What is the primary objective of the Collection stage?

• A. Evaluate ESI for relevance
• B. Gather ESI for further use
• C. Display ESI to audiences
• D. Protect ESI

Answer: (B)

Collection centers on gathering ESI from various sources so it can be used in later steps. It involves identifying custodians and data stores, applying legal holds, and retrieving data in a forensically sound way while preserving metadata and maintaining chain of custody. The aim is to assemble a complete set of ESI for processing, review, and production. Evaluating relevance happens later during review, displaying to audiences is not the goal of collection, and while protecting data is important, the primary task here is to gather data for subsequent stages.