Identifying digital records in business systems: the definition of a problem

Abstract

Before digital records can be preserved or managed, they need to be identified first. However, records identification is not a clearly defined process. Given the multi-faceted information system environment in organisations, large quantities of potential records are created and stored in systems not designed for records management. This leads to liabilities and risks on par with the non-preservation of digital records because those potential records are not identified and managed properly to begin with. A possible solution is the identification of records via business process analysis coupled with a thorough understanding of the information system environment.