Hidden in Plain Sight: Finding Shared Links in Modern eDiscovery

Security has always been a top priority for organizations handling sensitive data—but in today’s hybrid work environment, the way that security is implemented has changed. Instead of sending files as attachments, many companies now rely on secure links to cloud-hosted content. This approach gives IT and compliance teams tighter control, but it also adds complexity for legal teams conducting eDiscovery.  

When critical data is shared through links instead of direct file access, traditional eDiscovery tools may not capture the full picture. That’s where MCS Group’s Lynx comes in.

The Shift to Link-Based Sharing

To reduce risk, more organizations are avoiding file attachments altogether. Whether it’s internal policies or external compliance mandates, many teams now share access via OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, or other cloud-based systems that restrict downloads and track access.  

These controlled links often contain the information central to a matter—but they can be hard to detect, collect, and review. They’re embedded in emails, hidden inside documents, or shared across platforms like Teams and Slack.  

The result? Legal teams can end up with incomplete data collections and a fragmented view of events, which can require a large expenditure of resources to identify and recollect these files to meet court ordered discovery needs.  

Why It’s a Challenge for eDiscovery 

Even when links are visible to the human eye, most eDiscovery platforms lack an automated method to identify hyperlinks within a document or collection. Without a purpose-built solution, legal teams may miss:  

• Linked content with tracked changes or comments  

• Folders containing additional relevant documents  

• Communication context tied to the shared content  

And as security measures become more sophisticated—such as expiring links, permissions-based access, or conditional authentication—capturing those references becomes even more important and more difficult.  

How Lynx Helps  
Lynx was built to address this very problem. Fully integrated into the Relativity platform, Lynx extracts embedded links across all documents—offering teams a way to see and act on content that would otherwise remain hidden and needed for a complete analysis of the document collection.  

Key features include:  

• Link Detection Across Formats: Emails, PDFs, Office files, Slack messages, and more  

• Contextual Flagging: Know where a link came from, how it was used, and what it connected to  

• Actionable Insights: Determine if follow-up collection is needed  

• Compliance Support: Ensure external content is reviewed and preserved  

With Lynx, legal teams aren’t left chasing down clues—they get a clear view of linked data and can confidently determine its relevance and admissibility.  

Link Security Doesn’t Have to Be a Roadblock 

As more organizations adopt secure, link-based sharing to protect their data, eDiscovery processes need to evolve in parallel. Lynx gives legal teams the tools to manage these changes, bringing clarity to the often-overlooked layer of embedded links.  

Whether you're navigating litigation, audits, or internal investigations, Lynx helps ensure that critical information shared via links doesn’t slip through the cracks.  

Explore Lynx

Ready to modernize your eDiscovery process? Explore Lynx on the Relativity App Hub or visit our website  to learn more. Our team is here to help you capture more of what matters—and stay one step ahead of evolving data practices.