Records management, or RM, is the practice of identifying,
classifying, archiving, preserving, and destroying records. The ISO 15489:
2001 standard defines it as "The field of management responsible for the
efficient and systematic control of the creation, receipt, maintenance,
use and disposition of records, including the processes for capturing
and maintaining evidence of and information about business activities
and transactions in the form of records". The ISO defines records as "information
created, received, and maintained as evidence and information by an organization
or person, in pursuance of legal obligations or in the transaction of
business".
The International Council on Archives (ICA) Committee on Electronic
Records defines a record as, "a recorded information produced or received
in the initiation, conduct or completion of an institutional or individual
activity and that comprises content, context and structure sufficient
to provide evidence of the activity. While the definition of a record
is often identified strongly with a document, a record can be either
a tangible object or digital information which has value to an organization.
For example, birth certificates, medical x-rays, office documents, databases,
application data, and e-mail are all examples of records.
DIRKS,
Design and Implementation Of Record Keeping Systems
Every business and organization generates records. Files, reports,
presentations, memos and letters can be found everywhere you look around
the office. It’s already understood that records are a fact of life
in the business world, so managing them becomes of great importance.
They can be stored in and organized in filing cabinets for easy retrieval,
or packed in sturdy boxes and stored in a closet. However, safe and
secure records management practices takes this a few steps further.
Simply put, records management is the practice of ensuring that your
documents – both hard copy and digital – are kept safe, secure, and
accessible. This can be done by trusting your records to licensed professionals
in an off-site storage facility. These facilities are secured by keypad
locked doors, 24-hour surveillance, and trained records management professionals.
Instead of taking a chance with your boxes in that cluttered storeroom
or leaky basement, ensure that your records are managed effectively
and safely.
Your confidential and private documents cannot be left unsecured. It
is good business practice to develop a records retention policy for
your business, not to mention the government rules and policies regulating
the world of records management. Another major aspect of records management
is accessibility. If your records are 100% secure, but not available
to you and your business, it is of no use. Your documents and records
can be easily requested and delivered from your off-site storage facility.
In addition, files and boxes can be ordered online through your records
management vendor’s ordering software.