At CDS, real results matter—but it’s our people who make the real difference. Real People, Real Results is a monthly series that spotlights the individuals behind our work, giving you a closer look at their journey, expertise, and what drives them.
This month, meet Waris Saif, Project Manager in our UK office.
Waris brings nearly a decade of experience across digital forensics, investigations, and eDiscovery. Before joining CDS, he served as a Digital Forensics Officer at the UK’s National Crime Agency, supporting high-stakes investigations and complex forensic matters.
He joined CDS in 2020 as a Forensic/Project Consultant and quickly became known for his steady leadership, sharp technical instincts, and ability to simplify complex data challenges for clients. In 2024, he stepped into the Project Manager role, where he leads engagements across the UK and Europe with the same precision and calm, solutions-first approach.
And beyond the office, Waris is celebrating an exciting milestone: becoming a new dad. Balancing parenthood with client work and technical problem-solving highlights the authenticity and dedication he brings to everything he does.
Here’s your chance to get to know him better. Meet Waris Saif.
What’s one thing that instantly boosts morale on your team?
Laughter! I find it boring being in an office environment that is quiet and dull. In my mind, you can have a laugh and still get the work done.
Whenever we are in the office together, someone will talk about something or show a video that leads us down a rabbit hole of conversations and stories. There’s one thing about the team, we’re always laughing.
If you had to pick a superhero power to use at work, what would it be?
Time manipulation. The ability to stop and start time at your own will seems the most ideal in our industry. If you have loads of tasks that all have the same deadline, you can just take a pause and then start time again when ready.
What type of music gets you through the day?
Heavy metal! I have a very wide taste in music and listen to anything from hip-hop to country to drum and bass, but my go-to is heavy metal.
Take a listen to Violent Nature by I Prevail.
What’s a dad hack you’ve learned that you wish someone told you sooner?
I’ve just had my third daughter, and you realise how quickly they grow up. In five weeks she has gone from a little blob to a baby who recognises voices, follows you around the room, and smiles.
It doesn’t count as a hack, but I would say make sure you take in every minute while you can, as they grow up before your eyes far too quickly. I’ve spent a week trying to think of a hack and honestly couldn’t give one piece of advice other than wing it! No one is ever truly ready to have a kid—you just have to roll with the punches.
What’s the most surprising thing about transitioning from government investigations to corporate eDiscovery?
The speed of work is very different. Of course, in law enforcement there are urgent cases and we needed to deal with devices straightaway; however, if you had a lot of devices to get through, you could stagger them over days or even weeks. Criminals don’t get their stuff back!
In the corporate world, a client doesn’t want to be without their device for any period of time, and it needs to get done as quickly as possible.
What’s your favorite hidden gem in London that everyone should visit?
Dishoom! Everyone knows how much I rave about Dishoom, we even have a framed copy of the menu in our office. Even after the 25th time it tastes just as good.
We’re glad you took to the time to meet Waris Saif! Look out next month as we highlight more of the real people driving real results at CDS. To learn more about CDS, reach out to us .
