Forensic Analytics is a UK based provider of services and software to policing. Founded in 2013 by forensic experts, Forensic Analytics provides advanced digital forensics solutions, software, accredited training, and forensic consultancy services. Forensic Analytics is well known in policing, their customers include all UK forces, with an increasing presence in the US, Canada, Australasia and Europe.
Their flagship software CSAS empowers investigation and intelligence teams to process and analyse large amounts of digital forensic data quickly, producing information to a robust evidential standard, contributing to significant policing outcomes across a diverse range of threat areas including organised crime networks, stalking, fraud and human trafficking. By enabling investigators and analysts to identify key lines of inquiry from complex digital data sets, case resolution times are shorter and charge rates and convictions are increased.
Their expert-led training delivers practical insight and hands-on experience for law enforcement professionals, covering areas such as data analysis, communications data, forensic RF propagation surveys, and the effective use of their software solutions. With 95% of UK police forces relying on their technology, the quality and consistency of their training directly impacts frontline policing.
But as demand grew, their team faced an unsustainable challenge: a fully manual training operation, and no virtual labs solution capable of delivering hands-on software practice online.
That’s where Arlo and Heropa came in and changed the way they operate.
A mission that depends on hands-on, real-world learning
Every Forensic Analytics course is built with the same purpose: to give learners practical, scenario-based skills they can use the moment they return to an active case.
Practical learning isn’t optional, it’s the heart of the program. Delegates don’t just learn about the software; they use it in real investigative simulations. As Training Manager Jenna Hollway puts it: “I believe that effective learning can make a real difference, especially in law enforcement, where the right skills and knowledge are critical to protecting communities and tackling crime.”
Back in 2019 Forensic Analytics was running their entire training operation on an Excel spreadsheet. Scheduling sessions, enrolling learners, sending joining instructions, tracking attendance, issuing assessments, and collecting feedback were all paper-based and manual. All of it was manual, time-consuming, and paper-based.
For software-based courses, every delivery meant transporting 12 physical laptops to each training location, installing software on every machine for each different course, capping class sizes based on the number of laptops, and struggling to meet demand with limited hardware.
This setup wasn’t just inefficient, it became a barrier to scale. Longer wait times for learners, increased pressure on instructors, and a delivery model that simply couldn’t keep up with the needs of modern law enforcement.
What had once worked at a smaller scale was now a barrier to growth. As Jenna puts it, the model was “time-consuming, cumbersome, and prone to errors,” making it increasingly difficult to meet demand without overloading the team.
The shift to modern software training with Arlo and Heropa
When Forensic Analytics adopted Arlo in 2020, their training operations instantly became more structured and scalable. Automated scheduling, registration, communications, attendance tracking, and post-course surveys replaced manual spreadsheets and paperwork. Administrative effort dropped significantly, freeing the team to focus on improving course quality and learner experience.
“Before Arlo, training was managed entirely through Excel. Scheduling, attendance, assessments and feedback were all paper-based and completely manual. It quickly became unsustainable as the business grew.” Says Jenna.
Around the same time, Forensic Analytics began building elearning modules, giving them a strong blended learning foundation.
But the biggest transformation came next: replacing physical laptops with Heropa.
Heropa’s virtual labs allowed Forensic Analytics to modernize their entire software training model. Learners now access fully configured software environments instantly, from anywhere. Instructors can see every learner’s screen in real time, step into their environment with one click, and provide direct one-to-one support exactly when it’s needed. Virtual labs also open the door to more immersive, scenario-based training formats – giving law enforcement professionals even more opportunities to build skills that shape outcomes in the field.
This has transformed both teaching and engagement. Rather than waiting for learners to ask for help, which doesn’t always happen, instructors can proactively support learners before small issues become blockers. The result is a more confident, supported, and effective learning experience.
“Instructors can now see learners’ screens in real time and step into their virtual environments to provide immediate one-to-one guidance. That proactive support is a game changer.” Says Jenna.
Another critical benefit is that virtual labs no longer rely on customers’ live software licenses. For police teams who need those licenses for active investigations, this has been a major advantage, allowing training to happen without disrupting operational work.
An integrated, scalable ecosystem for the future
Today, Arlo manages the full training lifecycle from course scheduling and enrolments through to communications, attendance, surveys, and reporting, while Heropa delivers the hands-on, scenario-based virtual lab experience. Together, they provide a seamless, end-to-end training ecosystem that supports both operational efficiency and high-impact learning.
With the integration between Arlo and Heropa, learners are automatically enrolled into virtual lab environments when they register for a course, significantly reducing manual administration and eliminating duplication of effort. This integrated workflow ensures learners arrive ready for training, while instructors and administrators spend less time managing systems and more time delivering value.
“In a world where automation and efficiency are key, seamless integration between the two platforms was absolutely vital. We wanted to reduce manual processes and eliminate duplication of effort, so having Arlo and Heropa work together smoothly was critical for streamlining operations and ensuring scalability moving forward.” Says Jenna.
Forensic Analytics sees Arlo and Heropa as central to their long-term strategy. Arlo provides the automation needed to manage increasing demand without adding complexity, while Heropa enables global, scalable delivery by providing virtual lab environments close to learners, wherever they are based.
Arlo and Heropa are central to our future plans for training growth and innovation. Arlo provides the automation we need to manage increasing demand efficiently, freeing up resources to focus on other areas of the business and ensuring scalability. Heropa is critical as we expand into international markets. Its virtual labs make global training possible without flying trainers out, using servers close to learners for optimal performance and accessibility.” Says Jenna.
By combining Arlo’s training management automation with Heropa’s powerful virtual labs, Forensic Analytics has transformed how it delivers technical, hands-on training. They’ve modernized instructor-led delivery, removed operational bottlenecks, and built a scalable model that will support law enforcement professionals for years to come.
