A desktop search can assist with any of the below:

• Litigation support;
• Conducting sensitive interviews;
• Locating key personnel and witnesses;
• Uncover and preserve electronic evidence;
• Gather key evidence;
• Profiling a person of interest;
• Gaining insight whether to proceed with an
        investigation and how best to execute the investigation.

A desktop search cannot obtain:

• Bank account information
• Medical information
• Birth and Marriage records
• Vehicle ownership
• Telephone records

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is the collection and analysis of information that is gathered from public, or open sources where it is free and legal to collect and can eliminate false positives, duplicates and in general provide sound context to what is being investigated with a more in-depth picture of specific facts and information.

Here in Australia we are governed by strict legislations and the privacy act, so gaining background for a Subject can have its restrictions; this is why it is one thing to have access to online databases and another how to go about it. We are well rehearsed in sourcing information using OSINT as a tool and have the know-how/expertise in gathering intelligence to assist further with making the decision process less cumbersome and more manageable to achieve the desired result.