Executive summary. A package becomes inspectable when each artifact carries a purpose, a source, a collection time, and a link to the request item it answers.
Definition
An evidence manifest is a structured index of artifacts supplied in a review, including provenance and the question each artifact addresses.
Describe, do not merely attach
For each artifact, record the identifier, the source system, the collection time, the relevant period, the request item it answers, and any access restriction. A reviewer can then judge completeness without opening every file.
Keep source copies, and mark every redaction, conversion, and derived report. A transformed artifact should never sit in a package looking like an original.
Protect package integrity
Limit edits after assembly, and record additions and removals with reasons. Versioning is what answers the question of what was known at submission time.
Apply role-based access and logging to sensitive evidence. An audit package can hold material that should not circulate freely inside the organization either.
Frequently asked questions
Is a folder name an evidence manifest?
No. A manifest explains what each artifact is, where it came from, and why it is responsive.
Referenced standards and further reading
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 ↗National Institute of Standards and Technology