FBI ViCAP Database Modernization Case Study

This case study outlines the FBI's initiative to modernize its Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) database by replacing legacy technology with a virtualized and analytical-based solution. The FBI identified the need for a more efficient system to execute search queries across multiple databases. Technica recommended the use of open-source Elasticsearch technology, which was enhanced through its internal research and development efforts. The prototype was developed using an Elasticsearch instance in AWS GovCloud, employing a four-step interrelated process for data ingestion. The process includes extracting data in JSON format, transforming it for compatibility with Elasticsearch, formatting it, and loading it into the system for querying, reporting, and visualization. The integration of Elasticsearch, Kibana, and Logstash provided additional capabilities, enabling agents to perform inclusion/exclusion queries, return multiple query dimensions in a single list, and conduct customizable and interactive searches, ultimately allowing for a variety of displays such as tables, graphic charts, and geospatial views.