Intelligence Cycle
How we work: the 6-phase intelligence cycle
Every order follows the same route — the intelligence cycle. Government agencies and corporate intelligence units work by the same scheme. Below is what happens at each phase and what you get at the end.
01
PLAN
PLAN
Planning & requirements
We clarify what exactly you need to find out and for which decision: a deal, an investment, a hire, a dispute. This defines the depth and the source set. Scope and price are fixed before we start.
02
COLLECT
COLLECT
Collection
Registries, court records, sanctions lists, ICIJ offshore leaks, corporate links, media, social networks, satellite imagery. Over 50 open sources; the exact list depends on the task. No hacking, no closed databases.
03
VERIFY
VERIFY
Processing & evaluation
Each fact is graded by source reliability: primary document, official registry, media, or unverified claim. Anything not confirmed by two independent sources is excluded from the report or flagged as unverified.
04
ANALYZE
ANALYZE
Analysis & production
We map relationships, look for hidden affiliations and front structures, calculate the Argus Score 0–100. For counterparty deals we run War-time Compliance — a check for Russian and Belarusian links through transit jurisdictions.
05
DELIVER
DELIVER
Dissemination
A PDF with a "verdict first" structure: conclusion and recommendations on page one, evidence with source links after. Ready to hand over to lawyers or a bank. A debrief call is available on request.
06
FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK
Feedback
For 14 days after delivery we answer follow-up questions for free. If new questions about the same subject come up, the next cycle starts from the existing base — faster and cheaper.
Three rules we don't break
Legality
No hacking, no "insiders with database access". Open sources and official requests only. That's why you can show the report to lawyers.
Confidentiality
NDA by default. The subject doesn't learn about the check, and client data is not shared with third parties.
Evidence
Every conclusion in the report links to its source. Any fact can be checked independently — you don't have to take our word for it.
Legal-grade rigor — the standard for lawyers
Facts that hold up under scrutiny
Every conclusion is backed by a source you can open, read, and verify yourself. This is the language lawyers, auditors, and investigators speak: not "according to our data", but a specific registry, extract date, and record ID.
01 · Provenance
Where every fact comes from
Next to every statement in the report — a precise reference: which registry, extract date, record ID. Not "according to open sources", but a specific line from the EDR dated 12.03.2026, EDRPOU 12345678. No anonymous "a source reports".
02 · Verification
Two independent confirmations
No conclusion rests on a single source. A registry extract is cross-checked against primary documents, a media report against an official statement, a satellite frame against coordinates and capture date. Anything confirmed only once is flagged in the report as "requires additional verification".
03 · Chain of evidence
From claim to primary document
Any fact can be traced back: conclusion → numbered reference → evidence page → URL, PDF, or screenshot with timestamp. This is a chain a lawyer reads line by line, an auditor matches against a registry, and a party in court can challenge by a specific source.
Argus provides facts and analysis. Legal qualification and admissibility of a specific item as evidence are determined by your lawyer and the court. This is not legal advice.
FAQ
Is this kind of check legal?
Yes. OSINT is the analysis of publicly available information: state registries, court rulings, sanctions lists, publications. We don't use hacking, wiretapping or closed databases. The results can be used in negotiations and legal proceedings.
Will the subject know they are being checked?
No. Collection is passive: we don't contact the company or person and leave no traceable requests. The exception is employment verification in Deep checks, which we agree with the client separately.
How long does the full cycle take?
Basic Check and Standard Report — 4–24 hours, Premium Intel — 24–72 hours. Deep individual checks and Market Intelligence take from several days; the exact deadline is fixed at the planning phase.
The same cycle — beyond counterparty checks
The six phases above describe the route of any order, not just a company check. When the subject is an entire market, the same cycle produces market intelligence: niche size, players, prices, barriers to entry. When you need movement rather than a snapshot, it becomes competitor monitoring — a regular digest of changes instead of a one-off report.
See the cycle in action
The easiest way is a free basic check: registries, sanctions, basic risks for a Ukrainian company.