CDR Analysis

Transforming raw telecom returns—whether CDRs or Tower Dumps—into actionable intelligence requires rigorous normalization. Here are four essential steps for analysts to ensure analysis readiness:

• Preserve Integrity: Always maintain a strict chain of custody and work solely on forensic copies, never the original evidence.

• Normalize Timestamps: Convert all event times to ISO-8601 format, maintaining both Local and UTC offsets to prevent timeline errors during analysis.

• Standardize Fields: Use a master column map to align diverse carrier headers (e.g., mapping "BEAR" or "TAC" to standard Tower IDs) for consistent visualization.

• Validate Data: Scrub invalid coordinates, remove duplicates, and verify row counts against the raw export before loading into analytical tools.

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