests to.
Create a Relay Account
If the organization allows self-registration, you can create a Relay account from its tenant URL.
Creating an account does not automatically provide access to the tenant. The forensic organization must approve your access before you can begin submitting requests.
After registration:
Submit your account request.
Wait for the forensic organization to approve your access.
Return to Relay after approval.
Log in using your Relay account.
Organizations may also send users direct invitations rather than asking them to self-register.
A Relay account can belong to more than one Relay tenant. For example, an investigator who submits requests to multiple forensic labs may use the same Relay account to access each organization that has granted them permission.
Relay Home
After logging in, Relay provides access to the forensic organizations you are approved to work with.
Under each Forensic Partner, available options include:
Submit a Request
My Requests
Case Drives
Relay Admins may also have access to All Requests for reviewing requests submitted by other users.
Your Relay home page also provides training resources for common Relay workflows.
Submit a Request
Select Submit a Request under the appropriate forensic partner to begin a new request.
Relay guides you through a structured intake process so the forensic team receives useful information before work begins.
A request may include sections such as:
Request Descriptor
Request Details
Supporting Files
Evidence Items
Contacts
Additional custom fields configured by the forensic organization
The exact information requested may vary depending on how the forensic team has configured Relay.
Request Instructions
Before beginning a request, the forensic organization may provide instructions explaining what should be included with your submission.
These instructions may include guidance such as:
Required case or matter information
What details should be included in the request description
Supporting documents that should be attached
Evidence information that should be provided
People or contacts who should be identified
Physical evidence delivery instructions
Other intake requirements
Review these instructions before submitting your request.
Providing complete information during intake can reduce follow-up questions and help the forensic team determine whether the request is ready to proceed.
Request Details
Use the request details section to explain what work is being requested and provide the context the forensic team needs to understand the matter.
Provide enough information for the team to understand:
Why the work is being requested
What should be examined or collected
Relevant background information
Important deadlines or circumstances
Other details that may affect the forensic process
The information entered here becomes part of the Inquiry reviewed by the forensic team in Monolith.
Attach Files
Supporting documents can be uploaded with the Relay request.
Examples may include:
Warrants
Search authority
Consent forms
Case documentation
Prior reports
Screenshots
Supporting correspondence
Other documents relevant to the request
These files remain associated with the request and can be brought into the resulting Monolith case when appropriate.
Add Evidence Items
Evidence information can be entered directly into the Relay request.
Provide as much information about each item as is reasonably available.
Depending on the evidence and the forensic organization's configuration, this may include information such as:
Evidence type
Manufacturer or service provider
Item name
Model or service information
Unique identifier
Size
Description
Custom evidence information
Associated contacts
Providing evidence details before physical intake can help the forensic team understand what is being submitted and prepare for the work.
Add Contacts
Relay also allows you to identify people related to the request.
Contacts may represent:
Custodians
Suspects
Victims
Witnesses
Attorneys
Employees
Device owners
Account holders
Other relevant individuals
Contacts can also be linked to the evidence items they are associated with.
For example, a custodian can be added to the request and associated with the laptop, mobile device, or account belonging to that person.
When the Relay request becomes a Monolith case, supported contact information can carry forward with the rest of the request.
Custom Fields
The forensic organization may configure additional custom fields for Relay.
These fields allow the team to collect information specific to its intake process while continuing to use Relay's standard request structure.
Custom fields may apply to:
The overall request
Individual evidence items
Some Inquiry fields may also be mapped to fields in the resulting Monolith case so the information remains available after intake.
See Custom Field Options for information about configuring Relay custom fields and Inquiry-to-Case field mapping.
Complete the Request
Before submitting, review the request and confirm that the information is complete.
Pay particular attention to:
Request details
Evidence items
Contacts
Supporting documents
Required custom fields
Submit the request when everything is ready.
After submission, the request is sent directly into the forensic team's Monolith environment as an Inquiry for review and triage.
What Happens After Submission?
Submitting a Relay request does not necessarily mean that forensic work begins immediately.
The forensic team may first need to:
Review the request
Confirm that required information is present
Review supporting documents
Approve the requested work
Wait for physical evidence to arrive
Request additional clarification
Determine whether the work belongs to a new or existing case
The current request status in Relay helps communicate where the request is in that process.
Track Your Requests
Use My Requests to review requests you have submitted.
Relay Admins can also use All Requests to review requests submitted by other users within the Relay tenant.
Request status may include values such as:
New
Contacted
Accepted
Declined
Converted
Merged
Transferred
The forensic team controls the Inquiry status from Monolith, and updates are reflected in Relay.
Communicate With the Forensic Team
Each Relay request includes a Comments area for request-specific communication.
Comments can be used to:
Answer follow-up questions
Provide clarification
Discuss the submitted request
Add additional context
Communicate about intake or next steps
Relay also supports @mentions.
When Your Request Becomes a Case
When the forensic team is ready to begin active casework, your Relay request may be used to create a new Monolith case or merged into an existing case.
Supported information submitted through Relay can be carried into the resulting case, including:
Requestor information
Evidence items
Evidence metadata
Contacts
Documents
Custom field information
The forensic team determines which information should be brought into the case.
Track Case Progress
After your request has been connected to a Monolith case, Relay can provide visibility into the resulting forensic work.
Available case information may include:
Case name
Case number
Case lead
Case status
Case progress
Case open date
Case close date
Last activity date
This allows you to check the status of your request without needing to contact the forensic team for every routine update.
Track Evidence Progress
Relay can also display information about evidence associated with the resulting case.
Available information may include:
Evidence number
Evidence progress
Evidence type
Manufacturer or service provider
Unique identifier
UUID
Size
Description
Evidence photos
Chain of custody information
Available chain of custody information can also be downloaded from Relay.
Case Drives
Case Drives provide access to files that the forensic team has shared with you from a Monolith case.
Files may include:
Reports
Deliverables
Exported data
Supporting documents
Other case-related files
When a Monolith user shares an eligible file with your Relay account, the file becomes available through Case Drives.
Files originally uploaded as part of your request remain associated with the request itself. Case Drives are used when the forensic team shares files back with you during or after casework.
Working With Multiple Forensic Partners
A single Relay account can have access to multiple Relay tenants.
If multiple forensic organizations have granted you access, each appears as a separate Forensic Partner in Relay.
Make sure you select the correct forensic partner before submitting a request.
Requests, cases, and files remain associated with the appropriate forensic organization.
Account or Login Problems
If you cannot access Relay, verify that:
You are using the correct Relay tenant URL.
Your account has been approved for that tenant.
You are using your Relay credentials rather than your Monolith credentials.
You are signing in through your organization's identity provider if Relay SSO is configured.
If you still cannot access Relay, contact the organization or forensic team that provided your Relay access. Your organization's Relay administrator can contact Monolith Support if additional assistance is needed.
Best Practices
Review the forensic organization's request instructions before starting.
Provide enough detail for the forensic team to understand the requested work.
Add evidence information before submission when it is available.
Identify relevant contacts and associate them with evidence when appropriate.
Attach supporting authority or documentation when required.
Monitor your request status in Relay.
Use request Comments when clarification is needed.
Review case and evidence progress in Relay before requesting a manual status update.
Use Case Drives for files shared back to you by the forensic team.
Confirm that you are submitting to the correct Forensic Partner when you belong to multiple Relay tenants.
Related Documentation
Last updated
Was this helpful?