UC Tech News is excited to share the stories of the people and projects behind the winners of the 2026 UC Tech Awards.
Team Name: UCSF Cybersecurity eDiscovery Team
Award Category: IT Security
Location: UCSF
Team Members:
- Christian Sisenstein, IT Security Manager, UCSF
- Marlon Lee, IT Security eDiscovery Analyst, UCSF
The UCSF Cybersecurity eDiscovery Team won the Silver IT Security Award at the 2026 UC Tech Awards for the work on the DiscoveryOne: AI-Built eDiscovery tool.
Project Summary
Using an AI coding agent, the team created a web app to serve as an eDiscovery case management solution to enable tracking, auditing, and automation of eDiscovery processes and cases.
Prior to this project, core case activities, including legal holds, custodian identification, preservation actions, backup requests, notices, and case tracking, were managed through a fragmented, manual model. The processes were time-consuming, prone to error, and often left users with limited visibility into case details.
The new platform, DiscoveryOne, transformed these disconnected processes into a centralized, workflow-driven solution where Legal and Risk, IT Security, custodial, and analyst teams could collaborate. By automating manual tasks and providing a single place to work, the platform reduced the average time required to manage a case, improved accuracy, and provided greater visibility throughout the eDiscovery lifecycle.
Christian Sisenstein, the team lead, shared some of his thoughts on the project and its impact in the Q&A below.
Was there any user feedback that stood out and led to a meaningful change in your project?
Yes. Customer feedback played a major role in shaping the project as it progressed. Our team worked directly with one of the customers who would be using the application daily, which helped ensure the custom solution aligned with their needs, workflows, and expectations.
What did winning this UC Tech Award mean to your team personally or professionally?
Winning this UC Tech Award was extremely meaningful for our team. Personally, it felt like recognition for the effort, creativity, and persistence that went into the project. Professionally, it showed that the work we are doing matters and that custom solutions built around real customer needs can have a meaningful impact. It was also a reminder that with the right team, the right tools, and a strong focus on security, we can turn ideas into solutions that genuinely help people.
What’s next for this project?
One of my biggest takeaways was that with the right tools, planning, and approach, you can create just about anything.
I believe AI coding agents will make it much easier to turn ideas like ‘I wish we had something that could do X’ into real custom solutions.
However, we need to stay mindful of the security implications and make secure coding a priority throughout the entire project.
Contact
Christian Sisenstein, IT Security Manager, UCSF
