How We Investigate | Sentinel Provenance Methodology

Our Approach

Every Sentinel Provenance investigation follows a documented methodology designed to produce audit-ready, regulator-defensible output. We apply the same source-access discipline, compartmentalisation, and chain-of-custody rigour that governed national-security investigations, now applied to the commercial due diligence challenges facing UAE-regulated entities.

The Intelligence Hierarchy

1

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)

Public records, sanctions/litigation/insolvency databases, corporate registry filings, multi-language media monitoring, Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) review.

2

Deep Records & Reference Interviews

Extended public record analysis across multiple jurisdictions, professional reference interviews conducted under pretext-free methodology, credit and licence verification.

3

Human-Source Intelligence (HUMINT) & Dark-Web Scanning

Discreet human-source enquiries within relevant industry and social networks, dark-web exposure scanning, social and professional network mapping, continuous monitoring infrastructure. This layer is deployed for Tier 3 engagements and bespoke investigations.

Standard screening providers operate at Layer 1 only. Sentinel Provenance operates across all three layers, escalating depth based on engagement tier and risk profile.

Audit-Ready Output

Every Sentinel Provenance report is designed to be filed directly with regulators and audit committees. Our output standard includes:

Scope statement documenting agreed parameters and limitations
Source register listing every source consulted, with access dates
Confidence grading for each finding (Confirmed / Probable / Possible / Unverified)
Risk matrix with severity and likelihood assessments
Analyst recommendations with supporting rationale
Limitations and caveats section documenting information gaps

Language & Geographic Reach

Investigations are conducted in any language required, with multi-language media sweeps covering regional and international sources. Our UAE base provides direct access to UAE government registries, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)/Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)/Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) records, and regional source networks.

How We Differ from Standard Screening

Dimension	Standard Screening Provider	Sentinel Provenance
Methodology	Database queries only	OSINT + deep records + reference interviews + HUMINT + dark-web scanning (all layers)
Source access	Commercial databases	HUMINT, multi-language & multi-jurisdictional media and records, OSINT, Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT), deep- and dark-web sources
Output	Pass/fail with a PDF	Audit-ready reports with source registers, confidence grading, and risk matrices
Analyst profile	Junior research staff	Former clandestine service, defence intelligence, and law enforcement investigators
Turnaround discipline	Undefined	Fixed-price, time-bound: 3, 5–10, or 10–15 business days
Regulatory defensibility	Limited	Designed for Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), and Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) compliance requirements
Communications security	Standard email	Proton Mail (International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 27001, System and Organisation Controls (SOC) 2 Type II) + Signal, UAE data residency